Grant: Cat. Gr.: STBBI Res.: Beyond HIV/AIDS/Hep. C- STBBI other than HIV/hep. C (gen.)

Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum and is a major global health issue, affecting millions annually. It can lead to severe outcomes including congenital syphilis, which is the leading cause of infectious stillbirth worldwide. Although syphilis is still successfully treated by penicillin, the resurgence of the disease across the world underscores the urgent need for preventive measures. Our project, addresses a critical gap in syphilis research by developing the EliminateTP platform, which provides a centralized, accessible resource for prophylactic vaccine development. This initiative is designed to provide vaccine development stakeholders, from established T. pallidum researchers to newcomers in the field, readily accessible information on T. pallidum multi-omics data and the host response to infection that is essential for syphilis vaccine development. We will amalgamate and make accessible published datasets and newly acquired primary data to aid in the development of a vaccine that is effective against all T. pallidum strains. Importantly, we will ensure the data is inclusive and available in formats suited to researchers in all disciplines, including researchers in bioinformatics and artificial intelligence communities, who are instrumental in initial vaccine design strategies and have traditionally not been involved in the syphilis field. By integrating vital molecular data about both the bacterium and the host response to the bacterium, our resource "EliminateTP" will support researchers in Canada and worldwide to design more effective vaccines. Resources developed will be shared openly, adhering to F.A.I.R. data principles to promote global collaboration and accelerate vaccine development efforts.