Focus
Neuroscience and neurological disorders
Group leaders
Associate Professor Willa Huston
The Chlamydia research group works on chlamydial diseases and infections with goal to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevent the damaging reproductive tract sequelae. There are 131 million infections annually worldwide in humans with chlamydia, in women approximately 10% of these will develop pelvic inflammatory disease. These women can also develop serious reproductive tract damage that can result in ectopic pregnancies and tubal factor infertility. Our research examines the microbial pathogenic mechanisms, the responses in women and animals with the diseases, and uses laboratory models of disease to investigate these important pathogens. We aim to uncover new ways to diagnose the women at risk, and improved treatments. We are applying similar research questions to the chlamydial infections in koalas, who are a threatened species, with chlamydial diseases significantly contributing to the threats.