PhD Defence: Harnessing Chlamydia trachomatis-Specific Immunity: Integrating Immunopeptidomics and Vaccination Strategies

Summary of dissertation

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide. While many cases go unnoticed due to a lack of symptoms, untreated infections can have serious long-term consequences, particularly for women, such as chronic inflammation and, in severe cases, infertility. Although antibiotics are effective in treating the infection, prevention remains a critical goal—and vaccines hold the most promise in this regard.

Currently, much of our understanding of immunity to Chlamydia focuses on antibodies. However, the role of T cells, particularly CD8+ T cells, has not been fully explored or incorporated into vaccine strategies. This thesis seeks to bridge that gap by investigating the MHC I immunopeptidome of Chlamydia-infected cells, aiming to identify novel antigens that could inform the development of more comprehensive vaccines.

In addition to identifying new antigen targets, this work evaluates innovative vaccination platforms, including nucleic acid vaccines and those based on bacterial components, to assess their ability to stimulate protective immune responses. By expanding our knowledge of how the immune system interacts with Chlamydia, we hope to contribute to the development of more effective preventive strategies and help reduce the global burden of this infection.