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Hope for Chlamydia Vaccine
Research in the US could pave the way for a vaccine preventing chlamydia,
the UK’s most common sexually transmitted disease.
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium,
chlamydia trachomatis, which can damage a woman's reproductive organs.
Symptoms are usually mild or absent. Serious complications can cause irreversible
damage, including infertility, before a woman ever recognizes a problem. In
men, chlamydia complications can also cause discharge from the penis of an infected
male.
Cases of genital chlamydia have increased by 207% in the UK since 1996 and
since 2001 has been the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease,
overtaking genital warts. This is the first time that a bacterial infection
has held this title.
"This is a very prevalent disease in women throughout the world and the
biggest problem is that most infected women never show any symptoms, so they
never get treated," said Murthy.
After three years of trial-and-error, Ashlesh Murthy, a post-doctoral student
in the UTSA The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center Cell
and Molecular Biology program has found success in administering a chlamydial
prevention vaccine in mice.
The next step will be to test the vaccine on larger animals, primarily guinea
pigs and scientists hope that the research will pave the way for a dependable
cure against chlamydia.
"When chlamydia is left untreated, it can lead to severe complications
including pelvic-inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancies and infertility,”
added Murthy.
Recent surveys in the UK of young women attending GP clinics have found a
chlamydia prevalence of 8.1% among those under 20 years old, and 5.2% among
those aged 20-24 years old. Due to the lack of symptoms, many people in the
UK could be carrying the disease, which can be caught via unprotected sex.
If you are concerned about chlamydia or other sexually transmitted diseases,
visit your local GUM clinic to get checked out. Find one in your area at: www.fpa.org.uk/finder
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