LABPv001
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Use of Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) parasites to develop Immunofluorescent Antibody Tests (IFAT) and in vitro Invasion Inhibition Assays
IRAS ID
224139
Contact name
Angela Minassian
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Lay summary:
This study is a laboratory-based study where we will use human blood samples infected with a common type of malaria parasite (Plasmodium vivax, P. vivax). We will use these samples to develop laboratory tests that will enable us to investigate immune responses to novel vaccines that are made to target P. vivax infection. This will be done in the laboratory, using malaria-infected blood obtained from patients diagnosed with P. vivax infection. We plan to recruit 20 adults (aged 16-50 years) who have been diagnosed with P. vivax malaria within, London Northwest Healthcare and Heart of England NHS Trusts. Participants will already be having blood taken as part of their routine clinical care. We will collect an additional 50mL blood sample from each of the participants prior to them receiving antimalarial treatment, with their informed consent, and process these in Oxford to isolate the parasites and develop simple tests of immunity against them. The primary outcome measures will be to:
i) determine whether antibodies raised by vaccination or infection (of animals or humans) can recognize blood-stage P. vivax parasites;
ii) determine whether antibodies raised by vaccination or infection (of animals or humans) can inhibit red blood cell invasion by blood-stage P. vivax parasites in short-term culture.
This work has been approved and funded by the Wellcome Trust and European Commission.Summary of results:
The original purpose of this study was to collect samples from adults presenting to hospitals across the UK with P. vivax infection, pre-treatment. These samples would then be used to develop Immunofluorescent Antibody Tests (IFAT) and in vitro Invasion Inhibition Assays to support in future vaccine development. This study was open for 3 years with only 2 samples being collected during this time. This was not sufficient to set up and develop any assays, as per the objectives of the study. During the COVID-19 pandemic this study was temporarily halted. The CI took the decision to not reopen this study following the pandemic and instead decided to terminate this study early. This was due to the minimal samples collected over a 3-year period, the lab’s limited capacity and the cost of keeping the study open, meaning continuing the study could not be justified.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0748
Date of REC Opinion
4 May 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion