Challenge of the Nasopharynx With Neisseria Lactamica Expressing the Meningococcal Protein Neisseria Adhesin A (NadA)

The NadA protein is one of the 4 strongly immunogenic components of the 4CMenB vaccine against serogroup B meningococcal disease (Bexsero) and has been demonstrated to be immunogenic in terms of generating serum bactericidal antibodies against N. meningitides strains that express the cognate NadA. Furthermore, University students vaccinated with Bexsero exhibit moderately reduced acquisition of nasopharyngeal carriage of N. meningitidis over the course of 12 months after vaccination. These studies imply that NadA expression by N. meningitidis may induce systemic and mucosal immunity to NadA during carriage, and that immunity directed against NadA may protect against colonisation by N. meningitidis. A greater understanding of the mucosal immune mechanisms of protection against pathobionts is essential for design of more effective and long lasting vaccines in the future. Then direct way to do this would be experimental human challenge with N. meningitidis but this carries potential hazard. As N. lactamica human challenge has shown to be safe, an alternative technique to investigate mucosal immunity to meningococcal antigens such as NadA will utilise Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) such as the one described here. Two strains of genetically modified N. lactamica will be used in this study, both of which have been derived from a beta-D-galactosidase (lacZ)-deficient mutant strain of N. lactamica Y92-1009 (△lacZ). This mutant can be differentiated from wild type bacteria when grown on the chromogenic substrate, X-gal. Both Genetically modified (GM) strains have demonstrated to remain acutely susceptible to killing by normal human serum and retain sensitivity to the front-line antibiotics used clinically to treat meningococcal disease (rifampicin, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone). The efficacy of ciprofloxacin to clear N. lactamica carriage is likely to similar as for N. meningitidis, as the organism is extremely sensitive to this antibiotic. Ciprofloxacin has been effective in clearing N. lactamica carriage within 24 hours in 100% of 4 individuals experimentally colonised in an ongoing human challenge study with wild type N. lactamica (unpublished data).

Inclusion criteria

The challenge volunteer must satisfy all the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for the study:

• 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
• Provide written informed consent to participate in the trial
• Provide written agreement to abide by infection control guidelines including agreement to abstain from intimate contact with any individual other than one declared and consented bedroom contact during the study period
• Provide written consent to allow the study team to discuss the volunteer's medical history with the General Practitioner
• Written informed contact volunteer consent provided by any bedroom contact
• Agreement to be admitted to Southampton NIHR-CRF for 4.5 days following inoculation
• 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
• Able to correctly answer all questions in the pre-consent and infection control questionnaires
• Agreement to take antibiotic eradication therapy according to the study protocol
• TOPS registration completed and no conflict found

Exclusion criteria

The challenge volunteer may not enter the study if any of the following criteria apply:

• Current active smokers defined as having smoked a cigarette or cigar in the last four weeks
• N. lactamica or N. meningitidis detected on throat swab or nasal wash taken at screening or at the pre-challenge visit
• 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
• Individuals who have received one or more doses of the meningococcus B vaccine Bexsero
• 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; malignancy, 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
• Contraindications to the use of ceftriaxone, specifically hypersensitivity to any cephalosporins
• Any clinically significant abnormal finding on clinical examination or screening investigations. In the event of abnormal test results, confirmatory repeat tests will be requested.
• 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, specifically HIV infection with a CD4 count <200 cells/mm3; asplenia; any malignancy, recurrent, severe infections and chronic (more than 14 days) immunosuppressant medication within the past 6 months (topical steroids are allowed)
• Occupational or household contact with children under 5 years or an older child with a tendency to co-sleep with the volunteer
• Pregnancy, lactation or intention to become pregnant during the study
• Inability of the study team to contact the volunteer's GP to confirm medical history and safety to participate