Breaking the back of the gonorrhoea superbug

Abstract

Neisseira gonorrhoeae is an obligate human pathogen that can infect human mucosal surface including the female cervix and male urethra and causes gonorrhoea. Gonorrhoea patients can be treated by antibiotics but the recent emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of N. gonorrhoeae have generated a major challenge for public health. Therefore, a vaccine or a new treatment option to prevent or cure gonorrhoea is the ideal public health solution and is crucially needed. Based on our profound understanding of N. gonorrhoeae biology and function, we have characterized several novel surface virulence factors of N. gonorrhoeae. We evaluated their potential of being vaccine antigens and we are now in the development of the best gonorrhoea vaccine. In parallel, we discovered a repurpose drug candidate which could be a new therapeutic for MDR N. gonorrhoeae infections. This seminar will focus on the discovery of gonococcal vaccine antigens and drug candidates.  

Biography

Dr Freda Jen is a senior research fellow in the Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University. Dr Jen’s primary research focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions and virulence mechanisms of pathogenic Neisseria (i.e. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis) for the purpose of developing vaccines and treatments for gonococcal and meningococcal diseases. Over the past 5 years, Dr Jen has built a research profile in gonococcal vaccine and treatment development. She published a few key papers in the field and has patents which have been licensed to a biotech company