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Balasingam S, Dheda K, Fortune S, Gordon SB, Hoft D, Kublin JG, Loynachan CN, McShane H, Morton B, Nambiar S, Sharma NR, Robertson B, Schrager LK, Weller CL. Review of Current Tuberculosis Human Infection Studies for Use in Accelerating Tuberculosis Vaccine Development: A Meeting Report. J Infect Dis 2024; 230:e457-e464. [PMID: 38709726 PMCID: PMC11326834 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Tools to evaluate and accelerate tuberculosis (TB) vaccine development are needed to advance global TB control strategies. Validated human infection studies for TB have the potential to facilitate breakthroughs in understanding disease pathogenesis, identify correlates of protection, develop diagnostic tools, and accelerate and de-risk vaccine and drug development. However, key challenges remain for realizing the clinical utility of these models, which require further discussion and alignment among key stakeholders. In March 2023, the Wellcome Trust and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative convened international experts involved in developing both TB and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) human infection studies (including mucosal and intradermal challenge routes) to discuss the status of each of the models and the key enablers to move the field forward. This report provides a summary of the presentations and discussion from the meeting. Discussions identified key issues, including demonstrating model validity, to provide confidence for vaccine developers, which may be addressed through demonstration of known vaccine effects (eg, BCG vaccination in specific populations), and by comparing results from field efficacy and human infection studies. The workshop underscored the importance of establishing safe and acceptable studies in high-burden settings, and the need to validate >1 model to allow for different scientific questions to be addressed as well as to provide confidence to vaccine developers and regulators around use of human infection study data in vaccine development and licensure pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keertan Dheda
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine and University of Cape Town (UCT) Lung Institute and South African Medical Research Council/UCT Centre for the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sarah Fortune
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Stephen B Gordon
- Clinical Experimental Medicine, Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, Blantyre
| | - Daniel Hoft
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Saint Louis University of Medicine, Missouri
| | - James G Kublin
- Cancer Center, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Helen McShane
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ben Morton
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
| | - Sujatha Nambiar
- TB Impact Area, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, New York
| | | | - Brian Robertson
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis K Schrager
- TB Impact Area, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, New York
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2
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Blazevic A, Edwards RL, Xia M, Eickhoff CS, Hamzabegovic F, Meza KA, Ning H, Tennant J, Mosby KJ, Ritchie JC, Girmay T, Lai L, McCullough M, Beck A, Kelley C, Edupuganti S, Kabbani S, Buchanan W, Makhene MK, Voronca D, Cherikh S, Goll JB, Rouphael NG, Mulligan MJ, Hoft DF. Phase 1 Open-Label Dose Escalation Trial for the Development of a Human Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Challenge Model for Assessment of Tuberculosis Immunity In Vivo. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:1498-1508. [PMID: 38019956 PMCID: PMC11095547 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A controlled human infection model for assessing tuberculosis (TB) immunity can accelerate new vaccine development. METHODS In this phase 1 dose escalation trial, 92 healthy adults received a single intradermal injection of 2 × 106 to 16 × 106 colony-forming units of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). The primary endpoints were safety and BCG shedding as measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, colony-forming unit plating, and MGIT BACTEC culture. RESULTS Doses up to 8 × 106 were safe, and there was evidence for increased BCG shedding with dose escalation. The MGIT time-to-positivity assay was the most consistent and precise measure of shedding. Power analyses indicated that 10% differences in MGIT time to positivity (area under the curve) could be detected in small cohorts (n = 30). Potential biomarkers of mycobacterial immunity were identified that correlated with shedding. Transcriptomic analysis uncovered dose- and time-dependent effects of BCG challenge and identified a putative transcriptional TB protective signature. Furthermore, we identified immunologic and transcriptomal differences that could represent an immune component underlying the observed higher rate of TB disease incidence in males. CONCLUSIONS The safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity profiles indicate that this BCG human challenge model is feasible for assessing in vivo TB immunity and could facilitate the vaccine development process. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT01868464 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Azra Blazevic
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri
| | - Rachel L Edwards
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri
| | - Mei Xia
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri
| | | | - Fahreta Hamzabegovic
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri
| | - Krystal A Meza
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri
| | - Huan Ning
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri
| | - Janice Tennant
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri
| | - Karla J Mosby
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri
| | - James C Ritchie
- Hope Clinic, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Tigisty Girmay
- Hope Clinic, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lilin Lai
- Hope Clinic, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michele McCullough
- Hope Clinic, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Allison Beck
- Hope Clinic, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Colleen Kelley
- Hope Clinic, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Srilatha Edupuganti
- Hope Clinic, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sarah Kabbani
- Hope Clinic, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Wendy Buchanan
- Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mamodikoe K Makhene
- Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Delia Voronca
- The Emmes Company, LLC, Global Head Biomedical Data Science and Bioinformatics, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Sami Cherikh
- The Emmes Company, LLC, Global Head Biomedical Data Science and Bioinformatics, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Johannes B Goll
- The Emmes Company, LLC, Global Head Biomedical Data Science and Bioinformatics, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Nadine G Rouphael
- Hope Clinic, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Daniel F Hoft
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri
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3
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Tian X, Janes HE, Kublin JG. Statistical design and analysis of controlled human malaria infection trials. Malar J 2024; 23:133. [PMID: 38702775 PMCID: PMC11068571 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04959-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium protozoa transmitted by infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) trials are used to assess the efficacy of interventions for malaria elimination. The operating characteristics of statistical methods for assessing the ability of interventions to protect individuals from malaria is uncertain in small CHMI studies. This paper presents simulation studies comparing the performance of a variety of statistical methods for assessing efficacy of intervention in CHMI trials. METHODS Two types of CHMI designs were investigated: the commonly used single high-dose design (SHD) and the repeated low-dose design (RLD), motivated by simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) challenge studies. In the context of SHD, the primary efficacy endpoint is typically time to infection. Using a continuous time survival model, five statistical tests for assessing the extent to which an intervention confers partial or full protection under single dose CHMI designs were evaluated. For RLD, the primary efficacy endpoint is typically the binary infection status after a specific number of challenges. A discrete time survival model was used to study the characteristics of RLD versus SHD challenge studies. RESULTS In a SHD study with the continuous time survival model, log-rank test and t-test are the most powerful and provide more interpretable results than Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and Lachenbruch tests, while the likelihood ratio test is uniformly most powerful but requires knowledge of the underlying probability model. In the discrete time survival model setting, SHDs are more powerful for assessing the efficacy of an intervention to prevent infection than RLDs. However, additional information can be inferred from RLD challenge designs, particularly using a likelihood ratio test. CONCLUSIONS Different statistical methods can be used to analyze controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) experiments, and the choice of method depends on the specific characteristics of the experiment, such as the sample size allocation between the control and intervention groups, and the nature of the intervention. The simulation results provide guidance for the trade off in statistical power when choosing between different statistical methods and study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Tian
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Holly E Janes
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - James G Kublin
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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Reperant L, Russell CA, Osterhaus A. Scientific highlights of the 9th ESWI Influenza Conference. ONE HEALTH OUTLOOK 2024; 6:5. [PMID: 38561784 PMCID: PMC10986029 DOI: 10.1186/s42522-024-00099-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) held the 9th ESWI Influenza Conference in Valencia from 17-20 September 2023. Here we provide a summary of twelve key presentations, covering major topics on influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) including: infection processes beyond acute respiratory disease, long COVID, vaccines against influenza and RSV, the implications of the potential extinction of influenza B virus Yamagata lineage, and the threats posed by zoonotic highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Colin A Russell
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Albert Osterhaus
- Center of Infection Medicine and Zoonosis Research and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
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5
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van Dorst MMAR, Pyuza JJ, Nkurunungi G, Kullaya VI, Smits HH, Hogendoorn PCW, Wammes LJ, Everts B, Elliott AM, Jochems SP, Yazdanbakhsh M. Immunological factors linked to geographical variation in vaccine responses. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:250-263. [PMID: 37770632 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00941-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination is one of medicine's greatest achievements; however, its full potential is hampered by considerable variation in efficacy across populations and geographical regions. For example, attenuated malaria vaccines in high-income countries confer almost 100% protection, whereas in low-income regions these same vaccines achieve only 20-50% protection. This trend is also observed for other vaccines, such as bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), rotavirus and yellow fever vaccines, in terms of either immunogenicity or efficacy. Multiple environmental factors affect vaccine responses, including pathogen exposure, microbiota composition and dietary nutrients. However, there has been variable success with interventions that target these individual factors, highlighting the need for a better understanding of their downstream immunological mechanisms to develop new ways of modulating vaccine responses. Here, we review the immunological factors that underlie geographical variation in vaccine responses. Through the identification of causal pathways that link environmental influences to vaccine responsiveness, it might become possible to devise modulatory compounds that can complement vaccines for better outcomes in regions where they are needed most.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes M A R van Dorst
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jeremia J Pyuza
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Gyaviira Nkurunungi
- Immunomodulation and Vaccines Programme, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Vesla I Kullaya
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Hermelijn H Smits
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Linda J Wammes
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Bart Everts
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Alison M Elliott
- Immunomodulation and Vaccines Programme, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Simon P Jochems
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Maria Yazdanbakhsh
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
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Olajiga OM, Jameson SB, Carter BH, Wesson DM, Mitzel D, Londono-Renteria B. Artificial Feeding Systems for Vector-Borne Disease Studies. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:188. [PMID: 38534457 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
This review examines the advancements and methodologies of artificial feeding systems for the study of vector-borne diseases, offering a critical assessment of their development, advantages, and limitations relative to traditional live host models. It underscores the ethical considerations and practical benefits of such systems, including minimizing the use of live animals and enhancing experimental consistency. Various artificial feeding techniques are detailed, including membrane feeding, capillary feeding, and the utilization of engineered biocompatible materials, with their respective applications, efficacy, and the challenges encountered with their use also being outlined. This review also forecasts the integration of cutting-edge technologies like biomimicry, microfluidics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence to refine and expand the capabilities of artificial feeding systems. These innovations aim to more accurately simulate natural feeding conditions, thereby improving the reliability of studies on the transmission dynamics of vector-borne diseases. This comprehensive review serves as a foundational reference for researchers in the field, proposing a forward-looking perspective on the potential of artificial feeding systems to revolutionize vector-borne disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olayinka M Olajiga
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Samuel B Jameson
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Brendan H Carter
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Dawn M Wesson
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Dana Mitzel
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Berlin Londono-Renteria
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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7
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Morin AL, Blanc E, Phalipon A, Bertoye PH, Amiel P, Artaud C, Barthélemy P, Botelho-Nevers E, Courcier S, Cracowski JL, Eisinger F, Forrat R, Gruber A, Jamrozik E, Launay O, Le Jeunne C, Simhon D. Essais d’infection contrôlée chez la personne humaine : légitimité et conditions de réalisation en France. Therapie 2024; 79:23-33. [PMID: 38105121 DOI: 10.1016/j.therap.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Euzebiusz Jamrozik
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Monash University, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australie
| | - Odile Launay
- Université Paris Cité; AP-HP, CIC vaccinologie Cochin Pasteur-Hôpital Cochin; Inserm, FCRIN, I REIVAC, 75014 Paris France
| | - Claire Le Jeunne
- Université Paris Cité; AP-HP, Ateliers de Giens, Hôpital Cochin, 75014 Paris, France
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8
