APaS-1 Adult Protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae study 1 v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Single-Site Cross-Sectional Observational Pilot Study to Examine the Role of T cell-mediated Tolerance of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the Nasopharynx in Protection Against Pneumococcal Disease in Adults
IRAS ID
183838
Contact name
Neil French
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Pneumonia (chest infection) is one of the most common reasons for hospital admission in the UK and is a very important global health issue. The most common cause is a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). Every year around the world pneumococcal infections kill more than one million people.
At any one time at least 10% of people have pneumococcus in their nose but it does not cause any problems - this is called pneumococcal carriage. Sometimes pneumococcus spreads to cause sinus or ear infections, pneumonia, or meningitis. Exactly how or why this happens is not fully understood. This knowledge could improve vaccines and treatments. Certain people have higher rates of pneumococcal pneumonia – the elderly, young children and people living with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). Pneumonia is the most common serious complication of pneumococcal carriage so it is the focus of this study.
It appears there is a delicate balance in the nose with pneumococcus – developing a serious infection is not good for the person or the bacteria. A white blood cell – a regulatory T cell – lets the body ignore the pneumococcus and in doing so this protects the person from developing pneumonia.
In HIV infection, regulatory T cells are attacked by the virus, which means they do not work properly. This might be one reason why people living with HIV get more pneumonia.
The investigators wish to look at the regulatory T cells of healthy people, people living with HIV and people with pneumococcal pneumonia.
From a total of 30 people we will collect one blood sample and one nose wash sample. We will perform experiments on these samples to examine the immune cells in detail. This study aims to provide evidence that regulatory T cells are required for protection against pneumococcus.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0085
Date of REC Opinion
28 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion