T-Base-IA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and validation of a T cell based monitoring test for Aspergillus (T-base-IA
IRAS ID
271993
Contact name
Philip L White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Public Health Wales
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 25 days
Research summary
The filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is one of the most clinically relevant fungal pathogens. It causes diseases ranging from serious allergic diseases like allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) to life threatening invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of reliable diagnostic tools. In order to improve diagnostics, we have developed two potentially applicable tests based on the reaction of T cells specific to A. fumigatus antigens:
1) a whole blood ELISA and (2) a PCR based method for the detection of specific T cell reactions.
Promising preliminary data in healthy donors needs to be compared with data form patients suffering from diseases caused by Aspergillus. The goal of the study is to see whether the T cell response differs from patients to healthy donors and to investigate the possibility of treatment monitoring in patients.
The aim of the study is to compare the results of 10 ABPA patients (if possible) and 10 CPA patients to the appropriate controls (10 patients as control for ABPA (if necessary) and 10 patients as control for CPA) as well as to 10 healthy donors. For ABPA, the inclusion of acute ABPA patients before treatment is preferred, but patients with treated acute ABPA and chronic ABPA with prophylaxis will be included as well. Control patients should be cystic fibrosis patients without ABPA.REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0645
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion