The EU FP6 EpiGenChlamydia Consortium: contribution of molecular epidemiology and host-pathogen genomics to understanding Chlamydia trachomatis-related disease

Chlamydia trachomatis infections are responsible for the world's leading cause of blindness (trachoma) and its most prevalent sexually transmitted disease, which is strongly associated with pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and tubal infertility. Twin study-based findings of members of EpiGenChlamydia Consortium estimate that there is a 40% genetic predisposition to C. trachomatis infections. It is likely that the advances in human genomics will help to unravel the genetic predisposition at the gene level and will help to define a genetic fingerprint that can be used as a marker for this predisposition. The information gathered to date suggests that this predisposition and the factors contributing to prognosis are multifactorial. The EpiGenChlamydia Consortium aims to structure transnational research to such a degree that comparative genomics and genetic epidemiology can be performed in large numbers of unrelated individuals. Biobanking and data-warehouse building are the most central deliverables of the Coordination Action of the Consortium in Functional Genomics Research. In addition, the collective synergy acquired in this Coordination Action will allow for the generation of scientific knowledge on the C. trachomatis-host interaction, knowledge on the genetic predisposition to C. trachomatis infection and the development of tools for early detection of a predisposition to C. trachomatis infection and its complications. This review summarizes the consortium aims and progress, and future perspectives and directions.