Immune responses to Neisseria gonorrhoeae and implications for vaccine development

Neisseria gonorrheoae is the causative agent of gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection responsible for major burden disease with high global prevalence. Protective immunity to often not observed in humans, possible due variability key antigens, induction blocking antibodies, or large number infections being relatively superficial and inducing strong immune response. N. gonorrhoeae strictly human pathogen, however, studies using mouse models provide useful insights into response gonorrhea. In mice, gonorrhoea appears avoid protective Th1 by less Th17 models, candidate vaccines which provoke can accelerate clearance gonococcus from female genital tract. Human indicate that natural induces limited response, modest antibody responses, may correlate clinical severity gonococcal disease. Studies cytokine responses humans conflicting evidence as whether an IL-17 However, there study sex workers Kenya. A controlled model (CHIM) has been used examine male volunteers, but date demonstrated protection against re-infection. Correlates gonorrhea are lacking, hampered progress towards developing successful vaccine. finding meningitidis serogroup B vaccines, elicit cross-protection invigorated vaccine field. More either CHIM studies, needed understand better immunity.