Immune Response and Pathogen-Fertility Interface (pilot study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Immune response and the Pathogen-Female & Male fertility interface
IRAS ID
171740
Contact name
Nadja/NR Melo
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
ABMU Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The interaction between the body’s defence mechanism and Candida infection remains unclear in how the body responds in relation to the presence of microbes [Annunziato, et al. 2009, van der Velden, et al. 2010]. Candida is the most common human fungal pathogen [Melo et al. 2004]. The literature suggests Candida infection has an impact on female and male infertility but this is not fully understood [Tian, Liu et al. 2005, Lasarte, Elsner et al. 2013, Relloso et al. 2013]. While the role of fungal infections and immune-related diseases in female infertility has been documented, the vast majority of the studies were conducted using mammalian animal models; whether or not the results are applicable to humans is not known. A particular group of immune cells (named Th17 cells) ensures a robust anti-fungal response in healthy people. The objective of our study is to investigate the anti-fungal immune response (from Th17 cells) of fertile and infertile couples (women and men). White blood cells from fertile and infertile couples will be isolated from blood samples. These will be tested for production of the antibody IL-17 after stimulation with Candida fungal cells in the laboratory. Other samples (saliva, vaginal swab and semen) will also be tested for the presence of Candida. Participants will have several benefits including identification of high risk for development of Candida infection and prevention of the disease. This will be of particular benefit to those patients who show no symptoms but could impact on their infertility. The identification of additional specific risk factors in women and/or their partners might aid their fertility treatment and this is one expected outcome of the proposed study. This pilot study will generate data for publication and grounding for future work which will fall into two main areas: (i) clinical application to identify fertility risk and/or the use of specific anti-fungal therapeutic strategies, and (ii) fertility problems related to the immune response.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0258
Date of REC Opinion
5 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion