Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) not only affect the health of individuals, but also result in billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide. To study these diseases, a team of researchers developed a first-of-its-kind immune-enabled “organ-on-a-chip” model that realistically recreates the human cervical environment. This allows scientists to study how the microbiome, immune system, and sexually transmitted diseases interact. This has not been possible until now with overly simplistic cell culture and animal models. Scientists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and School of Dentistry (UMSOD), the University of Delaware, and the University of Virginia published the study in the journal Science. scientific progress.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea account for a large portion of the burden of sexually transmitted infections, and due to their high incidence and associated complications, combined direct medical costs are estimated to be approximately $1 billion annually in the United States alone. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports nearly 1 million new sexually transmitted disease infections worldwide every day This includes 129 million new chlamydia infections per year among people aged 15 to 49 years. Beyond the economic impact, chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause serious complications for women’s health, including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth.
This new model will revolutionize the way scientists study sexually transmitted diseases, leading to a better understanding of these conditions and the potential for better treatments. Another strong part of this work is the cross-disciplinary collaboration in the research. By integrating engineering, microbiology, immunology, and microbiome science, we were able to build a model that more closely reflects the complexity of human biology and the cervical microenvironment. ”
Dr. Jacques Lovell, co-lead author, Director of the Center for Microbiome Research and Innovation (CAMRI) within the UMSOM Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS). John L. Whitehurst Professor of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, UMSOM Associate Dean for Research Advancement
The organ-on-a-chip model, scientifically known as a “microphysiological system,” simulates the human cervix using cervical epithelial cells, supporting tissue cells, immune cells, fluid flow, and the microbiome commonly found in the vagina. This model consists of a porous membrane layered with human cervical cells on one side and supporting cells on the other side. Fluid flows on both sides, mimicking physiological conditions. Once the microbiome and pathogens are added, the model reproduces important aspects of what happens in the human cervix.
“A key goal was to develop a complex model system that was practical and accessible so that researchers outside bioengineering labs could adopt it and apply it to answering important biological questions,” said co-first author Jason Gleghorn, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Delaware, who led model development. “The need for this model was particularly important for studying the vaginal microbiome, which is known to play an important role in susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections.”
After developing the model, the research team tested it using two sexually transmitted diseases. chlamydia trachomatis, and caused by gonorrhea Gonorrhea.
“One of the most interesting findings was that, similar to women, the protective microbiome is dominated by: Lactobacillus carlatus Infection was limited in this model, further highlighting the important role of the vaginal microbiome in STI risk. “In contrast, introducing a ‘suboptimal’ microbiome worsened infections. This model provides a powerful new tool to develop faster, more effective and personalized treatments, test new treatments such as probiotics and biologic therapies, and ultimately protect women before infections occur,” Dr. Lovell said. For the first time, it is now possible to simulate what is happening inside the human body, rather than relying solely on Petri dish systems or inadequate animal models. ”
sauce:
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Reference magazines:
Nelson, K.M. Others. (2026). Microphysiological human cervix models recapitulate the microbial, immune, and pathogenic properties of sexually transmitted infections. scientific progress. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aeb4864. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aeb4864
