Protective TB
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Defining protective immunity to human tuberculosis
IRAS ID
145649
Contact name
Gabriele Pollara
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
Human Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection results in symptomatic active disease in a minority of individuals, the remainder developing a “latent infection” with no clinical symptoms. However, as up to a third of the world’s population is infected, the global burden of disease is still significant. As such, it is important to both identify those at greatest risk of developing active disease and also to understand how the majority are protected from it. Many studies have demonstrated that immunity plays a key role in determining disease outcome, but the mechanisms involved remain unclear.
This study compares immune responses between groups of adults with differential risk of developing active disease: “latent infection“ and those vaccinated with BCG are relatively protected, whereas those with previously treated active disease are at increased risk. The study will recruit patients from TB clinics at University College London Hospitals NHS Trust and volunteers from students and staff at University College London over a period of 18 months.
We will measure immune responses following skin injection of purified Mtb proteins. This is known as a tuberculin skin test (TST), a safe technique commonly used in clinical practice. The TST will identify which immune components protect from active disease. Measurement of these will help calculate the risk of individuals developing active disease, and also identify desirable immune responses that future TB vaccines should elicit.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0505
Date of REC Opinion
27 May 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion