HBV Vaccination of Healthy Volunteers to Evaluate the Composition of Germinal Centers

Stopped early · Phase 4

Conditions studied: Hepatitis B

In brief

Antibodies are the primary mediators of the protection against infection provided by vaccination. Antibodies become most powerful after the B cells that produce them undergo an evolutionary process called affinity maturation, in which antibodies increase their ability to bind to their targets, and thus neutralize pathogens. Affinity maturation occurs in structures within secondary lymphoid organs (for example lymph nodes or tonsils) known as germinal centers. Germinal centers are well known to be triggered by the first dose of vaccines, generating affinity matured plasma cells (B cells that secrete antibody into serum) and memory B cells, which can be converted into plasma cells by booster doses of vaccine. However, it is not fully understood the extent to which memory B cells can return to germinal centers again upon vaccine boosting. Such return would be very important to allow B cells, for example, to adapt to emerging variants of viruses such as influenza or SARS-CoV-2. This study will involve acquiring samples of B cells from germinal centers that form in response to vaccination with the highly effective hepatitis B vaccine. These cells will be analyzed to determine what fraction of them are memory B cells that returned to germinal centers upon boosting, information that is key to knowledge of how vaccine boosters work. Understanding the "rules" that govern how and when memory B cells choose to return to germinal centers in an effective vaccine such hepatitis B could help efforts to develop effective vaccination against more challenging, rapidly mutating viruses, such as influenza, HIV, and hepatitis C.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05272735

Run by

Rockefeller University

People needed

9

Starts

2022-12-10

Expected to finish

2025-09-29

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-16

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 50. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Males and females
• Age 18-50 years Note: The HBV vaccine dose will be adjusted according to the Package Insert for participants who are 18 and 19 years of age.
• No prior history of HBV infection or vaccination.

You may not qualify if…

• HBV seropositivity (e.g. HBsAb, HBcAb or HBeAb)
• HIV infection
• Chronic HCV infection
• Pregnancy or lactation
• History of allergic reaction to any components of the HBV vaccine
• History of significant local or systemic reactogenicity to vaccines (eg, anaphylaxis, respiratory difficulties, angioedema, injection site necrosis or ulceration)
• Any clinically relevant abnormality on history or examination, including history of immunodeficiency or autoimmune disease; use of systemic corticosteroids (the use of topical or inhaled steroids is permitted), immunosuppressive, anticancer, antituberculosis or other medications considered significant by the Investigator within the previous 6 months; Note: The following exceptions are permitted and will not exclude study participation: use of corticosteroid nasal spray for rhinitis, topical corticosteroids for an acute uncomplicated dermatitis; or a short course (duration of 10 days or less, or a single injection) of corticosteroid for a non-chronic condition (based on Investigator clinical judgment) at least 2 weeks prior to enrollment in this study
• Any clinically significant acute or chronic medical condition that is considered progressive or in the opinion of the Investigator makes the volunteer unsuitable for participation in the study
• Bleeding disorder that was diagnosed by a physician (eg, factor deficiency, coagulopathy or platelet disorder that requires special precautions)
• Laboratory abnormalities:
• Platelets <125,000 cells/mm3 PT/INR >1.3 PTT > 2 x ULN
• Receipt of live attenuated or mRNA vaccine within the previous 30 days or planned receipt within 30 days after IP administration; or receipt of other vaccine within the previous 14 days or planned receipt within 14 days after IP administration
• Participation in another clinical trial of an investigational product currently, within the previous 3 months or expected participation during this study

Where it is running

• The Rockefeller University — New York, New York, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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