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Miura F, Klinkenberg D, Wallinga J. Quantifying the Individual Variation in Susceptibility to Endemic Coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 with Human Challenge Trials. Epidemiology 2024; 35:113-117. [PMID: 38032803 PMCID: PMC10683973 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Human challenge trials reveal how the infection risk depends on a given infectious dose. We propose a mathematical framework to analyze and interpret the outcomes of human challenge trials by incorporating the variability between individuals in susceptibility to infection. We illustrate the framework for two distinctive diseases; endemic diseases where a fraction of the study population has been exposed to the target pathogen previously and is thus immune, and novel diseases where the study population is fully susceptible. Based on available data from published trials, we estimate the immune proportion and the variation in susceptibility to endemic HCoV-229E and present plausible infection risks with SARS-CoV-2 over multiple orders of magnitude of the infectious dose. The results show that the proposed method captures heterogeneous background susceptibility in the study population, and we suggest ways to improve the design of future trials and to translate their outcomes to the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuminari Miura
- From the Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Don Klinkenberg
- From the Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jacco Wallinga
- From the Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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9
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Morin AL, Blanc E, Phalipon A, Bertoye PH, Amiel P, Artaud C, Barthélemy P, Botelho-Nevers E, Courcier S, Cracowski JL, Eisinger F, Forrat R, Gruber A, Jamrozik E, Launay O, Le Jeunne C, Simhon D. Controlled human infection trials: Legitimacy and conditions of implementation in France. Therapie 2024; 79:35-45. [PMID: 38105120 DOI: 10.1016/j.therap.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
This round table is the result of an observation. The observation being that controlled human infection clinical trials (also called "infectious challenge" trials or "Controlled Human Infection Models", "CHIM") recommended or even encouraged in the context of vaccine developments in particular, are not carried out in France. However, there are no formal prohibitions within regulations or ethical principles, which point to the prior assessment of risks and benefits for individuals and for society. The participants in this Round Table thus wished to examine, through the prism of their respective disciplines, the scientific and medical relevance of conducting such trials in France and, if possible, to imagine the conditions under which they would be carried out, thus resulting in recommendations on (1) the advisability of their conduct in France (2), the conditions under which they would be implemented in terms of logistics and regulations, and (3) their social acceptability. The recommendations on which the participants of the Round Table came to an agreement are presented as the analysis progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Euzebiusz Jamrozik
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Monash University, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Odile Launay
- Université Paris Cité, AP-HP, CIC vaccinologie Cochin Pasteur, hôpital Cochin, Inserm, FCRIN, I REIVAC, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Claire Le Jeunne
- Université Paris Cité, AP-HP, Ateliers de Giens, hôpital Cochin, 75014 Paris, France
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10
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Katzer M, Salloch S, Schindler C, Mertz M. Ethical Requirements for Human Challenge Studies: A Systematic Review of Reasons. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2023; 114:1209-1219. [PMID: 37716911 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.3054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Human challenge studies (HCS) are controlled clinical trials in which participants are deliberately infected with a pathogen. Such trials are being developed for an increasing number of diseases. Partly as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been a recent ethical debate about the reasons for and against HCS in general, or rather, about the requirements that individual HCS must fulfill to be ethically acceptable. A systematic review was conducted to categorize and summarize such requirements and the reasons given for them. Ethics literature was searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, BELIT, and PhilPapers; eligibility criteria were articles published in a scientific/scholarly journal (original research, reviews, editorials, opinion pieces, and conference/meeting reports). Of 1,322 records identified, 161 publications were included, with 183 requirements (with associated reasons) in 10 thematic categories extracted via qualitative content analysis. In synthesizing and interpreting the requirements and their reasons, three issues emerge as particularly sensitive in the case of HCS: the meaning of the right to withdraw from research procedures, communication of researchers with the public and various stakeholders, and the conditions of informed consent. However, four other issues, not specific to HCS, stand out as the most controversial: the acceptable level of risk to participants, payment of participants, protection of vulnerable groups, and standards for international collaborations. Controversies in these areas indicate that further debate is warranted, possibly leading to more specific instructions in ethics guidance documents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Katzer
- Institute for Ethics, History, and Philosophy of Medicine, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabine Salloch
- Institute for Ethics, History, and Philosophy of Medicine, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Christoph Schindler
- Center for Clinical Trials (ZKS), Early Clinical Trial Unit (ECTU) & Center for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Marcel Mertz
- Institute for Ethics, History, and Philosophy of Medicine, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
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11
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Abo YN, Jamrozik E, McCarthy JS, Roestenberg M, Steer AC, Osowicki J. Strategic and scientific contributions of human challenge trials for vaccine development: facts versus fantasy. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 23:e533-e546. [PMID: 37573871 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00294-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The unprecedented speed of delivery of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic vaccines has redefined the limits for all vaccine development. Beyond the aspirational 100-day timeline for tomorrow's hypothetical pandemic vaccines, there is a sense of optimism that development of other high priority vaccines can be accelerated. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, an intense and polarised academic and public discourse arose concerning the role of human challenge trials for vaccine development. A case was made for human challenge trials as a powerful tool to establish early proof-of-concept of vaccine efficacy in humans, inform vaccine down selection, and address crucial knowledge gaps regarding transmission, pathogenesis, and immune protection. We review the track record of human challenge trials contributing to the development of vaccines for 19 different pathogens and discuss relevant limitations, barriers, and pitfalls. This Review also highlights opportunities for efforts to broaden the scope and boost the effects of human challenge trials, to accelerate all vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara-Natalie Abo
- Tropical Diseases Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Euzebiusz Jamrozik
- Ethox and Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Monash-WHO Collaborating Centre for Bioethics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - James S McCarthy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Services, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Meta Roestenberg
- Controlled Human Infections Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Andrew C Steer
- Tropical Diseases Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Joshua Osowicki
- Tropical Diseases Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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12
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Langedijk AC, Bont LJ. Respiratory syncytial virus infection and novel interventions. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:734-749. [PMID: 37438492 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00919-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The large global burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) respiratory tract infections in young children and older adults has gained increased recognition in recent years. Recent discoveries regarding the neutralization-specific viral epitopes of the pre-fusion RSV glycoprotein have led to a shift from empirical to structure-based design of RSV therapeutics, and controlled human infection model studies have provided early-stage proof of concept for novel RSV monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and antiviral drugs. The world's first vaccines and first monoclonal antibody to prevent RSV among older adults and all infants, respectively, have recently been approved. Large-scale introduction of RSV prophylactics emphasizes the need for active surveillance to understand the global impact of these interventions over time and to timely identify viral mutants that are able to escape novel prophylactics. In this Review, we provide an overview of RSV interventions in clinical development, highlighting global disease burden, seasonality, pathogenesis, and host and viral factors related to RSV immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annefleur C Langedijk
- Department of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Louis J Bont
- Department of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- ReSViNET Foundation, Zeist, the Netherlands.
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13
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Koopman JPR, Houlder EL, Janse JJ, Casacuberta-Partal M, Lamers OAC, Sijtsma JC, de Dood C, Hilt ST, Ozir-Fazalalikhan A, Kuiper VP, Roozen GVT, de Bes-Roeleveld LM, Kruize YCM, Wammes LJ, Smits HH, van Lieshout L, van Dam GJ, van Amerongen-Westra IM, Meij P, Corstjens PLAM, Jochems SP, van Diepen A, Yazdanbakhsh M, Hokke CH, Roestenberg M. Safety and infectivity of female cercariae in Schistosoma-naïve, healthy participants: a controlled human Schistosoma mansoni infection study. EBioMedicine 2023; 97:104832. [PMID: 37837930 PMCID: PMC10585222 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A controlled human infection model for schistosomiasis (CHI-S) can speed up vaccine development and provides insight into early immune responses following schistosome exposure. Recently, we established CHI-S model using single-sex male-only Schistosoma mansoni (Sm) cercariae in Schistosoma-naïve individuals. Given important differences in antigenic profile and human immune responses to schistosomes of different sex, we pioneered a single-sex female-only CHI-S model for future use in vaccine development. METHODS We exposed 13 healthy, Schistosoma-naïve adult participants to 10 (n = 3) or 20 (n = 10) female cercariae and followed for 20 weeks, receiving treatment with praziquantel (PZQ) 60 mg/kg at week 8 and 12 after exposure. FINDINGS The majority (11/13) participants reported rash and/or itch at the site of exposure, 5/13 had transient symptoms of acute schistosomiasis. Exposure to 20 cercariae led to detectable infection, defined as serum circulating anodic antigen levels >1.0 pg/mL, in 6/10 participants. Despite two rounds of PZQ treatment, 4/13 participants showed signs of persistent infection. Additional one- or three-day PZQ treatment (1 × 60 mg/kg and 3 × 60 mg/kg) or artemether did not result in cure, but over time three participants self-cured. Antibody, cellular, and cytokine responses peaked at week 4 post infection, with a mixed Th1, Th2, and regulatory profile. Cellular responses were (most) discriminative for symptoms. INTERPRETATION Female-only infections exhibit similar clinical and immunological profiles as male-only infections but are more resistant to PZQ treatment. This limits future use of this model and may have important implications for disease control programs. FUNDING European Union's Horizon 2020 (grant no. 81564).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Pieter R Koopman
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Emma L Houlder
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline J Janse
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Miriam Casacuberta-Partal
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Olivia A C Lamers
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen C Sijtsma
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Claudia de Dood
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Stan T Hilt
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Arifa Ozir-Fazalalikhan
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Vincent P Kuiper
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Geert V T Roozen
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Laura M de Bes-Roeleveld
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Yvonne C M Kruize
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Linda J Wammes
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hermelijn H Smits
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lisette van Lieshout
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Govert J van Dam
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Inge M van Amerongen-Westra
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Pauline Meij
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Paul L A M Corstjens
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Simon P Jochems
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Angela van Diepen
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Yazdanbakhsh
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Cornelis H Hokke
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Meta Roestenberg
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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14
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Bevan JHJ, Theodosiou AA, Corner J, Dorey RB, Read RC, Jones CE. A Questionnaire-based Study Exploring Participant Perspectives in a Perinatal Human Challenge Trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2023; 42:935-941. [PMID: 37463362 PMCID: PMC10569679 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women have historically been excluded from most medical research, including human challenge studies. The proof-of-concept Lactamica 9 human challenge study investigated whether nasal inoculation of pregnant women with commensal bacteria leads to horizontal transmission to the neonate. Given the unique practical and ethical considerations of both human challenge studies and interventional research involving pregnant women and their newborns, we sought to investigate the motivations, concerns and experiences of these volunteers. METHODS Pre- and post-participation questionnaires were given to all participants in the Lactamica 9 study. These fully anonymized qualitative and Semi-quantitative questionnaires used forced Likert scales, word association and free-text questions. RESULTS Pre- and post-participation questionnaires were completed by 87.1% (27/31) and 62.5% (15/24) of eligible participants, respectively. Almost all pre-participation respondents agreed with altruistic motivations for participation, and most concerns were related to discomfort from study procedures, with few concerned about the theoretical risks of inoculation to themselves (5/27; 18.5%) or their baby (6/27; 22.2%). Participants most frequently associated the study intervention with the terms "bacteria," "natural," "protective" and "safe." For the post-participation questionnaire, 93.3% (14/15) found all study procedures acceptable, and qualitative feedback was almost entirely positive, with particular emphasis on the research team's flexibility, approachability and friendliness. CONCLUSIONS The successful completion of the Lactamica 9 study demonstrates that human challenge research in healthy pregnant women can be acceptable and feasible. Participants' initial concerns of potential discomfort were outweighed by predominantly altruistic motivations and perception of the intervention as "natural."
