An oral vaccine to protect against Chlamydia infections
Official title: An oral vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11076759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new oral vaccine called intrOv that aims to protect people from Chlamydia, a common sexually transmitted infection, by using a safe version of a related bacteria to help your body build strong defenses against it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | April 19, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,156,302 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI182210-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11076759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk of Chlamydia infections, particularly sexually active adults and adolescents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not sexually active or those who have already been vaccinated against Chlamydia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop an oral vaccine called intrOv to protect humans from Chlamydia trachomatis, a common sexually transmitted infection. The vaccine uses an attenuated strain of Chlamydia muridarum, which can safely colonize the gastrointestinal tract without causing disease. By inducing a strong immune response in the genital tract, this vaccine could provide long-lasting protection against multiple serovars of Chlamydia. The research will generate data necessary for clinical trials to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness and safety.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a safe and effective oral vaccine that significantly reduces the incidence of Chlamydia infections.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been extensive research into vaccines for Chlamydia, this specific approach using an oral attenuated vaccine is novel and has not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhong, Guangming — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Zhong, Guangming
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.