Dr. Guangming Zhong and his team have found that the site of first chlamydia exposure can make all the difference when it comes to patient outcomes.

Initial exposure to chlamydia in the gut was shown to result in robust transmucosal immunity, with the lungs and genital tract protected against the disease. However, if an individual’s initial exposure to the bacteria occurs within the genital tract, it can result in a more severe disease pattern that promotes further disease, according to the official
press release.

“This research emphasizes the pre-exposure of chlamydia to the gastrointestinal tract as a vaccine,” Guangming Zhong, MD, PhD, professor in the Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio stressed in the press release.

For their
study, published in the journal Infection and Immunity, they used a mouse model to better understand chlamydia transmission.

His work has been highlighted on Kens5, ContagionLive, DeccanChronicle, and many other news outlets.