NIH-Funded Study Finds Doxycycline Reduces Sexually Transmitted Infections by Two-Thirds

The oral antibiotic doxycycline prevented the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when tested among study participants who took the medication within 72 hours of having condomless sex. The post-exposure approach, termed doxy-PEP, resulted in a two-thirds reduction in the incidence of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia among the study participants.

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Bioinformatics Resource Centers (BRCs) for Infectious Diseases

The NIAID-funded Bioinformatics Resource Centers provide data-driven, production-level, sustainable computational platforms to enable sharing and access to data, portable computational tools, and standards that support interoperability for the infectious diseases research community.

Systems Biology Consortium Resources

The Systems Biology Consortium for Infectious Diseases is a community of systems biologists who integrate experimental biology, computational tools and modeling across temporal and spatial scales to improve our understanding of infectious diseases. Through collaborative efforts, scientists test and validate hypotheses that drive innovation and discovery. The Consortium seeks to develop strategies that predict and alleviate disease severity and ultimately provide solutions to the world's most important health challenges.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. N. gonorrhoeae infects the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and the urethra in women and men. N. gonorrhoeae can also establish infection in the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum. It is becoming more difficult to treat gonorrhea, as strains have been isolated that are resistant to the last antibiotic approved for treatment. NIAID supports a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program of research on N. gonorrhoeae that includes basic research on pathogens, improved diagnostics, preventive vaccines, and additional alternative treatments. 

Related Public Health and Government Information

Read the Gonorrhea Fact Sheet and Antimicrobial-Resistant Gonorrhea Basic Information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Multidrug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gonorrhea)

Another important area of gonorrhea research concerns antibiotic (drug) resistance. This is particularly important because strains of N. gonorrhoeae that are resistant to recommended antibiotic treatments have been increasing and are becoming widespread in the United States. These events add urgency to conduct research on and develop new antibiotics and to prevent antibiotic resistance from spreading.

 

Read more about multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea)

Diagnostics

Study Supports Expanded Testing for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia

A study from the NIAID-funded Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) found that two diagnostic tests accurately detected gonorrhea and chlamydia in samples from the pharynx (throat) and rectum. Read the news release about the study: Study Supports Expanded Testing for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia

Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID)
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea

Related Research

Page Summary
NIAID supports a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program of research on N. gonorrhoeae that includes basic research on pathogens, improved diagnostics, preventive vaccines, and additional alternative treatments.

Highlights

Closely clustered and cleaved (partially separated) spheres with irregular surfaces
Scanning electron micrograph of Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria, which causes gonorrhea. Captured by the Research Technologies Branch at the NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana.
Credit
NIAID
Research/Understanding
Emerging Infectious Diseases/Pathogens

NIH Statement on Preliminary Efficacy Results of First-in-Class Gonorrhea Antibiotic Developed Through Public-Private Partnership

A single dose of a novel oral antibiotic called zoliflodacin has been found to be as safe and effective as standard therapy for uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea in an international Phase 3 non-inferiority clinical trial.

Gonorrhea bacteria
Scanned electron micrograph image of Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria, which can cause gonorrhea.
Credit
NIAID

NIH-Funded Study Finds Doxycycline Reduces Sexually Transmitted Infections by Two-Thirds

The oral antibiotic doxycycline prevented the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when tested among study participants who took the medication within 72 hours of having condomless sex.

Research Area Type
Diseases & Conditions
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