If a stable, long-term institutional commitment can be made, the following activities could lead to development of an effective vaccine: • Continued research to understand basic aspects of pathology and host responses ∘ Test in humans the hypotheses generated in animal and in vitro models of infection, to determine the impact of Gc on human genital immune responsiveness. The authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this article and do not necessarily represent the views, decisions or policies of the institutions with which they

are affiliated. Funding for this work was provided to A.E.J. by grants RO1-AI 42053 and U19 AI31496 and to M.W.R. by grant R21 AI074791 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. M.W.R. was also supported by the John R. Oishei Foundation, Buffalo, New York. We thank Marcia Hobbs and John Nyquist, M.S., C.M.I, F.A.M.I., SRT1720 for preparation of the figures and Freyja Lynn and Amanda DeRocco for helpful

reading of the manuscript. “
“Recent World Health Organization estimates of the global incidence and prevalence of selected curable sexually transmitted infections reaffirms the need for public health intervention to control spread of Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv), a neglected parasite compared to other sexually transmitted infections (STI). Despite ranking as the most common curable and most common non-viral STI world-wide, relatively little research is conducted to understand its biology and pathogenesis. Furthermore, lack of education and screening programs allow the pathogen to go unreported and often undetected PI3K Inhibitor Library in millions of people across the globe. Incidence of Tv has increased by 11.5% since 2005 and is now estimated

in 2008 surveys at 276.4 million new infections each year. The parasite’s prevalence has increased by 22.2% since 2005 with recent reports of 187 million concurrent infections at any given time [1] and [2]. To emphasize the severity of these numbers, Tv prevalence accounts for over half of curable STI; more than Chlamydia trachomatis (100.4 million), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (36.4 million) and syphilis (36.4 million) combined [1] and [2]. Alternative control methods are below clearly needed. Men and women are infected in roughly the same proportion. However, women are considered to be impacted by the burden of disease more severely than men. Firstly, prevalence of Tv in women is roughly 10 times higher than men in any given region [2]. Women infected with Tv will often remain asymptomatic, with symptoms potentially developing within three months. Clinical manifestations of Tv infection, or trichomoniasis, include vaginal discharge of abnormal color and malodor, vulvar and vaginal irritation and/or erythema, colpitis macularis and a raised vaginal pH (>5) [3], [4], [5] and [6]. Moreover, Tv infections are associated with cervical cancer (3.