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Affiliation(s)
- James H. J. Bevan
- From the Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, School of Primary Care, Population Science and Medical Education, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anastasia A. Theodosiou
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - James Corner
- University of Southampton Medical School, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Robert B. Dorey
- Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Robert C. Read
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Christine E. Jones
- Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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15
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Rajneesh, Tiwari R, Singh VK, Kumar A, Gupta RP, Singh AK, Gautam V, Kumar R. Advancements and Challenges in Developing Malaria Vaccines: Targeting Multiple Stages of the Parasite Life Cycle. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1795-1814. [PMID: 37708228 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium species, remains a major global health concern, causing millions of deaths annually. While the introduction of the RTS,S vaccine has shown promise, there is a pressing need for more effective vaccines due to the emergence of drug-resistant parasites and insecticide-resistant vectors. However, the complex life cycle and genetic diversity of the parasite, technical obstacles, limited funding, and the impact of the 2019 pandemic have hindered progress in malaria vaccine development. This review focuses on advancements in malaria vaccine development, particularly the ongoing clinical trials targeting antigens from different stages of the Plasmodium life cycle. Additionally, we discuss the rationale, strategies, and challenges associated with vaccine design, aiming to enhance the immune response and protective efficacy of vaccine candidates. A cost-effective and multistage vaccine could hold the key to controlling and eradicating malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajneesh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Rahul Tiwari
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Vishal K Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Awnish Kumar
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Rohit P Gupta
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
- Department of Applied Microbiology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Akhilesh K Singh
- Faculty of Dental Science, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Vibhav Gautam
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Rajiv Kumar
- Centre of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
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16
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Smith C, Smith E, Chiu C, Hinton J, Perez Sepulveda B, Gordon M, Choy RK, Hill PW, Meiring JE, Darton TC, Carey ME, Cooke G, Gibani MM. The Challenge Non-Typhoidal Salmonella (CHANTS) Consortium: Development of a non-typhoidal Salmonella controlled human infection model: Report from a consultation group workshop, 05 July 2022, London, UK. Wellcome Open Res 2023; 8:111. [PMID: 37808389 PMCID: PMC10558987 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.19012.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella disease (iNTS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, particularly as a cause of bloodstream infection in children and immunocompromised adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Vaccines to prevent non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) would represent a valuable public health tool in this setting to avert cases and prevent expansion of antimicrobial resistance. Several NTS and combination typhoidal-NTS vaccine candidates are in early-stage development, although the pathway to licensure is unclear due to challenges in conducting large phase III field trials. Controlled human infection models (CHIM) present an opportunity to accelerate vaccine development for a range of enteric pathogens. Several recent typhoidal Salmonella CHIMs have been conducted safely and have played pivotal roles in progressing vaccine candidates to pre-qualification and licensure. The Challenge Non-Typhoidal Salmonella (CHANTS) consortium has been formed with funding from the Wellcome Trust, to deliver the first NTS CHIM, which can act as a platform for future vaccine evaluation. This paper reports the conclusions of a consultation group workshop convened with key stakeholders. The aims of this meeting were to: (1) define the rationale for an NTS CHIM (2) map the NTS vaccine pipeline (3) refine study design and (4) establish potential future use cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Smith
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Emma Smith
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Christopher Chiu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Jay Hinton
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Blanca Perez Sepulveda
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Melita Gordon
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Peter W.S. Hill
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - James E. Meiring
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Thomas C. Darton
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Megan E. Carey
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Graham Cooke
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Malick M. Gibani
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - CHANTS Consortium
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- PATH, Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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17
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Smith C, Smith E, Chiu C, Hinton J, Perez Sepulveda B, Gordon M, Choy RK, Hill PW, Meiring JE, Darton TC, Carey ME, Cooke G, Gibani MM. The Challenge Non-Typhoidal Salmonella (CHANTS) Consortium: Development of a non-typhoidal Salmonella controlled human infection model: Report from a consultation group workshop, 05 July 2022, London, UK. Wellcome Open Res 2023; 8:111. [PMID: 37808389 PMCID: PMC10558987 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.19012.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella disease (iNTS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, particularly as a cause of bloodstream infection in children and immunocompromised adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Vaccines to prevent non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) would represent a valuable public health tool in this setting to avert cases and prevent expansion of antimicrobial resistance. Several NTS and combination typhoidal-NTS vaccine candidates are in early-stage development, although the pathway to licensure is unclear due to challenges in conducting large phase III field trials. Controlled human infection models (CHIM) present an opportunity to accelerate vaccine development for a range of enteric pathogens. Several recent typhoidal Salmonella CHIMs have been conducted safely and have played pivotal roles in progressing vaccine candidates to pre-qualification and licensure. The Challenge Non-Typhoidal Salmonella (CHANTS) consortium has been formed with funding from the Wellcome Trust, to deliver the first NTS CHIM, which can act as a platform for future vaccine evaluation. This paper reports the conclusions of a consultation group workshop convened with key stakeholders. The aims of this meeting were to: (1) define the rationale for an NTS CHIM (2) map the NTS vaccine pipeline (3) refine study design and (4) establish potential future use cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Smith
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Emma Smith
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Christopher Chiu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Jay Hinton
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Blanca Perez Sepulveda
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Melita Gordon
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Peter W.S. Hill
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - James E. Meiring
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Thomas C. Darton
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Megan E. Carey
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Graham Cooke
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Malick M. Gibani
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - CHANTS Consortium
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- PATH, Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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18
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Drewett GP. The Case for Human Challenge Trials in COVID-19. JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY 2023:10.1007/s11673-023-10309-9. [PMID: 37721594 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-023-10309-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated rapid research to aid in the understanding of the disease and the development of novel therapeutics. One option is to conduct controlled human infection trials (CHITs). In this article I examine the history of deliberate human infection and CHITs and their utilization prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, key ethical considerations of CHITs in the COVID-19 setting, an analysis of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Key criteria for the ethical acceptability of COVID-19 human challenge studies, and a review of the two COVID-19 CHITs that have already commenced, their compliance with the WHO criteria and other ethical considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- George P Drewett
- Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- The Northern Hospital, Epping, VIC, Australia.
