Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, is a sexually transmitted microorganism
that exhibits remarkable motility capabilities, allowing it to affect various systems. Despite
its structural resemblance to gram-negative bacteria due to its dual-membrane, T. pallidum
possesses a lower abundance of outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which enables it to effectively
conceal itself. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the clinical diagnostic potential
associated with the OMPs of T. pallidum. Furthermore, the known OMPs in T. pallidum that are
responsible for mediating host interactions have been progressively elucidated. This review aims
to shed light on the pathogenesis of syphilis, encompassing aspects such as vascular inflammation,
chancre self-healing, neuroinvasion, and reinfection. Additionally, this review offers a detailed
overview of the current state and prospects of development in the field of syphilis vaccines, with
the ultimate goal of establishing a foundation for understanding the pathogenesis and implementing
effective prevention strategies against syphilis.