In developing countries, the burden of the infections is greater, so if vaccine costs can be contained STI vaccines will likely also be cost effective there. STI vaccines could play an important cost effective role even when other interventions are available. Curable STIs can be controlled with current treatment, Selleck Kinase Inhibitor Library but asymptomatic infections and drug resistance limit that control. The potential for an STI vaccine will only be clear once trial data reveals its characteristics, but models and experience with HPV vaccine show that such vaccines would be able to interrupt

the spread of infections. Theoretically behavioral heterogeneity allows this interruption to be achieved through targeted programs, but in practice targeting may not be feasible or desirable. The STIs are widespread and can cause serious disease. In the case of HBV and HPV vaccination, the existence of vaccine has led to a better understanding of the Autophagy assay burden associated with these infections. The burden attributable to other STIs seems under-measured and under-appreciated. Despite this, screening programs

and medical care costs in developed countries, along with the reductions in quality of life associated with infection, mean that there is a market for STI vaccines. Other than HIV it seems likely that HSV-2 and chlamydia vaccines have the greatest potential market because of their high prevalence in some developed countries. In parallel with efforts to more accurately measure the burden of disease caused by STIs there is a good case for investments in STI vaccine development. The author is grateful for editorial support and the helpful comments of two anonymous referees. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent Resveratrol the views of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “
“The female and male reproductive tracts are complex compartmentalized systems where immune cells, hormones, and microorganisms interact (Fig. 1). The characteristics of the reproductive tract mucosa are distinct from other mucosal sites [1]. Unlike the gastrointestinal and respiratory mucosae, they lack inductive

mucoepithelial sites (e.g. Peyer’s patches). As such, a significant proportion of IgG in genital secretions is derived from the local circulation. Sexually transmitted infections, especially chlamydia, can still elicit a strong local IgA and cell-mediated immune response [2], [3] and [4]. Unlike most other mucosal sites (except the lower respiratory tract), the dominant immunoglobulin in genital secretions is IgG rather than IgA [5]. The female reproductive tract may be divided into two parts: the lower (vagina and ectocervix) and upper (endocervix, uterus, fallopian tubes) tracts. The lower tract epithelium consists of multiple cell layers of stratified squamous epithelial cells that lack tight junctions allowing the movement of small molecules between the cell lines.