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19
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Bilinski A, Slimovitch R, Mendlowitz A, Feld JJ, Salomon JA. First Do No Harm? Modeling Risks and Benefits of Challenge Trials for Hepatitis C Vaccine Development. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:S231-S237. [PMID: 37579207 PMCID: PMC10425130 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2019, about 58 million individuals were chronically infected with hepatitis C virus. Some experts have proposed challenge trials for hepatitis C virus vaccine development. METHODS We modeled incremental infections averted through a challenge approach, under varying assumptions regarding trial duration, number of candidates, and vaccine uptake. We computed the benefit-risk ratio of incremental benefits to risks for challenge versus traditional approaches. We also benchmarked against monetary costs of achieving incremental benefits through treatment. RESULTS Our base case assumes 3 vaccine candidates, each with an 11% chance of success, corresponding to a 30% probability of successfully developing a vaccine. Given this probability, and assuming a 5-year difference in duration between challenge and traditional trials, a challenge approach would avert an expected 185 000 incremental infections with 20% steady-state uptake compared to a traditional approach and 832 000 with 90% uptake (quality-adjusted life-year benefit-risk ratio, 72 000 & 323 000). It would cost at least $92 million and $416 million, respectively, to obtain equivalent benefits through treatment. BRRs vary considerably across scenarios, depending on input assumptions. CONCLUSIONS Benefits of a challenge approach increase with more vaccine candidates, faster challenge trials, and greater uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Bilinski
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Rachel Slimovitch
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Andrew Mendlowitz
- Toronto Center for Liver Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan J Feld
- Toronto Center for Liver Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joshua A Salomon
- Department of Health Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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20
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Rid A, Feld JJ, Liang TJ, Weijer C. Ethics of Controlled Human Infection Studies With Hepatitis C Virus. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:S216-S223. [PMID: 37579202 PMCID: PMC10425137 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Global elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) will be difficult to attain without an effective HCV vaccine. Controlled human infection (CHI) studies with HCV were not considered until recently, when highly effective treatment became available. However, now that successful treatment of a deliberate HCV infection is feasible, it is imperative to evaluate the ethics of establishing a program of HCV CHI research. Here, we evaluate the ethics of studies to develop an HCV CHI model in light of 10 ethical considerations: sufficient social value, reasonable risk-benefit profile, suitable site selection, fair participant selection, robust informed consent, proportionate compensation or payment, context-specific stakeholder engagement, fair and open collaboration, independent review and oversight, and integrated ethics research. We conclude that it can be ethically acceptable to develop an HCV CHI model. Indeed, when done appropriately, developing a model should be a priority on the path toward global elimination of HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Rid
- Department of Bioethics, The Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jordan J Feld
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - T Jake Liang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Charles Weijer
- Department of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Philosophy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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21
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Gilbert IH, Vinayak S, Striepen B, Manjunatha UH, Khalil IA, Van Voorhis WC. Safe and effective treatments are needed for cryptosporidiosis, a truly neglected tropical disease. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e012540. [PMID: 37541693 PMCID: PMC10407372 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sumiti Vinayak
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ujjini H Manjunatha
- Global Health, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc, Emeryville, California, USA
| | - Ibrahim A Khalil
- Department of Health, State of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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22
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Cable J, Sun J, Cheon IS, Vaughan AE, Castro IA, Stein SR, López CB, Gostic KM, Openshaw PJM, Ellebedy AH, Wack A, Hutchinson E, Thomas MM, Langlois RA, Lingwood D, Baker SF, Folkins M, Foxman EF, Ward AB, Schwemmle M, Russell AB, Chiu C, Ganti K, Subbarao K, Sheahan TP, Penaloza-MacMaster P, Eddens T. Respiratory viruses: New frontiers-a Keystone Symposia report. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1522:60-73. [PMID: 36722473 PMCID: PMC10580159 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Respiratory viruses are a common cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Viruses like influenza, RSV, and most recently SARS-CoV-2 can rapidly spread through a population, causing acute infection and, in vulnerable populations, severe or chronic disease. Developing effective treatment and prevention strategies often becomes a race against ever-evolving viruses that develop resistance, leaving therapy efficacy either short-lived or relevant for specific viral strains. On June 29 to July 2, 2022, researchers met for the Keystone symposium "Respiratory Viruses: New Frontiers." Researchers presented new insights into viral biology and virus-host interactions to understand the mechanisms of disease and identify novel treatment and prevention approaches that are effective, durable, and broad.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jie Sun
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Department of Medicine; Department of Immunology; and Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Carter Immunology Center and Division of Infectious Disease and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - In Su Cheon
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Department of Medicine; Department of Immunology; and Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Carter Immunology Center and Division of Infectious Disease and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Andrew E Vaughan
- University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Italo A Castro
- Virology Research Center, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sydney R Stein
- Emerging Pathogens Section, Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center and Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Carolina B López
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Center for Women Infectious Disease Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Katelyn M Gostic
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Ali H Ellebedy
- Department of Pathology and Immunology; The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology & Immunotherapy Programs; and Center for Vaccines and Immunity to Microbial Pathogens, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Andreas Wack
- Immunoregulation Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | | | - Ryan A Langlois
- Center for Immunology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Daniel Lingwood
- The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven F Baker
- Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Melanie Folkins
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ellen F Foxman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Department of Immunology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Martin Schwemmle
- Institute of Virology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alistair B Russell
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Christopher Chiu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ketaki Ganti
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kanta Subbarao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Timothy P Sheahan
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, School of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Taylor Eddens
- Pediatric Scientist Development Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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23
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Rao S, Zhang J, Lin J, Wan J, Chen Y. Association of Red Blood Cell Life Span with Abnormal Changes in Cardiac Structure and Function in Non-Dialysis Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3-5. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11247373. [PMID: 36555989 PMCID: PMC9782058 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11247373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: With the invention and improvement of the carbon monoxide (CO) breath test, the role of shortened red blood cell life span (RBCLS) in renal anemia, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), is gradually attracting attention. Considering that heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD, this study investigated the correlation between the RBCLS and the cardiac structure and function in non-dialysis patients with CKD stages 3−5, aiming to provide new ideas to improve the long-term prognosis of CKD patients. Methods: One hundred thirty-three non-dialysis patients with CKD stages 3−5 were tested for RBCLS. We compared the serological data, cardiac ultrasound results, and follow-up prognosis of patients with different RBCLS. Results: As the RBCLS shortened, the patients’ blood pressure, BNP, and CRP gradually increased, most significantly in patients with an RBCLS < 50 d. Patients with an RBCLS < 50 d had substantially lower hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, and albumin levels than those with an RBCLS ≥ 50 d. The cardiac ultrasound results show that patients with an RBCLS < 50 d had significantly larger atrial diameters than those with an RBCLS ≥ 50 d and were associated with more severe diastolic dysfunction. Patients with an RBCLS < 50 d had a 3.06 times greater risk of combined heart failure at baseline than those with an RBCLS ≥ 70 d and a higher risk of heart failure at follow-up. CKD stage 5 patients with an RBCLS < 50 d were more likely to develop heart failure and require renal replacement therapy earlier than patients with an RBCLS ≥ 50 d. Conclusions: In non-dialysis patients with CKD stages 3−5, there is a correlation between the red blood cell life span and cardiac structure and function. The RBCLS may also impact the renal prognosis of CKD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyi Rao
- Department of Nephrology, Blood Purification Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Fujian Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Chronic Kidney Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Nephrology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Blood Purification Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Fujian Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Chronic Kidney Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Nephrology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, China
| | - Jiaqun Lin
- Department of Nephrology, Blood Purification Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Fujian Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Chronic Kidney Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Nephrology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, China
| | - Jianxin Wan
- Department of Nephrology, Blood Purification Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Fujian Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Chronic Kidney Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Nephrology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, China
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Nephrology, Blood Purification Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Fujian Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Chronic Kidney Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
- Department of Nephrology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, China
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (Y.C.)
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24
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Hla TK, Osowicki J, Salman S, Batty KT, Marsh JA, Kado J, Barr R, Enkel SL, Snelling TL, McCarthy J, Steer AC, Carapetis J, Manning L. Study protocol for controlled human infection for penicillin G against Streptococcus pyogenes: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised trial to determine the minimum concentration required to prevent experimental pharyngitis (the CHIPS trial). BMJ Open 2022; 12:e064022. [PMID: 36600395 PMCID: PMC9743388 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Regular intramuscular benzathine penicillin G injections have been the cornerstone of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) secondary prophylaxis since the 1950s. As the pharmacological correlate of protection remains unknown, it is difficult to recommend changes to this established regimen. Determining the minimum effective penicillin exposure required to prevent Streptococcus pyogenes infection will accelerate development of new long-acting penicillins for RHD prevention as well as inform opportunities to improve existing regimens. The CHIPS trial will address this knowledge gap by directly testing protection afforded by different steady state plasma concentrations of penicillin in an established model of experimental human S. pyogenes pharyngitis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised experimental human infection study. Sixty healthy adult volunteers aged 18-40 years will be recruited and randomised 1:1:1:1:1 to continuous intravenous penicillin infusions targeting five different steady state plasma concentrations of 0 (placebo), 3, 6, 12 and 20 ng/mL via a midline catheter. Each participant's penicillin pharmacokinetic parameters will be established prior to the challenge, to ensure accurate dosing for the continuous infusion. Following the challenge with a well-characterised strain of S. pyogenes, participants will be observed for up to 6 days for the development of pharyngitis and treated with antibiotics prior to discharge. The primary objective is to determine the minimum effective steady-state plasma penicillin concentration required to prevent experimental pharyngitis. Secondary objectives will explore systemic and mucosal immunoinflammatory responses during pharyngitis, bacterial colonisation dynamics, environmental contamination and qualitative evaluation of the participant experience. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval has been obtained (Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee). Findings will be reported in peer-reviewed publications and presented at national/international stakeholder forums. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ACTRN12621000751875.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thel Khin Hla
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Joshua Osowicki
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Department of General Medicine, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sam Salman
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kevin T Batty
- Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Julie A Marsh
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Joseph Kado
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Renae Barr
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Stephanie L Enkel
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas L Snelling
- The University of Sydney School of Public Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Andrew C Steer
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Department of General Medicine, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jonathan Carapetis
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Laurens Manning
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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25
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Rosenheck M. Risk, benefit, and social value in Covid-19 human challenge studies: pandemic decision making in historical context. Monash Bioeth Rev 2022; 40:188-213. [PMID: 35705839 PMCID: PMC9200217 DOI: 10.1007/s40592-022-00156-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
During the Covid-19 pandemic, ethicists and researchers proposed human challenge studies as a way to speed development of a vaccine that could prevent disease and end the global public health crisis. The risks to healthy volunteers of being deliberately infected with a deadly and novel pathogen were not low, but the benefits could have been immense. This essay is a history of the three major efforts to set up a challenge model and run challenge studies in 2020 and 2021. The pharmaceutical company Johnson and Johnson, the National Institutes of Health in the United States, and a private-public partnership of industry, university, and government partners in Britain all undertook preparations. The United Kingdom's consortium began their Human Challenge Programme in March of 2021.Beyond documenting each effort, the essay puts these scientific and ethical debates in dialogue with the social, epidemiological, and institutional conditions of the pandemic as well as the commercial, intellectual, and political systems in which medical research and Covid-19 challenge studies operated. It shows how different institutions understood risk, benefit, and social value depending on their specific contexts. Ultimately the example of Covid-19 challenge studies highlights the constructedness of such assessments and reveals the utility of deconstructing them retrospectively so as to better understand the interplay of medical research and research ethics with larger social systems and historical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabel Rosenheck
- Independent Scholar, 424 Morris Street, #2, 19148, PA, Philadelphia, USA.
