Work

Syphilis: using modern approaches to understand an old disease

Year: 2011

Type: review

Abstract: Syphilis is a fascinating and perplexing infection, with protean clinical manifestations and both diagnostic and management ambiguities. Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, the agent of syphilis, is challenging to study in part because it cannot be cultured or genetically manipulated. Here, we review recent progress in the application of modern molecular techniques to understanding the biological basis of this multistage disease and to the development of new tools for diagnosis, for predicting efficacy of treatment with alternative antibiotics, and for studying the transmission of infection through population networks.

Source: Journal of Clinical Investigation

DOI: 10.1172/jci57173

Authors: Emily L. Ho, Sheila A. Lukehart

Institution: University of Washington

Language: English

Topic: Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze