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Researchers have now developed a protective vaccine that promises to fight threatening sexually transmitted disease (STD) called chlamydia. Experts from McMaster University outlined ways to administer the vaccine and how the new antigens can help curb the ominous disease.

Experts identified the potential vaccine as chlamydial antigen known as “BD584” in the study published in the journal, Vaccine and funded by Canadian Institutes for Health Research. Authorities pointed out that the new antigen can fight the most common species of chlamydia, named as “Chlamydia trachomatis.” This type of infection is described as “asymptomatic,” and can often lead to full-blown disease without being detected and treated in its initial stage.

Failure to receive early treatment leads to more health concerns, including genital tract infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and infertility, according to medical experts.

David Bulir, one of the authors of the study, recounted the journey before the development of the first widely protective vaccine.

"Vaccine development efforts in the past three decades have been unproductive and there is no vaccine approved for use in humans," according to Bulir, who had just finished his degree in Medical Sciences at McMaster University.

Bulir asserted that vaccination is the only way to prevent chlamydia infection.

"Vaccination would be the best way to way to prevent a chlamydia infection, and this study has identified important new antigens which could be used as part of a vaccine to prevent or eliminate the damaging reproductive consequences of untreated infections," Bulir said, according to Eurekalert.

Fellow author Steven Liang highlighted how the vaccine can fight all C. trachomatis strains, an eye infection caused by chlamydia and is the leading cause of blindness that has affected millions, particularly in poor nations.

But with the manner the vaccine is administered, Liang was quick to point out that developing countries can afford the newly developed medical solution against chlamydia.

"The vaccine would be administered through the nose. This is easy and painless and does not require highly trained health professionals to administer, and that makes it an inexpensive solution for developing nations," Liang was quoted as saying by Consumer Affairs.

Researchers are now focused on conducting more test to ensure the effectiveness of the new antigens.