Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Nasal...

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Nasal Immunization with Live Virulence Attenuated Streptococcus pneumoniae Strains Using Human Infection Challenge

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Helen Hill
  • Elena Mitsi
  • Elissavet Nikolaou
  • Annie Blizard
  • Sherin Pojar
  • Ashleigh Howard
  • Angela Hyder-Wright
  • Jack Devin
  • Jesus Reiné
  • Ryan Robinson
  • Carla Solórzano
  • Simon P Jochems
  • Tinashe Kenny-Nyazika
  • Elisa Ramos-Sevillano
  • Chris Myerscough
  • Daniella McLenaghan
  • Ben Morton
  • Emily Gibbons
  • Madlen Farrar
  • Victoria Randles
  • Hassan Burhan
  • Tao Chen
  • Adam D Shandling
  • Joe J Campo
  • Robert S Heyderman
  • Stephen B Gordon
  • Jeremy S Brown
  • Andrea M Collins
  • Daniela M Ferreira
Close
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>15/10/2023
<mark>Journal</mark>American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Issue number8
Volume208
Number of pages11
Pages (from-to)868-878
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Rationale: Pneumococcal pneumonia remains a global health problem. Pneumococcal colonization increases local and systemic protective immunity, suggesting that nasal administration of live attenuated Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) strains could help prevent infections. Objectives: We used a controlled human infection model to investigate whether nasopharyngeal colonization with attenuated S. pneumoniae strains protected against recolonization with wild-type (WT) Spn (SpnWT). Methods: Healthy adults aged 18-50 years were randomized (1:1:1:1) for nasal administration twice (at a 2-wk interval) with saline solution, WT Spn6B (BHN418), or one of two genetically modified Spn6B strains, SpnA1 (Δfhs/piaA) or SpnA3 (ΔproABC/piaA) (Stage I). After 6 months, participants were challenged with SpnWT to assess protection against the homologous serotype (Stage II). Measurements and Main Results: 125 participants completed both study stages per intention to treat. No serious adverse events were reported. In Stage I, colonization rates were similar among groups: SpnWT, 58.1% (18 of 31); SpnA1, 60% (18 of 30); and SpnA3, 59.4% (19 of 32). Anti-Spn nasal IgG levels after colonization were similar in all groups, whereas serum IgG responses were higher in the SpnWT and SpnA1 groups than in the SpnA3 group. In colonized individuals, increases in IgG responses were identified against 197 Spn protein antigens and serotype 6 capsular polysaccharide using a pangenome array. Participants given SpnWT or SpnA1 in Stage I were partially protected against homologous challenge with SpnWT (29% and 30% recolonization rates, respectively) at stage II, whereas those exposed to SpnA3 achieved a recolonization rate similar to that in the control group (50% vs. 47%, respectively). Conclusions: Nasal colonization with genetically modified live attenuated Spn was safe and induced protection against recolonization, suggesting that nasal administration of live attenuated Spn could be an effective strategy for preventing pneumococcal infections. Clinical trial registered with the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN22467293).