(HealthDay News) — An experimental vaccine has shown promise in protecting against the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, researchers report.
Lab mice given the vaccine were able to rapidly clear subsequent chlamydia infections, and were less likely to develop severe infections compared with unvaccinated mice, researchers reported Nov. 11 in the journal npj Vaccines.
The vaccine contains chlamydia whole-cell bacteria that have been killed using radiation, the study authors added.
Although killed with radiation, the bacteria prompt an immune response because they’ve been protected by a powerful antioxidant, the study explained. The antioxidant keeps the surface proteins needed to produce an immune response intact, while killing off the bacteria itself.
The antioxidant protection created a whole-cell chlamydia vaccine that increased antibody levels more than 16-fold in mice.
On the other hand, vaccines made without the antioxidant produced low levels of antibodies.
“All of these findings just make sense to me,” said lead researcher George Liechti, a professor with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ Department of Microbiology and Immunology in Bethesda, Md. “If you want an effective whole-cell chlamydia vaccine, then you should probably try not to cook, zap or otherwise damage the surface antigens that it relies on.”
More than 1.6 million chlamydia infections occurred in 2022, researchers said in background notes. Most of the reported cases occurred in young women ages 15 to 24.
Women with untreated chlamydia have a higher risk of becoming infertile due to pelvic inflammatory disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Efforts to develop a vaccine for chlamydia go back nearly 80 years, researchers said in a university news release.
Field trials in the 1960s found that a whole-cell chlamydia vaccine could in some cases make a person more likely to become infected with the STI. As a result, efforts to develop a whole-cell vaccine were largely abandoned.
But recently, researchers discovered that the various procedures used to kill off the chlamydia bacteria in preparing a virus — chemical exposure, boiling, radiation, ultraviolet light – all significantly damage the surface of the cells, making it less likely they’ll produce an immune response.
It still will be some time before any chlamydia vaccine is ready for testing in humans.
“Our findings thus pave the way for a new generation of whole-cell, multivalent Chlamydia vaccines, offering a promising strategy to combat a major global health challenge,” the researchers concluded.
How does chlamydia affect Black Americans?
Chlamydia disproportionately affects Black Americans, particularly Black women. This disparity is a complex issue rooted in historical, social, and economic factors.
Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight the severity of this issue. In 2022, Black Americans had the highest rates of chlamydia in the United States. Black women were particularly affected, with a rate of 1,288 cases per 100,000 population. This is significantly higher than the rate among White women.
Several factors contribute to this disparity. One significant factor is the historical and ongoing impact of systemic racism on Black communities. This includes limited access to quality healthcare, economic disparities, and social stigma surrounding sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These factors can make it difficult for Black individuals to receive timely testing and treatment for chlamydia.
Additionally, cultural and social factors can play a role. For example, some Black communities may have limited access to comprehensive sex education, which can lead to an increased risk of STIs. Moreover, stigma and shame surrounding STIs can discourage people from seeking testing and treatment, leading to further spread of the infection.
The consequences of untreated chlamydia can be severe, especially for women. It can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Early diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia are crucial to prevent these complications.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about chlamydia.
SOURCE: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, news release, Nov. 12, 2024