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26
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Marsh AA, Magalhaes M, Peeler M, Rose SM, Darton TC, Eyal N, Morrison J, Shah SK, Schmit V. Characterizing altruistic motivation in potential volunteers for SARS-CoV-2 challenge trials. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275823. [PMID: 36322529 PMCID: PMC9629635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In human challenge trials (HCTs), volunteers are deliberately infected with an infectious agent. Such trials can be used to accelerate vaccine development and answer important scientific questions. Starting early in the COVID-19 pandemic, ethical concerns were raised about using HCTs to accelerate development and approval of a vaccine. Some of those concerns pertained to potential exploitation of and/or lack of truly informed consent from volunteers. Specific areas of concern arose around individuals who may be unusually risk-seeking or too economically vulnerable to refuse the payments these trials provide, as opposed to being motivated primarily by altruistic goals. This pre-registered study is the first large-scale survey to characterize people who, early in the pandemic, expressed interest and intention to volunteer to participate in COVID-19 HCTs. We found that individuals expressing interest in SARS-CoV-2 HCTs exhibit consistently altruistic motivations without any special indication of poor risk perception or economic vulnerability. In finding that, early in the pandemic, COVID-19 HCTs were able to attract volunteers whose values align with the nature of these trials, and who are not unusually vulnerable to exploitation, this study may allay some ethical concerns about the volunteers interested in participating in such trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail A. Marsh
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Monica Magalhaes
- Center for Population-Level Bioethics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Matthew Peeler
- Department of Mathematics, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Sophie M. Rose
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas C. Darton
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Nir Eyal
- Center for Population-Level Bioethics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Philosophy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Josh Morrison
- 1Day Sooner, Claymont, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Seema K. Shah
- Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research and Evaluation Center, Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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27
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Duthie MS, Machado BAS, Badaró R, Kaye PM, Reed SG. Leishmaniasis Vaccines: Applications of RNA Technology and Targeted Clinical Trial Designs. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11111259. [PMID: 36365010 PMCID: PMC9695603 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites cause a variety of discrete clinical diseases that present in regions where their specific sand fly vectors sustain transmission. Clinical and laboratory research indicate the potential of immunization to prevent leishmaniasis and a wide array of vaccine candidates have been proposed. Unfortunately, multiple factors have precluded advancement of more than a few Leishmania targeting vaccines to clinical trial. The recent maturation of RNA vaccines into licensed products in the context of COVID-19 indicates the likelihood of broader use of the technology. Herein, we discuss the potential benefits provided by RNA technology as an approach to address the bottlenecks encountered for Leishmania vaccines. Further, we outline a variety of strategies that could be used to more efficiently evaluate Leishmania vaccine efficacy, including controlled human infection models and initial use in a therapeutic setting, that could prioritize candidates before evaluation in larger, longer and more complicated field trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruna A S Machado
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Roberto Badaró
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Paul M Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Steven G Reed
- HDT Bio, 1616 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102, USA
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28
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Liu X, Jiang Y, Ye J, Wang X. Helminth infection and helminth-derived products: A novel therapeutic option for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:999412. [PMID: 36263053 PMCID: PMC9573989 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.999412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (MetS), and it has become the most common chronic liver disease. Helminths have co-evolved with humans, inducing multiple immunomodulatory mechanisms to modulate the host's immune system. By using their immunomodulatory ability, helminths and their products exhibit protection against various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and MetS, which are closely associated with NAFLD. Here, we review the pathogenesis of NAFLD from abnormal glycolipid metabolism, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis. Correspondingly, helminths and their products can treat or relieve these NAFLD-related diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and MetS, by promoting glycolipid metabolism homeostasis, regulating inflammation, and restoring the balance of gut microbiota. Considering that a large number of clinical trials have been carried out on helminths and their products for the treatment of inflammatory diseases with promising results, the treatment of NAFLD and obesity-related diseases by helminths is also a novel direction and strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Liu
- Department of Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yuyun Jiang
- Department of Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Jixian Ye
- Department of Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Department of Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Institute of Digestive Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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29
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Choy RKM, Bourgeois AL, Ockenhouse CF, Walker RI, Sheets RL, Flores J. Controlled Human Infection Models To Accelerate Vaccine Development. Clin Microbiol Rev 2022; 35:e0000821. [PMID: 35862754 PMCID: PMC9491212 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00008-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The timelines for developing vaccines against infectious diseases are lengthy, and often vaccines that reach the stage of large phase 3 field trials fail to provide the desired level of protective efficacy. The application of controlled human challenge models of infection and disease at the appropriate stages of development could accelerate development of candidate vaccines and, in fact, has done so successfully in some limited cases. Human challenge models could potentially be used to gather critical information on pathogenesis, inform strain selection for vaccines, explore cross-protective immunity, identify immune correlates of protection and mechanisms of protection induced by infection or evoked by candidate vaccines, guide decisions on appropriate trial endpoints, and evaluate vaccine efficacy. We prepared this report to motivate fellow scientists to exploit the potential capacity of controlled human challenge experiments to advance vaccine development. In this review, we considered available challenge models for 17 infectious diseases in the context of the public health importance of each disease, the diversity and pathogenesis of the causative organisms, the vaccine candidates under development, and each model's capacity to evaluate them and identify correlates of protective immunity. Our broad assessment indicated that human challenge models have not yet reached their full potential to support the development of vaccines against infectious diseases. On the basis of our review, however, we believe that describing an ideal challenge model is possible, as is further developing existing and future challenge models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert K. M. Choy
- PATH, Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - A. Louis Bourgeois
- PATH, Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Richard I. Walker
- PATH, Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Jorge Flores
- PATH, Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Seattle, Washington, USA
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30
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Sztein MB, Booth JS. Controlled human infectious models, a path forward in uncovering immunological correlates of protection: Lessons from enteric fevers studies. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:983403. [PMID: 36204615 PMCID: PMC9530043 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.983403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric infectious diseases account for more than a billion disease episodes yearly worldwide resulting in approximately 2 million deaths, with children under 5 years old and the elderly being disproportionally affected. Enteric pathogens comprise viruses, parasites, and bacteria; the latter including pathogens such as Salmonella [typhoidal (TS) and non-typhoidal (nTS)], cholera, Shigella and multiple pathotypes of Escherichia coli (E. coli). In addition, multi-drug resistant and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains (e.g., S. Typhi H58 strain) of enteric bacteria are emerging; thus, renewed efforts to tackle enteric diseases are required. Many of these entero-pathogens could be controlled by oral or parenteral vaccines; however, development of new, effective vaccines has been hampered by lack of known immunological correlates of protection (CoP) and limited knowledge of the factors contributing to protective responses. To fully comprehend the human response to enteric infections, an invaluable tool that has recently re-emerged is the use of controlled human infection models (CHIMs) in which participants are challenged with virulent wild-type (wt) organisms. CHIMs have the potential to uncover immune mechanisms and identify CoP to enteric pathogens, as well as to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutics and vaccines in humans. CHIMs have been used to provide invaluable insights in the pathogenesis, host-pathogen interaction and evaluation of vaccines. Recently, several Oxford typhoid CHIM studies have been performed to assess the role of multiple cell types (B cells, CD8+ T, Tregs, MAIT, Monocytes and DC) during S. Typhi infection. One of the key messages that emerged from these studies is that baseline antigen-specific responses are important in that they can correlate with clinical outcomes. Additionally, volunteers who develop typhoid disease (TD) exhibit higher levels and more activated cell types (e.g., DC and monocytes) which are nevertheless defective in discrete signaling pathways. Future critical aspects of this research will involve the study of immune responses to enteric infections at the site of entry, i.e., the intestinal mucosa. This review will describe our current knowledge of immunity to enteric fevers caused byS. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A, with emphasis on the contributions of CHIMs to uncover the complex immunological responses to these organisms and provide insights into the determinants of protective immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo B. Sztein
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Marcelo B. Sztein,
| | - Jayaum S. Booth
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Jayaum S. Booth,
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31
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Dinwiddie DL, Kaukis N, Pham S, Hardin O, Stoner AN, Kincaid JC, Caid K, Kirkpatrick C, Pomeroy K, Putt C, Schwalm KC, Thompson TM, Storm E, Perry TT, Kennedy JL. Viral infection and allergy status impact severity of asthma symptoms in children with asthma exacerbations. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2022; 129:319-326.e3. [PMID: 35750292 PMCID: PMC10091837 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2022.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although viral infection is known to be associated with asthma exacerbations, prior research has not identified reliable predictors of acute symptom severity in virus-related asthma exacerbations (VRAEs). OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of asthma control and viral infection on the severity of current illness and evaluate biomarkers related to acute symptoms during asthma exacerbations. METHODS We prospectively enrolled 120 children with physician-diagnosed asthma and current wheezing who presented to Arkansas Children's Hospital emergency department. The asthma control test (ACT) stratified controlled (ACT > 19) and uncontrolled (ACT ≤ 19) asthma, whereas pediatric respiratory symptom scores evaluated symptoms. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained for viral analysis, and inflammatory mediators were evaluated by nasal filter paper and Luminex assays. RESULTS There were 33 children with controlled asthma and 87 children with uncontrolled asthma. In those with uncontrolled asthma, 77% were infected with viruses during VRAE compared with 58% of those with controlled asthma. Uncontrolled subjects with VRAE had more acute symptoms compared with the controlled subjects with VRAE or uncontrolled subjects without a virus. The uncontrolled subjects with VRAE and allergy had the highest acute symptom scores (3.363 point pediatric respiratory symptom; P = .04). Children with asthma with higher symptom scores had more periostin (P = .02). CONCLUSION Detection of respiratory viruses is frequent in those with uncontrolled asthma. Uncontrolled subjects with viruses have more acute symptoms during exacerbations, especially in those with allergy. Periostin was highest in subjects with the most acute symptoms, regardless of control status. Taken together, these data imply synergy between viral infection and allergy in subjects with uncontrolled asthma when considering acute asthma symptoms and nasal inflammation during an exacerbation of asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrell L Dinwiddie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Clinical Translational Sciences Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Nicholas Kaukis
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Sarah Pham
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Olga Hardin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Ashley N Stoner
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - John C Kincaid
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Katherine Caid
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | | | - Kelsi Pomeroy
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Claire Putt
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Kurt C Schwalm
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Tonya M Thompson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Elizabeth Storm
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Tamara T Perry
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Joshua L Kennedy
