Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide, and its global burden continues to increase annually. This infection contributes to serious adverse health outcomes, including infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, underscoring the urgent need for an effective vaccine. In this BOF small research project, we propose a comprehensive framework to measure CT-specific immune biomarkers using first-void urine (FVU). This genital tract sample allows for the simultaneous measurement of local immune responses and DNA, while enabling easy, non-invasive sample collection—an important advantage for future vaccine trials. We will conduct a pilot study to collect paired blood, FVU, and cervicovaginal brush samples from 63 female sex workers (FSW), an important target group for a future Chlamydia vaccine. The collected samples will be used to optimize FluoroSpot and flow cytometry-based immunoassays for FVU. This unique clinical set-up will provide new insights into the relationship between local and systemic cell-mediated immune responses in this population and will allow us to investigate functional and phenotypical differences in T cells between women who spontaneously clear infection and those who do not. Ultimately, this work will contribute to defining potential correlates of protection and establishing a clear position for FVU as a valuable sample type for investigating immune biomarkers within the STI and immunoassay research landscape.
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