Oxford researchers plan a COVID-19 reinfection human challenge trial
Experts still have too much to learn about the likelihood that people who've had COVID-19 can contract SARS-CoV-2 again.
Scientists at the University of Oxford in britain have announced a human challenge trial to assemble hard, precise data which will provide a better knowledge of how reinfection works.
Under carefully handled conditions and for research purposes, scientists will reinfect the participants in the study with the original SARS-CoV-2 variant.
Among the things that authorities still do not know much about is what goes on when people who've recovered from COVID-19 have contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus again.
Scientists at the University of Oxford have announced a human challenge trial that may investigate the response of the human disease fighting capability to another SARS-CoV-2 infection.
According to Shobana Balasingam, the vaccines senior research advisor at the Wellcome Trust - which may be the organization funding the trial - “You may still find many unknowns surrounding this virus, and human infections studies can permit us to learn a whole lot about COVID-19.”
“This study gets the potential to transform our understanding by giving high quality data how our immune system responds to a second infection with this virus.”
The trial has two phases, the to begin which commences this month. The next phase is likely to begin this summer.
The worthiness of challenge studies
Helen McShane, a professor of vaccinology at the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford, is the study’s chief investigator. She explains the worthiness of challenge studies, saying, “Challenge studies reveal things that other studies cannot because, unlike natural infection, they are tightly controlled.”
“Whenever we reinfect these participants, we will know precisely how their immune system has reacted to the first COVID infection, precisely when the second infection occurs, and specifically just how much virus they got.”
“As well as boosting our basic understanding, this might help us to create tests that can accurately predict whether persons are protected.”
Prof. Johnathan Stoye, who's not mixed up in investigation, is a virologist from the Francis Crick Institute in London, U.K. He also commented on the value of such research, telling Medical News Today, “That is an exceptionally interesting and important area.”
“Well-documented cases of reinfection can have different consequences. There are obviously many open questions that probably can only be answered by approaches along these lines of the study.”
Prof. Stoye continued to commend the “bravery of the volunteers and doctors involved.”
Phase 1
The investigation’s first phase will determine the minimum dose of SARS-CoV-2 that causes reinfection. The researchers will be using the initial variant of SARS-CoV-2 from Wuhan, China.
Up to 64 healthy volunteers, all aged 18-30 years, who had previously contracted SARS-CoV-2 will take part in this phase of the trial. Before reinfecting them, the investigators will make certain that the participants are completely fit and also have completely recovered from their first SARS-CoV-2 infection to minimize their risk.
The scientists will divide the phase 1 participants into two groups. The first group, of 24 individuals, could have exposure to increasing levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to determine the dosing threshold of which reinfection occurs. The researchers will then administer this optimal dose to the second group.
The study participants will isolate in a especially designed hospital suite for at least 17 days.
The study team will be in charge of their care and can administer a variety of lab tests, including CT lung imaging and MRI heart scans. The individuals will only manage to leave a healthcare facility suite when they no more have the infection and so are no longer infectious.
If anyone develops any observeable symptoms of COVID-19, they'll receive monoclonal antibodiesTrusted Source.
The participants will take part in a minimum of eight follow-up examinations over the course of 12 months.
Talking with MNT, Prof. Stoye noted some important questions that may come up during this phase of the challenge, particularly regarding identifying the “optimum dose” for the task.
“Would [this dose] vary in different people according to their genetic background/health status/severity of previous infection/time since initial infection?” he asked. “If [it] is, what impact does it have on the proposed phase 2 studies?”
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