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Salkeld J, Themistocleous Y, Barrett JR, Mitton CH, Rawlinson TA, Payne RO, Hou MM, Khozoee B, Edwards NJ, Nielsen CM, Sandoval DM, Bach FA, Nahrendorf W, Ramon RL, Baker M, Ramos-Lopez F, Folegatti PM, Quinkert D, Ellis KJ, Poulton ID, Lawrie AM, Cho JS, Nugent FL, Spence PJ, Silk SE, Draper SJ, Minassian AM. Repeat controlled human malaria infection of healthy UK adults with blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum: Safety and parasite growth dynamics. Front Immunol 2022; 13:984323. [PMID: 36072606 PMCID: PMC9444061 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.984323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In endemic settings it is known that natural malaria immunity is gradually acquired following repeated exposures. Here we sought to assess whether similar acquisition of blood-stage malaria immunity would occur following repeated parasite exposure by controlled human malaria infection (CHMI). We report the findings of repeat homologous blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum (3D7 clone) CHMI studies VAC063C (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03906474) and VAC063 (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02927145). In total, 24 healthy, unvaccinated, malaria-naïve UK adult participants underwent primary CHMI followed by drug treatment. Ten of these then underwent secondary CHMI in the same manner, and then six of these underwent a final tertiary CHMI. As with primary CHMI, malaria symptoms were common following secondary and tertiary infection, however, most resolved within a few days of treatment and there were no long term sequelae or serious adverse events related to CHMI. Despite detectable induction and boosting of anti-merozoite serum IgG antibody responses following each round of CHMI, there was no clear evidence of anti-parasite immunity (manifest as reduced parasite growth in vivo) conferred by repeated challenge with the homologous parasite in the majority of volunteers. However, three volunteers showed some variation in parasite growth dynamics in vivo following repeat CHMI that were either modest or short-lived. We also observed no major differences in clinical symptoms or laboratory markers of infection across the primary, secondary and tertiary challenges. However, there was a trend to more severe pyrexia after primary CHMI and the absence of a detectable transaminitis post-treatment following secondary and tertiary infection. We hypothesize that this could represent the initial induction of clinical immunity. Repeat homologous blood-stage CHMI is thus safe and provides a model with the potential to further the understanding of naturally acquired immunity to blood-stage infection in a highly controlled setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Salkeld
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jordan R. Barrett
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Celia H. Mitton
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ruth O. Payne
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mimi M. Hou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Baktash Khozoee
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nick J. Edwards
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Carolyn M. Nielsen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Diana Muñoz Sandoval
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Florian A. Bach
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Wiebke Nahrendorf
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Megan Baker
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Doris Quinkert
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ian D. Poulton
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alison M. Lawrie
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jee-Sun Cho
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fay L. Nugent
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J. Spence
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. Silk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J. Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Angela M. Minassian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Angela M. Minassian,
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Liatsikos K, Hyder-Wright A, Pojar S, Chen T, Wang D, Davies K, Myerscough C, Reine J, Robinson RE, Urban B, Mitsi E, Solorzano C, Gordon SB, Quinn A, Pan K, Anderson AS, Theilacker C, Begier E, Gessner BD, Collins A, Ferreira DM. Protocol for a phase IV double-blind randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine on pneumococcal colonisation using the experimental human pneumococcal challenge model in healthy adults (PREVENTING PNEUMO 2). BMJ Open 2022; 12:e062109. [PMID: 35798520 PMCID: PMC9263934 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite widely available vaccinations, Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPN) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, causing community-acquired pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media, sinusitis and bacteraemia. Here, we summarise an ethically approved protocol for a double-blind, randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) on pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonisation acquisition, density and duration using experimental human pneumococcal challenge (EHPC). METHODS AND ANALYSIS Healthy adult participants aged 18-50 years will be randomised to receive PCV13, PPV23 or placebo and then undergo one or two EHPCs involving intranasal administration of SPN at 1-month post-vaccination with serotype 3 (SPN3) and 6 months with serotype 6B (SPN6B). Participants randomised to PCV13 and placebo will also be randomised to one of two clinically relevant SPN3 strains from distinct lineages within clonal complex 180, clades Ia and II, creating five study groups. Following inoculation, participants will be seen on days 2, 7, 14 and 23. During the follow-up period, we will monitor safety, colonisation status, density and duration, immune responses and antigenuria. The primary outcome of the study is comparing the rate of SPN3 acquisition between the vaccinated (PCV13 or PPV23) and unvaccinated (placebo) groups as defined by classical culture. Density and duration of colonisation, comparison of acquisition rates using molecular methods and evaluation of the above measurements for individual SPN3 clades and SPN6B form the secondary objectives. Furthermore, we will explore the immune responses associated with these vaccines, their effect on colonisation and the relationship between colonisation and urinary pneumococcal antigen detection. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study is approved by the NHS Research and Ethics Committee (Reference: 20/NW/0097) and by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (Reference: CTA 25753/0001/001-0001). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN15728847, NCT04974294.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Hyder-Wright
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- Respiratory Research Group, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sherin Pojar
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Tao Chen
- Global Health Trials Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Duolao Wang
- Global Health Trials Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kelly Davies
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Jesus Reine
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ryan E Robinson
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- Respiratory Research Group, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Britta Urban
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Elena Mitsi
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Carla Solorzano
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen B Gordon
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Angela Quinn
- Pfizer Vaccines, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kaijie Pan
- Pfizer Vaccines, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrea Collins
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- Respiratory Research Group, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
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Egesa M, Ssali A, Tumwesige E, Kizza M, Driciru E, Luboga F, Roestenberg M, Seeley J, Elliott AM. Ethical and practical considerations arising from community consultation on implementing controlled human infection studies using Schistosoma mansoni in Uganda. Glob Bioeth 2022; 33:78-102. [PMID: 35814190 PMCID: PMC9258062 DOI: 10.1080/11287462.2022.2091503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Issues related to controlled human infection studies using Schistosoma mansoni (CHI-S) were explored to ensure the ethical and voluntary participation of potential CHI-S volunteers in an endemic setting in Uganda. We invited volunteers from a fishing community and a tertiary education community to guide the development of informed consent procedures. Consultative group discussions were held to modify educational materials on schistosomiasis, vaccines and the CHI-S model and similar discussions were held with a test group. With both groups, a mock consent process was conducted. Fourteen in-depth key informant interviews and three group discussions were held to explore perceptions towards participating in a CHI-S. Most of the participants had not heard of the CHI-S. Willingness to take part depended on understanding the study procedures and the consenting process. Close social networks were key in deciding to take part. The worry of adverse effects was cited as a possible hindrance to taking part. Volunteer time compensation was unclear for a CHI-S. Potential volunteers in these communities are willing to take part in a CHI-S. Community engagement is needed to build trust and time must be taken to share study procedures and ensure understanding of key messages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses Egesa
- Immunomodulation and Vaccines Programme, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Agnes Ssali
- Social Aspects of Health Across the Life-Course Programme, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Edward Tumwesige
- Social Aspects of Health Across the Life-Course Programme, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Moses Kizza
- Immunomodulation and Vaccines Programme, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Emmanuella Driciru
- Immunomodulation and Vaccines Programme, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Fiona Luboga
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Meta Roestenberg
- Social Aspects of Health Across the Life-Course Programme, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Janet Seeley
- Social Aspects of Health Across the Life-Course Programme, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Alison M. Elliott
- Immunomodulation and Vaccines Programme, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Oxford JS, Catchpole A, Mann A, Bell A, Noulin N, Gill D, Oxford JR, Gilbert A, Balasingam S. A Brief History of Human Challenge Studies (1900-2021) Emphasising the Virology, Regulatory and Ethical Requirements, Raison D'etre, Ethnography, Selection of Volunteers and Unit Design. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2022. [PMID: 35704095 DOI: 10.1007/82_2022_253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Venetian quarantine 400 years ago was an important public health measure. Since 1900 this has been refined to include "challenge" or deliberate infection with pathogens be they viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Our focus is virology and ranges from the early experiments in Cuba with Yellow Fever Virus to the most widespread pathogen of our current times, COVID-19. The latter has so far caused over four million deaths worldwide and 190 million cases of the disease. Quarantine and challenge were also used to investigate the Spanish Influenza of 1918 which caused over 100 million deaths. We consider here the merits of the approach, that is the speeding up of knowledge in a practical sense leading to the more rapid licensing of vaccines and antimicrobials. At the core of quarantine and challenge initiatives is the design of the unit to allow safe confinement of the pathogen and protection of the staff. Most important though is the safety of volunteers. We can see now, as in 1900, that members of our society are prepared and willing to engage in these experiments for the public good. Our ethnology study, where the investigator observed the experiment from within the quarantine, gave us the first indication of changing attitudes amongst volunteers whilst in quarantine. These quarantine experiments, referred to as challenge studies, human infection studies, or "controlled human infection models" involve thousands of clinical samples taken over two to three weeks and can provide a wealth of immunological and molecular data on the infection itself and could allow the discovery of new targets for vaccines and therapeutics. The Yellow Fever studies from 121 years ago gave the impetus for development of a successful vaccine still used today whilst also uncovering the nature of the Yellow Fever agent, namely that it was a virus. We outline how carefully these experiments are approached and the necessity to have high quality units with self-contained air-flow along with extensive personal protective equipment for nursing and medical staff. Most important is the employment of highly trained scientific, medical and nursing staff. We face a future of emerging pathogens driven by the increasing global population, deforestation, climate change, antibiotic resistance and increased global travel. These emerging pathogens may be pathogens we currently are not aware of or have not caused outbreaks historically but could also be mutated forms of known pathogens including viruses such as influenza (H7N9, H5N1 etc.) and coronaviruses. This calls for challenge studies to be part of future pandemic preparedness as an additional tool to assist with the rapid development of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, immunomodulators and new vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Oxford
- Blizzard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - D Gill
- Blizzard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - J R Oxford
- Inveresk Medical Practice, Edinburgh, E21 7BP, UK
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Williams E, Craig K, Chiu C, Davies H, Ellis S, Emerson C, Jamrozik E, Jefford M, Kang G, Kapulu M, Kolstoe SE, Littler K, Lockett A, Elena Rey, Messer J, McShane H, Saenz C, Selgelid MJ, Shah S, Smith PG, Yamazaki N. Ethics review of COVID-19 human challenge studies: A joint HRA/WHO workshop. Vaccine 2022; 40:3484-3489. [PMID: 35210119 PMCID: PMC8841214 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This report of a joint World Health Organization (WHO) and United Kingdom (UK) Health Research Authority (HRA) workshop discusses the ethics review of the first COVID-19 human challenge studies, undertaken in the midst of the pandemic. It reviews the early efforts of international and national institutions to define the ethical standards required for COVID-19 human challenge studies and create the frameworks to ensure rigorous and timely review of these studies. This report evaluates the utility of the WHO's international guidance document Key criteria for the ethical acceptability of COVID-19 human challenge studies (WHO Key Criteria) as a practical resource for the ethics review of COVID-19 human challenge studies. It also assesses the UK HRA's approach to these complex ethics reviews, including the formation of a Specialist Ad-Hoc Research Ethics Committee (REC) for COVID-19 Human Challenge Studies to review all current and future COVID-19 human challenge studies. In addition, the report outlines the reflections of REC members and researchers regarding the ethics review process of the first COVID-19 human challenge studies. Finally, it considers the potential ongoing scientific justification for COVID-19 human challenge studies, particularly in relation to next-generation vaccines and optimisation of vaccination schedules. Overall, there was broad agreement that the WHO Key Criteria represented an international consensus document that played a powerful role in setting norms and delineating the necessary conditions for the ethical acceptability of COVID-19 human challenge studies. Workshop members suggested that the WHO Key Criteria could be practically implemented to support researchers and ethics reviewers, including in the training of ethics committee members. In future, a wider audience may be engaged by the original document and potential additional materials, informed by the experiences of those involved in the first COVID-19 human challenge studies outlined in this document.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Williams
- Department of Microbiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Kathrine Craig
- Specialist Ad-Hoc Research Ethics Committee for COVID-19 Human Challenge Studies, Health Research Authority, London, UK
| | - Christopher Chiu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Hugh Davies
- Specialist Ad-Hoc Research Ethics Committee for COVID-19 Human Challenge Studies, Health Research Authority, London, UK
| | - Stephanie Ellis
- Specialist Ad-Hoc Research Ethics Committee for COVID-19 Human Challenge Studies, Health Research Authority, London, UK
| | - Claudia Emerson
- Institute on Ethics & Policy for Innovation, Department of Philosophy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Euzebiusz Jamrozik
- The Ethox Centre & Wellcome Centre for Ethics and the Humanities, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK; Monash Bioethics Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Royal Melbourne Hospital Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Monica Jefford
- Specialist Ad-Hoc Research Ethics Committee for COVID-19 Human Challenge Studies, Health Research Authority, London, UK
| | - Gagandeep Kang
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Melissa Kapulu
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, Kilifi, Kenya; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon E Kolstoe
- Specialist Ad-Hoc Research Ethics Committee for COVID-19 Human Challenge Studies, Health Research Authority, London, UK; School of Health & Care Professions, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Katherine Littler
- Global Health Ethics Unit, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anthony Lockett
- Specialist Ad-Hoc Research Ethics Committee for COVID-19 Human Challenge Studies, Health Research Authority, London, UK; King's College London, London, UK
| | - Elena Rey
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas - CIDEIM, Cali, Colombia; Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Helen McShane
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Carla Saenz
- Regional Program on Bioethics, Department of Health Systems and Services, Pan American Health Organization, Washington D.C., USA
| | - Michael J Selgelid
- Institute on Ethics & Policy for Innovation, Department of Philosophy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Seema Shah
- Lurie Children's Hospital & Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Peter G Smith
- MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Balasingam S, Meillon S, Chui C, Mann A, La C, Weller CL, King DF, Smith E. Human infection studies: Key considerations for challenge agent development and production. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:140. [PMID: 35505774 PMCID: PMC9034172 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17869.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Human infection (or challenge) studies involve the intentional administration of a pathogen (challenge agent) to volunteers. The selection, isolation, development and production of the challenge agent is one of the first steps in developing a challenge study and critical for minimising the risk to volunteers. Regulatory oversight for this production differs globally. Manufacturing agents within a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility reduces the risk of the manufacturing process by including processes such as confirming the identity of the challenge agent and ascertaining that it's pure and free from impurities. However, in some cases it's not possible or feasible to manufacture to GMP standards, for example where the challenge agent requires an intermediate vector for growth. There is lack of clear guidance on what the minimum requirements for high-quality safe manufacture outside of GMP facilities should be and here we describe the development of a considerations document for the selection and production of challenge agents to meet this need.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Meillon
- Infectious Diseases
- Prevention, Wellcome Trust, UK, London, N1 2BE, UK
| | | | - Alex Mann
- Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
| | - Carine La
- Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
| | | | - Deborah F. King
- Infectious Diseases
- Prevention, Wellcome Trust, UK, London, N1 2BE, UK
| | - Emma Smith
- HIC-Vac, Imperial College London, National Heart & Lung Institute (NHLI), London, W2 1PG, UK
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Jackson S, McShane H. Challenges in Developing a Controlled Human Tuberculosis Challenge Model. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2022. [PMID: 35332386 DOI: 10.1007/82_2022_252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Controlled human infection models (CHIMs) have provided pivotal scientific advancements, contributing to the licensure of new vaccines for many pathogens. Despite being one of the world's oldest known pathogens, there are still significant gaps in our knowledge surrounding the immunobiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). Furthermore, the only licensed vaccine, BCG, is a century old and demonstrates limited efficacy in adults from endemic areas. Despite good global uptake of BCG, tuberculosis (TB) remains a silent epidemic killing 1.4 million in 2019 (WHO, Global tuberculosis report 2020). A mycobacterial CHIM could expedite the development pipeline of novel TB vaccines and provide critical understanding on the immune response to TB. However, developing a CHIM for such a complex organism is a challenging process. The first hurdle to address is which challenge agent to use, as it would not be ethical to use virulent M. tb. This chapter describes the current progress and outstanding issues in the development of a TB CHIM. Previous and current human studies include both aerosol and intradermal models using either BCG or purified protein derivative (PPD) as a surrogate agent. Future work investigating the use of attenuated M. tb is underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Jackson
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Jenner Institute, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Helen McShane
- Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Jenner Institute, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
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Barker C, Collet K, Gbesemete D, Piggin M, Watson D, Pristerà P, Lawerence W, Smith E, Bahrami-Hessari M, Johnson H, Baker K, Qavi A, McGrath C, Chiu C, Read RC, Ward H. Public attitudes to a human challenge study with SARS-CoV-2: a mixed-methods study. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:49. [PMID: 35321005 PMCID: PMC8921687 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17516.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Human challenge studies involve the deliberate exposure of healthy volunteers to an infectious micro-organism in a highly controlled and monitored way. They are used to understand infectious diseases and have contributed to the development of vaccines. In early 2020, the UK started exploring the feasibility of establishing a human challenge study with SARS-CoV-2. Given the significant public interest and the complexity of the potential risks and benefits, it is vital that public views are considered in the design and approval of any such study and that investigators and ethics boards remain accountable to the public. Methods: Mixed methods study comprising online surveys conducted with 2,441 UK adults and in-depth virtual focus groups with 57 UK adults during October 2020 to explore the public's attitudes to a human challenge study with SARS-CoV-2 taking place in the UK. Results: There was overall agreement across the surveys and focus groups that a human challenge study with SARS-CoV-2 should take place in the UK. Transparency of information, trust and the necessity to provide clear information on potential risks to study human challenge study participants were important. The perceived risks of taking part included the risk of developing long-term effects from COVID, impact on personal commitments and mental health implications of isolation. There were a number of practical realities to taking part that would influence a volunteer's ability to participate (e.g. Wi-Fi, access to exercise, outside space and work, family and pet commitments). Conclusions: The results identified practical considerations for teams designing human challenge studies. Recommendations were grouped: 1) messaging to potential study participants, 2) review of the protocol and organisation of the study, and 3) more broadly, making the study more inclusive and relevant. This study highlights the value of public consultation in research, particularly in fields attracting public interest and scrutiny .
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Barker
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK, UK
| | - Katharine Collet
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Patient Experience Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | - Diane Gbesemete
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, S016 6YD, UK
| | - Maria Piggin
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Patient Experience Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | - Daniella Watson
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, S016 6YD, UK
| | - Philippa Pristerà
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Patient Experience Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | - Wendy Lawerence
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- Global Health Research Institute, School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Emma Smith
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | - Michael Bahrami-Hessari
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Halle Johnson
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Patient Experience Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | - Katherine Baker
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK, UK
| | - Ambar Qavi
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Patient Experience Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | - Carmel McGrath
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, S016 6YD, UK
| | - Christopher Chiu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | - Robert C. Read
- NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, S016 6YD, UK
| | - Helen Ward
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Patient Experience Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
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Novel strategies for prevention and treatment of antimicrobial resistance in sexually-transmitted infections. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2021; 34:591-598. [PMID: 34545855 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Antimicrobial resistance in sexually acquired infection (STI) pathogens is an important global public health threat. There is an urgent need for novel STI treatment and prevention strategies to tackle the rising incidence of STIs in high-income settings and the static progress in low- and middle-income settings over the past decade. The purpose of this review was to describe the research outlining the emergence of resistance in common STI pathogens and new strategies for their treatment and prevention. RECENT FINDINGS Rates of STIs have dramatically increased over the past decade. Further, antimicrobial resistance to first-line agents among key STI pathogens continues to emerge globally. Recent findings demonstrate promising results regarding the efficacy of novel antimicrobial treatment strategies for these pathogens, including several new, repurposed and unique combinations of antimicrobials. In addition, a number of new biomedical prevention strategies, such as antibacterial mouthwash and doxycycline chemoprophylaxis, are being investigated as novel prevention strategies for bacterial STIs. SUMMARY Significant progress has been made in the development of novel antimicrobials for the treatment of antimicrobial-resistant sexually acquired pathogens. However, due to the rapid development of resistance to antimicrobials demonstrated by these pathogens in the past, further research and development of effective prevention strategies should be prioritized.
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Oral rotavirus vaccine shedding as a marker of mucosal immunity. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21760. [PMID: 34741103 PMCID: PMC8571310 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01288-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Group A rotaviruses (RVA) remain a leading cause of pediatric diarrhea worldwide, in part due to underperformance of currently approved live-attenuated, oral vaccines in low-and-middle income countries. Improved immune correlates of protection (CoP) for existing oral vaccines and novel strategies to evaluate the performance of next-generation vaccines are needed. Use of oral vaccines as challenge agents in controlled human infection models is a potential approach to CoP discovery that remains underexplored. In a live-attenuated, oral rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix, GlaxoSmithKline) efficacy trial conducted among infants in Dhaka, Bangladesh, we explored the potential for the second dose of the two-dose series to be considered a challenge agent through which RVA immunity could be explored, using fecal virus shedding post-dose 2 as a marker of mucosal immunity. Among 180 vaccinated infants who completed the parent study per protocol, the absence of fecal vaccine shedding following the second dose of Rotarix suggested intestinal mucosal immunity generated by the first dose and a decreased risk of RVA diarrhea through 2 years of life (RR 0.616, 95% CI 0.392-0.968). Further development of controlled human infection models for group A rotaviruses, especially in prospective studies with larger sample sizes, may be a promising tool to assess rotavirus vaccine efficacy and CoPs.
