GeneSyS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Genome sequencing syphilis directly from clinical samples
IRAS ID
195816
Contact name
Achyuta Nori
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St. George's University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Syphilis is an increasingly common and serious sexually transmitted infection worldwide, with 10.6million cases reported in 2008. The causative organism, Treponema pallidum ssp pallidum (TPP), is a thin, coiled bacterium belonging to the family Spirochaeticia. It has a relatively small genome size of 1.038 Mega base pairs with only 1041 predicted open reading (coding) frames and is non-cultivable in vitro. Very little is known about its complex structure and immunological interactions. Current diagnostic criteria are largely serological, which lack sensitivity, and no modern technique of diagnosis apart from PCR is currently available. Moreover, current infectious status is poorly defined and understood.
The first genome of TPP was sequenced in 1998. All currently sequenced TPP strains are either reference strains or isolates from clinical samples that have been passaged through rabbit testes, which presents a risk of change of genetic diversity. In this initial proof-of-concept study, we aim to produce whole genome sequences of TPP from DNA extracted from archived ulcer swab samples that were positive for TPP DNA by PCR, either as an in-house assay in a hospital laboratory or at the Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Unit at Public Health England, Colindale. On demonstrating success in directly sequencing these genomes, a larger prospective study with patient consent and collection of epidemiological data is planned.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
16/ES/0042
Date of REC Opinion
15 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion