Endothelial biology of meningococcal disease_version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Endothelial biology of meningococcal disease
IRAS ID
263175
Contact name
Christopher Moxon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Glasgow
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Meningococcal sepsis is an uncommon but sometimes deadly infection. Despite vaccination there were 755 cases of meningococcal disease in 2017 in the UK alone. The characteristic spots that do not go away when pressed (the glass test) are known and feared by parents and healthcare professionals. These spots are caused by the bacteria damaging the lining of blood vessels (called the endothelium).
Even after giving antibiotics this blood vessel damage can spread, leading to clots and bruises all over the body, and sometimes patients can lose their arms or legs from this. Fluid leaks from these damaged blood vessels and there is a dangerous drop in blood pressure that can be fatal.
We think that one of the key causes of this damage to blood vessels may be very sticky proteins (called histones) that may be released by the patient’s own cells or by the bacteria as part of the response to infection. In this proposed project, to explore the possible role of histones, we will use stored blood and tissue samples that were collected as part of a study in children to understand the causes of meningococcal disease. The study took consent from the parents to take and store these samples for research purposes. We will look at different changes that the bacteria and histones cause to the blood and blood vessels.
We hope that through this will help: (a) identify treatments that could be given alongside antibiotics to reverse or stop blood vessel damage; (b) identify tests that are early warning signs of a child who is likely to get sick.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1993
Date of REC Opinion
13 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion