Vaccines Against Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) have major adverse and though preventable impacts on reproductive health, perinatal morbidity, several common cancers, and HIV. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 million STIs are acquired every day (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)), while data from the Centers for Disease Control indicates that STI rates have increased for the fifth consecutive year (STD Surveillance, 2018. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, October 2019). Aggressive control efforts (i.e., counseling and behavioral interventions, barrier technologies such as condom use, rapid diagnosis, screening, and treatment programs, and partner notification) alone have not reduced STI prevalence. Moreover, the introduction of highly effective HIV prevention tools is correlated with increases in STI in some populations at risk for HIV, and antimicrobial resistance continues to threaten STI control.

The creation of safe and effective vaccines to prevent common STIs is central to their control. To date, successful vaccines have been created against numerous STIs including human papillomavirus and hepatitis A and B. This Special Issue of Vaccines aims to highlight the status of vaccine development for common STIs including herpes simplex virus type 2, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HPV by discussing the approaches, advances, and challenges facing STI vaccine development. We seek perspectives, review articles, and original research articles from specialists in the STI vaccine field to highlight the current status of vaccine development against STIs.

Prof. Dr. Nicholas Van Wagoner
Prof. Dr. Edward W. Hook III
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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