The adaptive immune response in Hepatitis B vaccination
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measurement and Clinical Monitoring of Antigen Recognition receptors on B, T cells and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in Hepatitis B vaccination of two study populations: Healthcare workers (HCWs) and end stage renal failure (ESRF) patients
IRAS ID
145139
Contact name
Paul Griffiths
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects over one third of the world’s population, of whom about 350 million people are chronically infected. It is the leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and responsible for more than one million deaths annually(Mandell et al). The spectrum of disease varies widely both in acute as well as chronic infection. The prevention and control of Hepatitis B infection is achieved with immunisation: using hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) which provides passive and temporary immunity and hepatitis B vaccine which confers active and in many cases life long immunity. The Department of Health recommends that various groups who are considered at increased risk of exposure or complications of the disease should receive Hepatitis B vaccination. Two groups at increased risk of acquiring Hepatitis B infection are healthcare workers because of their occupation and end stage renal failure(ESRF) patients because of dialysis treatment.
The study will attempt to correlate the antibody level with the B and T cell response in both healthy individuals as well as a specific cohort of immunocompromised patients (those with end stage renal failure). Increased response rates have been reported in vaccines formulated for use in patients with chronic renal failure (Tong et al, 2005)
Deep sequencing of B-cell and T-cell receptor repertoire offers the potential for quantitative determination and understanding of the adaptive immune system in health and disease. In addition, HLA genotyping will be performed, in an attempt to demonstrate a potential association between antibody response and HLA types.
Next-generation sequencing of the adaptive immune repertoire promises to revolutionise our understanding of adaptive immune dynamics during vaccination and immune challenge, particularly in the context of MHC molecules.REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0776
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion