Oral Presentation Australia and New Zealand Society for Extracellular Vesicles Conference 2023

Outer membrane vesicle vaccines for gonorrhoea   (#7)

Kate L Seib 1
  1. Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

The sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea is a global public health concern, with ~100 million cases per year that are increasingly difficult to treat due to multi-drug resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng). If left untreated, infection can lead to severe sequelae such as adverse pregnancy outcomes and infertility. Vaccine development for gonorrhoea has been challenging due to the antigen variability of the bacteria, the lack of a protective immune response following infection and the absence of an appropriate animal model that mimics infection. However, observational and epidemiological studies have shown that people vaccinated with outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-based Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B vaccines (MeNZB or 4CMenB) have a reduced rate of Ng infection compared to unvaccinated controls. We are now conducting a randomised control trial with 4CMenB to determine if it provides protection against Ng and to characterise vaccine-induced immune responses. There is also a Ng generalized modules for membrane antigens (GMMA) (NgG) investigational vaccine currently in Phase I/II clinical trials, based on OMVs produced by genetically modified Ng. If proven effective, these OMV-based vaccines may be available in the near future to help reduce Ng incidence and improve sexual and reproductive health.