Tracking the untrackable: polypharmacology and biomarkers for persistent Chlamydia pneumoniae infections

Academy of Finland -funded research project to taggle the antibiotic-refractory intracellular bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae. The aim of the project is to identify biomarkers suitable for the noninvasive detection of the asymptomatic C. pneumoniae infections and to develop strategies for its improved eradication.

Asymptomatic or mild infections caused by the bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae affect their carriers by predisposing to long-term inflammation. Currently, the management of these infections is challenged by the lack of feasible diagnostics and effective therapies to eradicate the infection. In this project, future development of diagnostic tools is facilitated by the identification of the infection fingerprints. In addition, multi-target therapies are investigated in order to improve the bacterial killing.