Identifying the gaps in human and veterinary chlamydia vaccine development

Background: Chlamydia infections in humans and animals pose a significant burden on health systems worldwide. While widespread screening, adequate treatment, and prevention programs are helpful to increase awareness and improve screening rates, infection rates are rising. A vaccine is necessary to slow increasing rates, manage negative consequences, and prevent possible antibiotic resistance. We present the current landscape regarding the innovations for commercial vaccine development in a “one-health” context. Methods: We developed a unique dataset containing data of patent documents intended for human and veterinary use, and clinical trials in order to provide a detailed description of the global chlamydia vaccine developments. Results: Analysis of patents and clinical trials intended for human use presented a vaccine field that is underdeveloped, with no commercial human chlamydia vaccine available, and two potential candidates in a phase 1 clinical trial. Comparing innovations concerning chlamydia vaccine developments for both human and veterinary patents, it was clear that these fields are very different and independent of each other. The field is small, and certain companies and researchers show repeated interest. Partnerships among applicants and those involved in chlamydia vaccine innovation would be an important step to take towards innovating and developing an effective vaccine. Conclusions: We have shown that North America is considered, by patent application, to hold the most potential for a chlamydia vaccine, specifically against the Chlamydia trachomatis strain. A new vaccine is likely to be a subunit vaccine with components of the major outer membrane protein antigen

Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Trends in East and South-East Asia:In the Light of Economic and Health Care Development

This study explored to what degree economic development and improvement of healthcare are associated with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) mortality. A correlation analysis between LRTI mortality and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, and the Health Access and Quality Index (HAQI), respectively was conducted for 15 countries in East and South-East Asia. The results revealed a dramatic decrease in LRTI mortality in total populations for lower-middle income (LMI) countries but at the same time an increase in upper-middle income (UMI) and high-income (HI) countries. A highly significant (P <.001) growth-dependent relationship between LRTI mortality and economic growth was observed. Improvements in HAQI were significantly associated with a decrease in LRTI mortality in LMI countries, but an increase in UMI and HI countries. The decline of LRTI mortality amongst children in LMI countries is an encouraging trend and efforts against LRTI must be continued, though not at the expense of preparing health systems for the growing burden