Whole Genome Sequencing of T.pallidum using Routine Clinical Samples
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Whole Genome Sequencing of Treponema pallidum using Routine Clinical Samples
IRAS ID
352147
Contact name
Michael Marks
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Syphilis is an important sexually transmitted infection. There has been an epidemic of syphilis amongst men who have sex with men in the United Kingdom in the last decade. Early infection with syphilis causes a genital ulcer followed, in the absence of treatment, by a generalised illness often accompanied by rash.
Studies on syphilis have been limited because it is not possible to grow syphilis outside of the body. New approaches using molecular tests allow the whole genetic sequence of the bacteria to be obtained from a swab. In this study we use residual DNA collected from patients routine clinical samples to obtain the genetic sequence of the bacteria.
There is no patient contact in the study which involves entirely the use of acellular material consisting of residual DNA from routine clinical samples. Data will consist only of anonymised non-personally identifiable data. We will perform whole genome sequencing of these samples to explore the diversity of Syphilis within the UK.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SW/0017
Date of REC Opinion
21 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion