Dr. Rob Schoborg is participating in an International Short Visit at the Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich from February 22 to March 31, 2025. This visit is funded by a Swiss National Sciences Foundation (SNSF) grant awarded to international colleague Dr. Enrique Rayo. During this visit, Dr. Schoborg has the unique opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Rayo and Dr. Nicole Borel, both of whom have primary appointments in the Institute of Veterinary Pathology. Drs. Rayo and Borel are also members of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine and the Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, respectively, both of which are housed at the University of Zurich. Their study, “Beyond HIV: effect of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) antiretrovirals on the growth and infectivity of Chlamydia trachomatis,” will expand upon preliminary data from Dr. Schoborg and Dr. Borel’s laboratories.
Dr. Schoborg’s research has indicated that several drugs from the HIV integrase inhibitor class of anti-retroviral drugs can inhibit Chlamydia trachomatis replication in culture. These unpublished data were funded in part by a grant from the Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease, and Immunity (CIIDI) at East Tennessee State University. Additionally, data from Dr. Borel’s laboratory indicate that the chlamydia positivity rate in patients receiving PrEP is lower than expected, suggesting that some PrEP components may have anti-chlamydia effects. The scientists hypothesize that exposure to one or more anti-retroviral drugs used in PrEP and/or ART regimens will inhibit C. trachomatis development in culture. The aim of the study is to help refine recommendations for use of specific ART and PrEP regimens that contain at least one drug with anti-chlamydial activity to better protect either HIV-infected or HIV at-risk individuals from C. trachomatis genital infections. Ultimately, this work could influence development of more refined public health strategies to combat these infections. During the visit, Drs. Borel, Rayo, and Schoborg will also generate additional preliminary data and submit a renewal proposal to the SNSF to continue funding for an established collaborative project studying the pathophysiology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae/C. trachomatis coinfections.
Dr. Schoborg is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Medical Education at Quillen College of Medicine. He is a CIIDI member.