Isolation of antibodies to yellow fever virus from human vaccinees
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Isolation of antibodies to yellow fever virus from human vaccinees
IRAS ID
256114
Contact name
Arvind Patel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This observational study is about gaining an understanding of the immunological response of the human body after being vaccinated with a widely available vaccine against yellow fever virus (YFV). We plan to isolate a panel of anti-YFV antibodies from vaccinees. A subset of them (called ‘neutralising antibodies’) is expected to inhibit virus infectivity. We will characterise all antibodies in detail with a view to understanding how they interact with the virus and how the neutralising ones prevent infection. We will explore the possibility of developing the neutralising antibodies for their potential therapeutic applications.
To achieve this, we first want to obtain blood samples from people travelling to endemic areas who will require vaccination before their journey. We plan to take blood samples (20 mls) from them seven days after immunisation. At this point, their immune cells will be generating thousands of antibodies specifically against YFV.
From the blood samples, we will sort and isolate single immune cell, which contain the genetic “blueprints” of the specific antibodies produced against the virus. We will extract the genetic information of the antibody from single immune cells from the vaccinee and implant it into another type of cells that can grow and replicate fast in our laboratory. Thus, we will take the information encoded in the immune cells from the vaccine and share it with fast growing cells which can express the antibodies against the virus in great amount. This way we will be able to produce and purify antibodies in our laboratory in amounts required to facilitate our studies.
By producing a variety of antibodies against the virus, we will be able to plan a strategy to develop them further to treat people infected with the virus. Moreover, we will try to understand why certain antibodies can neutralise the virus better than others.REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0340
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion