This Sexually Transmitted Diseases Cooperative Research Center will emphasize prevention of serious consequences of selected STDs. Chlamydia trachomatis and Human papilloma virus (HPV) are the most common bacterial and viral STD pathogens. By stressing these infections, we are attempting to find means of reducing that unnecessary burden of complications suffered by women and infants. The ultimate goals are to reduce pelvic inflammatory disease and its sequelae (such as tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy), conjunctivitis and pneumonia in infants, and cervical dysplasia and cancer. Towards these ends we will be taking several approaches. A long term biological approach will focus on basic immunology of chlamydial and HPV infection, and on a mouse model of mucous membrane infection. These studies are aimed at generating information that could be relevant to the development of vaccines to prevent these infections. In the shorter term, it is possible that more rapid results could be achieved by behavior modification, reducing or eliminating behaviors associated with STD acquisition and transmission. In this context we will take both direct and indirect approaches to preventing our target conditions. By a study of behaviors among sex partners we hope to identify specific risky behaviors that may be associated with the development of PID. These could then be the target of educational intervention programs. By studying methods of promoting safer sexual behaviors, including condom use, we hope to be able to prevent the acquisition of STDs by young men. This would indirectly reduce the risks of exposure to women by reducing the reservoir. Finally, we hope to determine how often women, with defined exposures to STDs, have subclinical PID. If we succeed, such women would be candidates for more aggressive therapy than is used for urethritis contacts, with the hope it might prevent long term consequences. Thus, in sum, we are taking several approaches to our long term goals of protecting the health and fertility of women from the consequences of STDs.
| Korn, A P; Hessol, N A; Padian, N S et al. (1998) Risk factors for plasma cell endometritis among women with cervical Neisseria gonorrhoeae, cervical Chlamydia trachomatis, or bacterial vaginosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 178:987-90 |
| Korn, A P; Hessol, N; Padian, N et al. (1995) Commonly used diagnostic criteria for pelvic inflammatory disease have poor sensitivity for plasma cell endometritis. Sex Transm Dis 22:335-41 |
| Korn, A P; Bolan, G; Padian, N et al. (1995) Plasma cell endometritis in women with symptomatic bacterial vaginosis. Obstet Gynecol 85:387-90 |
| Boyer, C B; Ellen, J M (1994) HIV risk in adolescents: the role of sexual activity and substance use behaviors. NIDA Res Monogr 143:135-54 |
