Strategies for syphilis vaccine development

Research to identify a syphilis vaccine began shortly after the isolation of first Treponema pallidum subspecies (T. pallidum) strain in 1912 by Nichols and Hough identification several possible animal models for infection, with rabbit being best one. During century following T. isolation, none numerous immunization/challenge experiments performed preparations ranging from whole-inactivated cells recombinant proteins yielded an effective vaccine, search languished. Recently, however, scientific communities have experienced resurgence interest developing due 1. awareness that constitutes tremendous burden maternal health, particularly low- middle-income nations; 2. improved understanding immunological processes leading pathogen clearance during natural infection mechanisms this developed persist host; 3. availability near-complete list genes encoding putative surface-exposed antigens, which represent most likely candidates; and, last but not least, 4. effort made expand knowledge on genetic antigenic diversity these candidates strains circulating worldwide. Thus far, recent designs based subset pathogen’s antigens provided immunized rabbits significant incomplete protection upon infectious challenge. Nonetheless, outcomes help investigators refine strategies achieve formulation highest chances moving preclinical experimental settings clinical trials. This editorial focuses currently believed be essential development, namely, improvement our still limited genomic diverse geographical locations through collection modern protective epitopes potential targets evaluating ability monoclonal antibodies bind target antigen facilitate clearance. The use engineering spirochete surface or near-essential role biology is also discussed.