Examining lymph node cells to assess how age affects immune responses
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An experimental medicine study of Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) vaccine immune challenge responses in Lymph nodE single-cell Genomics in AnCestrY and ageing
IRAS ID
327998
Contact name
Katrina Pollock
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance (RGEA), University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study aims to understand how immune cells in lymph nodes respond and how this response changes with ageing. This information will help design future vaccines (for example, for future pandemics), to tailor vaccination strategies in different patient populations including in older people.
Older people respond less well to vaccines than younger adults, and are more severely affected by infectious diseases, so it is important to understand how age influences lymph node responses.
Immune responses are tested by taking blood samples and measuring antibodies and immune cells (lymphocytes). These responses occur in lymph nodes (in the case of injection in the arm, in armpit lymph nodes). Cells from lymph nodes can be sampled using ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA), a well-established technique, which enables direct testing of the responses of immune cells.Participants will receive ChAdOx2 CCHF, against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a potentially fatal viral illness spread by ticks. The World Health Organisation estimates 3 billion people are at risk. The vaccine is being developed by the University of Oxford, using similar technology to the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and its first clinical trial is underway.
The vaccine, or study injection is used as a challenge to the immune system (called an immunogen) to stimulate the lymph nodes. We are testing how lymph nodes respond to an immunogen that people have not previously encountered. This means we can really understand how ageing affects the ability of lymph nodes to respond.The study will recruit 16 healthy adults (8 aged 18-45 years; 8 aged 65 years or above). All will receive 2 doses of the immunogen injection, 12 weeks apart. All will have FNA from both armpits, before receiving the study injection and at 7 days after each injection. Participants will be assessed for eligibility at a screening visit; those eligible to take part will attend 8 more visits over 24 weeks. Blood samples will be taken at each visit.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/0689
Date of REC Opinion
20 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion