Low-dose Challenge Model With Enterotoxigenic E Coli

Completed · Phase 1

Conditions studied: Diarrhea

In brief

This study will validate a model for testing new vaccines designed to protect against intestinal infections with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). ETEC is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in developing countries and is a common cause of travelers diarrhea. Vaccines are now being developed and their development will be facilitated if we have a valid model for testing these vaccines in human volunteers. We anticipate that the new vaccines will be given to volunteers and they will then be given a dose of virulent ETEC bacteria. If the vaccine is effective, the volunteers should not development diarrhea, but if the vaccine is not effective, the volunteers will have diarrhea for a few days. During this study, we will validate a minimum dose of virulent ETEC bacteria which is sufficient to cause diarrhea in healthy adult volunteers and to identify conditions that can make this model reliable. We will also determine, in a follow-up group of volunteers, if being exposed to the ETEC bacteria previously will protect against a subsequent illness when they are exposed to the same bacteria a second time. We believe that the previously exposed group will be protected and we will study the immune response to these exposures to help design vaccines that can accomplish this kind of protection.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00844493

Run by

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

People needed

30

Starts

2009-02-01

Expected to finish

2013-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2014-09-12

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 45. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Male or female between 18 and 45 years of age, inclusive.
• General good health, as determined by physical exam, laboratory testing, and medical history.
• Laboratory values within acceptable range for complete blood count (CBC), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and serum creatinine as determined by PI.
• Demonstrate comprehension of the protocol procedures and knowledge of ETEC illness by passing a written examination (pass grade ≥ 70%)
• Able and willing to sign an informed consent.
• Available to participate for the length of the study.
• Female only: Females of childbearing potential will use an effective method of contraception during the study, including abstinence, hormonal contraception, barrier, implantables or injectables.

You may not qualify if…

• Presence of a clinically significant medical condition (including but not limited to any chronic illnesses, immunosuppressive illness, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, such as peptic ulcer, symptoms or evidence of active gastritis or gastroesophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease)
• Evidence of immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency (serum IgA <5 or limit of detection of assay)
• Evidence of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), by medical history or laboratory testing.
• Symptoms consistent with Traveler's Diarrhea concurrent with travel to countries where ETEC or cholera infection is endemic (most of the developing world) within two years prior to receipt of investigational agent, OR planned travel to endemic countries during the length of the trial.
• History of significant psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization or any suicide attempts within the past 2 years.
• History of significant drug or alcohol abuse requiring hospitalization or rehabilitation within the past 2 years.
• Evidence of significant drug abuse, as determined by the Principal Investigator, on toxicity screening.
• Fewer than 3 stools per week or more than 3 stools per day as the usual frequency; loose or liquid stools other than on an occasional basis.
• History of allergic reaction to fluoroquinolones, cotrimoxazole, or ampicillin/penicillin (excluded if allergic to two of three).
• History of diarrhea in the 2 weeks prior to receipt of investigational agent.
• Weekly use of laxatives or any agent that increases gastric pH.
• Use of antibiotics during the 7 days prior to receipt of investigational agent.
• Use of proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, or antacids within 48 hours of receipt of investigational agent.
• History of vaccination for or ingestion of ETEC, cholera, or heat labile toxin (LT) toxin within 5 years.*
• History of participation in prior ETEC H10407 research studies.*
• Use of any other investigational product within 30 days preceding the receipt of investigational agent, or planned use during the active study period.
• Use of any medication known to affect the immune function (e.g., corticosteroids) within 30 days preceding receipt of investigational agent or planned use during the active study period. (Topical and intra-articular steroids will not exclude subjects).
• Any other condition, which in the opinion of the investigator, could affect subject safety or interfere with the trial.

Where it is running

• Center for Immunization Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Heatlh — Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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