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Parkash V, Kaye PM, Layton AM, Lacey CJ. Vaccines against leishmaniasis: using controlled human infection models to accelerate development. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:1407-1418. [PMID: 34664543 PMCID: PMC9835556 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1991795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that is defined by the World Health Organization as vaccine preventable. Although several new candidate vaccines are in development, no vaccine has successfully reached the market for human use. Several species of Leishmania cause human disease and have co-evolved with their respective sand fly vectors. These unique relationships have implications for initiation of infection and vaccine development. An approach to vaccine development for many infectious diseases is the use of controlled human infection models (CHIMs). AREAS COVERED We describe the history and recent development of experimental and deliberate infection using Leishmania in humans and the rationale for developing a new sand fly-initiated CHIM to progress leishmaniasis vaccine development. Examples from other infectious diseases are discussed in the context of the development of a new leishmaniasis CHIM. We also reflect upon the manufacture of the challenge agent, practical considerations, safety, ethics, and regulatory issues. EXPERT OPINION A new cutaneous Leishmania CHIM is being developed to enable testing of vaccines in the development pipeline. Questions remain about the use of such CHIMs to determine effectiveness of vaccines against visceral leishmaniasis. However, such a CHIM will be invaluable in expediting time to market for vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivak Parkash
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Paul M. Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Alison M Layton
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Charles J Lacey
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
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Fiege JK, Block KE, Pierson MJ, Nanda H, Shepherd FK, Mickelson CK, Stolley JM, Matchett WE, Wijeyesinghe S, Meyerholz DK, Vezys V, Shen SS, Hamilton SE, Masopust D, Langlois RA. Mice with diverse microbial exposure histories as a model for preclinical vaccine testing. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:1815-1827.e6. [PMID: 34731647 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Laboratory mice comprise an expeditious model for preclinical vaccine testing; however, vaccine immunogenicity in these models often inadequately translates to humans. Reconstituting physiologic microbial experience to specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice induces durable immunological changes that better recapitulate human immunity. We examined whether mice with diverse microbial experience better model human responses post vaccination. We co-housed laboratory mice with pet-store mice, which have varied microbial exposures, and then assessed immune responses to influenza vaccines. Human transcriptional responses to influenza vaccination are better recapitulated in co-housed mice. Although SPF and co-housed mice were comparably susceptible to acute influenza infection, vaccine-induced humoral responses were dampened in co-housed mice, resulting in poor control upon challenge. Additionally, protective heterosubtypic T cell immunity was compromised in co-housed mice. Because SPF mice exaggerated humoral and T cell protection upon influenza vaccination, reconstituting microbial experience in laboratory mice through co-housing may better inform preclinical vaccine testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica K Fiege
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katharine E Block
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Mark J Pierson
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Hezkiel Nanda
- Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Frances K Shepherd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Clayton K Mickelson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - J Michael Stolley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - William E Matchett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sathi Wijeyesinghe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - David K Meyerholz
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Vaiva Vezys
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Steven S Shen
- Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sara E Hamilton
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - David Masopust
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Ryan A Langlois
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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Kapulu MC, Njuguna P, Hamaluba M, Kimani D, Ngoi JM, Musembi J, Ngoto O, Otieno E, Billingsley PF. Safety and PCR monitoring in 161 semi-immune Kenyan adults following controlled human malaria infection. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e146443. [PMID: 34264864 PMCID: PMC8492329 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.146443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDNaturally acquired immunity to malaria is incompletely understood. We used controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) to study the impact of past exposure on malaria in Kenyan adults in relation to infection with a non-Kenyan parasite strain.METHODSWe administered 3.2 × 103 aseptic, purified, cryopreserved Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (Sanaria PfSPZ Challenge, NF54 West African strain) by direct venous inoculation and undertook clinical monitoring and serial quantitative PCR (qPCR) of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. The study endpoint was met when parasitemia reached 500 or more parasites per μL blood, clinically important symptoms were seen, or at 21 days after inoculation. All volunteers received antimalarial drug treatment upon meeting the endpoint.RESULTSOne hundred and sixty-one volunteers underwent CHMI between August 4, 2016, and February 14, 2018. CHMI was well tolerated, with no severe or serious adverse events. Nineteen volunteers (11.8%) were excluded from the analysis based on detection of antimalarial drugs above the minimal inhibitory concentration or parasites genotyped as non-NF54. Of the 142 volunteers who were eligible for analysis, 26 (18.3%) had febrile symptoms and were treated; 30 (21.1%) reached 500 or more parasites per μL and were treated; 53 (37.3%) had parasitemia without meeting thresholds for treatment; and 33 (23.2%) remained qPCR negative.CONCLUSIONWe found that past exposure to malaria, as evidenced by location of residence, in some Kenyan adults can completely suppress in vivo growth of a parasite strain originating from outside Kenya.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov NCT02739763.FUNDINGWellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa C. Kapulu
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Njuguna
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Mainga Hamaluba
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Domtila Kimani
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Joyce M. Ngoi
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Janet Musembi
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Omar Ngoto
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Edward Otieno
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
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Kuiper VP, Rosendaal FR, Kamerling IMC, Visser LG, Roestenberg M. Assessment of Risks Associated With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Experimental Human Infection Studies. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:e1228-e1234. [PMID: 33249450 PMCID: PMC7799229 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlled human infection (CHI) models for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been proposed as a tool to accelerate the development of vaccines and drugs. Such models carry inherent risks. Participants may develop severe disease or complications after deliberate infection. Prolonged isolation may negatively impact their well-being. Through secondary infection of study personnel or participant household contacts, the experimental virus strain may cause a community outbreak. We identified risks associated with such a SARS-CoV-2 CHI model and assessed their likelihood and impact and propose strategies that mitigate these risks. In this report, we show that risks can be minimized with proper risk mitigation strategies; the residual risk, however, should be weighed carefully against the scientific and social values of such a CHI model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent P Kuiper
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Frits R Rosendaal
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Leonardus G Visser
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Meta Roestenberg
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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46
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Sulmasy
- The Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Departments of Medicine and Philosophy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
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47
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Chi PC, Owino EA, Jao I, Olewe F, Ogutu B, Bejon P, Kapulu M, Kamuya D, Marsh V. Understanding the benefits and burdens associated with a malaria human infection study in Kenya: experiences of study volunteers and other stakeholders. Trials 2021; 22:494. [PMID: 34311781 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-143195/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human infection studies (HIS) that involve deliberately infecting healthy volunteers with a pathogen raise important ethical issues, including the need to ensure that benefits and burdens are understood and appropriately accounted for. Building on earlier work, we embedded social science research within an ongoing malaria human infection study in coastal Kenya to understand the study benefits and burdens experienced by study stakeholders in this low-resource setting and assess the wider implications for future research planning and policy. METHODS Data were collected using qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews (44), focus group discussions (10) and non-participation observation. Study participants were purposively selected (key informant or maximal diversity sampling), including volunteers in the human infection study, study staff, community representatives and local administrative authorities. Data were collected during and up to 18 months following study residency, from sites in Coastal and Western Kenya. Voice recordings of interviews and discussions were transcribed, translated, and analysed using framework analysis, combining data- and theory-driven perspectives. FINDINGS Physical, psychological, economic and social forms of benefits and burdens were experienced across study stages. Important benefits for volunteers included the study compensation, access to health checks, good residential living conditions, new learning opportunities, developing friendships and satisfaction at contributing towards a new malaria vaccine. Burdens primarily affected study volunteers, including experiences of discomfort and ill health; fear and anxiety around aspects of the trial process, particularly deliberate infection and the implications of prolonged residency; anxieties about early residency exit; and interpersonal conflict. These issues had important implications for volunteers' families, study staff and the research institution's reputation more widely. CONCLUSION Developing ethically and scientifically strong HIS relies on grounded accounts of volunteers, study staff and the wider community, understood in the socioeconomic, political and cultural context where studies are implemented. Recognition of the diverse, and sometimes perverse, nature of potential benefits and burdens in a given context, and who this might implicate, is critical to this process. Prior and ongoing stakeholder engagement is core to developing these insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Primus Che Chi
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.
| | - Esther Awuor Owino
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Irene Jao
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Fredrick Olewe
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
- Center for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bernhards Ogutu
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
- Center for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Melissa Kapulu
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dorcas Kamuya
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vicki Marsh
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University Oxford, Oxford, UK
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48
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Chi PC, Owino EA, Jao I, Olewe F, Ogutu B, Bejon P, Kapulu M, Kamuya D, Marsh V. Understanding the benefits and burdens associated with a malaria human infection study in Kenya: experiences of study volunteers and other stakeholders. Trials 2021; 22:494. [PMID: 34311781 PMCID: PMC8313115 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05455-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human infection studies (HIS) that involve deliberately infecting healthy volunteers with a pathogen raise important ethical issues, including the need to ensure that benefits and burdens are understood and appropriately accounted for. Building on earlier work, we embedded social science research within an ongoing malaria human infection study in coastal Kenya to understand the study benefits and burdens experienced by study stakeholders in this low-resource setting and assess the wider implications for future research planning and policy. Methods Data were collected using qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews (44), focus group discussions (10) and non-participation observation. Study participants were purposively selected (key informant or maximal diversity sampling), including volunteers in the human infection study, study staff, community representatives and local administrative authorities. Data were collected during and up to 18 months following study residency, from sites in Coastal and Western Kenya. Voice recordings of interviews and discussions were transcribed, translated, and analysed using framework analysis, combining data- and theory-driven perspectives. Findings Physical, psychological, economic and social forms of benefits and burdens were experienced across study stages. Important benefits for volunteers included the study compensation, access to health checks, good residential living conditions, new learning opportunities, developing friendships and satisfaction at contributing towards a new malaria vaccine. Burdens primarily affected study volunteers, including experiences of discomfort and ill health; fear and anxiety around aspects of the trial process, particularly deliberate infection and the implications of prolonged residency; anxieties about early residency exit; and interpersonal conflict. These issues had important implications for volunteers’ families, study staff and the research institution’s reputation more widely. Conclusion Developing ethically and scientifically strong HIS relies on grounded accounts of volunteers, study staff and the wider community, understood in the socioeconomic, political and cultural context where studies are implemented. Recognition of the diverse, and sometimes perverse, nature of potential benefits and burdens in a given context, and who this might implicate, is critical to this process. Prior and ongoing stakeholder engagement is core to developing these insights. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-021-05455-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Primus Che Chi
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.
| | - Esther Awuor Owino
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Irene Jao
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Fredrick Olewe
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.,Center for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bernhards Ogutu
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.,Center for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Melissa Kapulu
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dorcas Kamuya
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vicki Marsh
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University Oxford, Oxford, UK
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49
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Huston CD. The Clofazimine for Treatment of Cryptosporidiosis in HIV-Infected Adults (CRYPTOFAZ) and Lessons Learned for Anticryptosporidial Drug Development. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:192-194. [PMID: 32277815 PMCID: PMC8427724 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Huston
- Department of Medicine, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
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50
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Koopman JPR, Driciru E, Roestenberg M. Controlled human infection models to evaluate schistosomiasis and hookworm vaccines: where are we now? Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:1369-1371. [PMID: 34225549 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1951244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Pieter R Koopman
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Emmanuella Driciru
- Immunomodulation and Vaccines Programme, Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Meta Roestenberg
- Department of Parasitology and Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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