# Impact of the vaginal microbiome on Chlamydia trachomatis acquisition

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2022 · $754,957

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
With over 130 million new Chlamydia trachomatis infections each year, the development of innovative strategies
to prevent these infections is a global public health priority. A number of prospective studies have reported an
association between bacterial vaginosis and increased risk of C. trachomatis acquisition. However, the precise
nature of the association between vaginal bacterial species and C. trachomatis susceptibility, and the biologic
mechanisms driving these associations, are not well understood. Emerging data from in vitro studies suggest
that metabolites and enzymes produced by specific BV-associated bacteria impact urogenital C. trachomatis
growth. However, data from in vivo studies assessing this relationship are sparse. To address this important
knowledge gap, we propose a multidisciplinary approach that combines epidemiologic and laboratory studies to
assess the impact of vaginal bacteria, and their metabolites, on C. trachomatis acquisition. This resubmission
will utilize data and samples collected from women participating in the Mombasa Cohort study, an ongoing NIH-
sponsored open cohort study. We will conduct a nested case-control study using both broad-range and
quantitative PCR to determine if detection and concentrations of BV-associated species are associated with
increased risk of C. trachomatis infection (Aim 1). In Aim 2, we will test vaginal samples collected as part of the
case-control study to evaluate whether key metabolites used by C. trachomatis are associated with increased
risk of C. trachomatis infection. In Aim 3, we will use a systems biology approach to integrate data from Aims 1
& 2 to identify taxonomic drivers of functional shifts in the vaginal metabolome that lead to increased C.
trachomatis susceptibility. The proposed studies represent a novel approach to understanding how the vaginal
microbiome and metabolome mediate C. trachomatis susceptibility. Findings from the proposed research will
identify critical targets that enhance C. trachomatis susceptibility and inform development of innovative C.
trachomatis prevention strategies that seek to disrupt or eliminate bacterial or metabolomics targets that facilitate
C. trachomatis growth, thus reducing C. trachomatis infection.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10328242
- **Project number:** 5R01AI132441-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Ellen Balkus
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $754,957
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-14 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10328242

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10328242, Impact of the vaginal microbiome on Chlamydia trachomatis acquisition (5R01AI132441-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10328242. Licensed CC0.

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