TX institutions partner with Merck on chlamydia vax

Researchers in Texas have signed on to work on a new chlamydia vaccine for Merck.

Merck will provide funding for the work at the University of Texas San Antonio and the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, which will tackle the sexually-transmitted bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

"Chlamydia is the most common sexually-transmitted disease caused by a bacterium, and the number of cases is on the rise," immununology professor Bernard Arulanandam says. "While many researchers have tried to develop a chlamydia vaccine, none has been successful. We hope to change that."

In an animal study, the researchers have found that recombinant C trachomatis agents can fight the bacteria while protecting the female's reproductive ability.

- read the report from the San Antonio Business Journal