Published July, 2013
Chlamydia promotes gene mutations, PhysOrg, 2013
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB) recently discovered that chlamydia affects genes in ways that could lead to the development of cancer. Normally, cells damaged by chlamydia either die or repair themselves. However, the team at MPIIB found that some mutated cells had managed to survive and even proliferate. The researchers believe the cells' impaired response to chlamydia could be the first step toward the creation of cancer. This discovery is important because identifying the origins of cancer has helped doctors design preventive strategies for the spread of cancer associated with diseases like human papillomavirus virus (HPV). With more research forthcoming, the MPIIB hopes it can do the same with these new findings about chlamydia.
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