Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease caused by the bacterial infection of conjunctival strains of Chlamydia trachomatis. At our company, we are committed to providing vaccine and therapy development solutions to address this disease and improve the R&D efficiency of global pharmaceutical companies.
Introduction to Trachoma
Trachoma, a chronic infectious disease primarily affecting the eyes, is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is considered the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. The disease is prevalent in impoverished regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where unsanitary living conditions facilitate its spread. Trachoma progresses through two phases: the first being recurrent conjunctivitis and the second leading to scarring, in-turned eyelashes, and potentially blindness.
Fig.1 Tissue changes in trachoma. (Solomon A. W., et al., 2022)
Vaccine Development for Trachoma
Subunit Vaccines
For trachoma, the development of subunit vaccines is focused on proteins such as the Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) and Polymorphic Membrane Protein G (PMPG). These proteins have shown promise in eliciting both humoral and cellular immune responses.
DNA Vaccines
Utilizing plasmid DNA encoding specific antigens of Chlamydia trachomatis, DNA vaccines have the potential to stimulate a robust immune response. The advantage of DNA vaccines lies in their ease of production and the ability to induce long-lasting immunity.
Live-Attenuated Vaccines
Although less common due to safety concerns, live-attenuated vaccines use a weakened form of the pathogen. They can provide long-lasting immunity and have been explored for trachoma, although the complex biology of Chlamydia trachomatis presents challenges in this area.
Therapeutics Development for Trachoma
Systemic and topical antibiotics, such as azithromycin and tetracycline, are the cornerstone of trachoma therapy. Azithromycin, in particular, has been widely used in mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns to reduce the prevalence of active trachoma. Given the chronic inflammatory nature of trachoma, therapies that modulate the immune response are under investigation. These include anti-inflammatory agents and biologics that target specific immune pathways implicated in trachoma's pathogenesis.
Please click on the link below to learn about our one-stop therapy development solutions for you.
Our Services
WWith a wealth of expertise, our company is dedicated to progressing the creation of potent vaccines and therapies for trachoma. Our adept team employs state-of-the-art technologies and approaches to deliver tailored solutions, fostering innovation in trachoma vaccines and therapeutics.
Infectious Disease Models
- Chronic Cicatrizing Trachoma Models
- Chronic Follicular Conjunctivitis Models
- Guinea Pig Inclusion Conjunctivitis (GPIC) Models
- Nonhuman Primate Subcutaneous Pocket Models
Our preclinical research services include the evaluation of candidate vaccines and drugs in vitro and in animal models. We utilize cutting-edge techniques to assess the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of these candidates, providing critical data to inform further development. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Solomon Anthony W., et al. "Trachoma." Nature Reviews Disease Primers 8.1 (2022): 32.
- Ezediuno, Louis O., et al. "Designing multi-epitope subunit vaccine for ocular trachoma infection using chlamydia trachomatis polymorphic membrane proteins G." Informatics in Medicine Unlocked 26 (2021): 100764.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
