A Study Assessing Colonisation & Immunogenicity After Nasal Inoculation With N. Lactamica and Eradication on Day 4 or 14 (Lac-3)
Meningitis, Meningococcal
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Meningitis, Meningococcal focused on measuring Neisseria lactamica, healthy volunteers, nasal inoculation, colonisation
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Healthy adults aged 18 to 45 years inclusive on the day of enrolment
- Fully conversant in the English language
- Able and willing (in the investigator's opinion) to comply with all study requirements
- Written informed consent to participate in the trial
- Willingness to take an antibiotic regimen after inoculation according to the study protocol
- For females only, willingness to practice continuous effective contraception (see below) during the study and a negative pregnancy test on the day(s) of screening and inoculation
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current active smokers
- N. lactamica or N. meningitidis detected on throat swab or nasal wash taken before the challenge
- Individuals who have a current infection at the time of inoculation
- Individuals who have been involved in other clinical trials involving receipt of an investigational product over the last 12 weeks or if there is planned use of an investigational product during the study period
- Individuals who have previously been involved in clinical trials investigating meningococcal vaccines or experimental challenge with N. lactamica
- Use of systemic antibiotics within the period 30 days prior to the challenge
- Any confirmed or suspected immunosuppressive or immune-deficient state, including HIV infection; asplenia; recurrent, severe infections and chronic (more than 14 days) immunosuppressant medication within the past 6 months (topical steroids are allowed)
- Use of immunoglobulins or blood products within 3 months prior to enrolment.
- History of allergic disease or reactions likely to be exacerbated by any component of the inoculum
- Contraindications to the use of ciprofloxacin, specifically a history of epilepsy, prolonged QT interval, hypersensitivity to quinolones or a history of tendon disorders related to quinolone use
- Any clinically significant abnormal finding on clinical examination
- Any other significant disease, disorder, or finding which may significantly increase the risk to the volunteer because of participation in the study, affect the ability of the volunteer to participate in the study or impair interpretation of the study data, for example recent surgery to the nasopharynx
- Occupational, household or intimate contact with immunosuppressed persons
- Pregnancy or lactation
Sites / Locations
- Southampton NIHR Clinical Research FacilityRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Experimental
Group 1
Group 2
Nasal drops containing Neisseria lactamica are administered at Day 0 by the study doctor. Eradication therapy with the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin given on Day 4, unless required sooner. Follow up visits occur on Days 5, 14 and 32.
Nasal drops containing Neisseria lactamica are administered at Day 0 by the study doctor. Follow up visits on Day 4 and 7 to check for N. lactamica carriage. Eradication therapy with the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin given on Day 14, unless required sooner. Follow up visits occur on Days 15, 24 and 42.