VRC 206: A Phase I Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of an Ebola DNA Plasmid Vaccine, VRC-EBODNA023-00-VP, and a Marburg DNA Plasmid Vaccine, VRC-MARDNA025-00-VP, in Healthy Adults

This study will determine if experimental vaccines to prevent Ebola virus infection and Marburg virus infection are safe and what side effects, if any, they cause. Ebola virus infection may range from mild to severe, and may cause breathing problems, severe bleeding, kidney problems and shock that can lead to death. Marburg virus infection causes an illness similar to that caused by the Ebola virus. The vaccines used in this study contain genetic material produced in the laboratory that causes the body to make a small amount of either Ebola or Marburg virus proteins. No Ebola or Marburg virus is in the vaccines.

Normal healthy volunteers between 18 and 60 years of age may be eligible for this study.

Participants are assigned to receive injections of either the Marburg or the Ebola vaccine. The first group of participants will receive the Marburg vaccine and the second group will receive the Ebola vaccine. The injections are given at 4-week intervals (study weeks 0, 4 and 8). They are given into a muscle with a needleless system called the Biojector(Registered Trademark) 2000.

Participants keep a diary at home (on paper or electronically) for 5 days, in which they record their temperature, symptoms and any reaction at the injection site. They call a study nurse the day after vaccination to report how they feel and return to the clinic for follow-up 2 weeks after each injection (weeks 2, 6 and 10). The visits include a check of vital signs, blood and urine tests, medical history and review of medications taken. Additional visits at weeks 12, 24 and 32 include a check of vital signs, medical history and blood tests.