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Therapeutic Hookworm Phenotyping Study

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
autoimmune diseases
allergic diseases
Inflammatory and Immune System - Autoimmune diseases
Alternative and Complementary Medicine - Other alternative and complementary medicine
Registration Number
ACTRN12619001129178
Lead Sponsor
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Completed
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
18
Inclusion Criteria

Participant has provided written informed consent and is willing to comply with all protocol scheduled visits, laboratory tests, and other trial procedures and in the opinion of the investigator has a good understanding of the protocol, the length of the study and the demands of the study.
• Participants will be male and non-pregnant, non-lactating females aged between 18 to 65 years.
• Participants must weigh more than 50kg with a BMI within the 18.5 – 35kg/m2 range
• Participants must understand the procedures involved and agree to participate in the study by giving fully informed, written consent prior to any study assessment.
• Participants must be contactable and available for the duration of the clinical trial
• If female, has met either of criterion a” or b” below:
(a) If of non-childbearing potential, has met 1 of the following – Amenorrheic for at least 2 years, or has had a hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy at least 8 weeks prior to screening, or has had a tubal ligation at least 8 weeks prior to screening.
(b) If of childbearing potential, must be willing to use the acceptable methods of contraception
• In the opinion of the investigator is in good general health

Exclusion Criteria

Current or history of helminth infection (other than E. vermicularis).
• Have any finding at screening that in the opinion of the investigator or medical monitor would compromise the safety of the participant or affect their ability to adhere to protocol scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other trial procedures.
11
• Have participated in any other clinical trial and/or have received an investigational drug or device within 30 days of screening.
• History or current evidence of any of the following: compromised respiratory function (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory depression, signs or symptoms of hypoxia at screening); thyroid pathology (unless stabilized and euthyroid for >3 months at the time of screening); hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; evidence of clinically significant chronic cardiac, hepatic or renal disease; psychiatric illness (poorly controlled); seizure disorder or any other chronic health issues that in the opinion of the investigator would exclude the participant from the trial.
• Have one of the following laboratory abnormalities: ferritin <20 ug/L, transferrin <2.04 g/L or Haemoglobin <120 g/L for females or 130 g/L for males.
• History of severe asthma or other health conditions that may require future steroid use;
• History of substance abuse or current substance abuse that in the opinion of the investigator would exclude the participant from the trial.
• History of intolerance, allergy or hypersensitivity to the proposed anthelmintic – mebendazole.
• History of intolerance, allergy or hypersensitivity to the Betadine (iodine) solution used in preparation of Na that in the opinion of the investigator would exclude the participant from the trial.
• History of malignancy of any organ system (other than localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin), treated or untreated, within the past 5 years;
• For female subjects: positive urine pregnancy test at screening.
• Current or past scars, tattoos, or other disruptions of skin integrity at the intended site of larval application.
• Poor venous access making the participant unable to comply with the safety laboratory testing requirements.
• Antibiotic use within 6 months of screening or commencement during the study
• Probiotic or prebiotic supplementation within 1 month of screening or commencement during the study
• Laxative or gastric motility medication use within 1 month of screening or commencement during the study
• Significant dietary change or weight loss (>5%) within 6 months of screening or during the study
• Smokers or high alcohol consumers

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The detection of Necator americanus (Na) eggs in the stool of volunteers to confirm active Na infection via capsule endoscopy, PCR testing of blood and faecal sample for microscopic analysis. Once active Na infection is confirmed stool samples will be collected for the production and method optimisation of Na infective L3 larvae.[Every 2nd week from week 0 to 12]
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
IgG1 antibody response in serum using ELISA [Weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 & 48];Immune cell profiling using spectral flow cytometry of whole blood and PBMC [Weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 & 48];Gut microbiota in stool[Weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 & 48];Metabolite profiling in stool[Weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 & 48];Metabolite profiling in blood[Weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 & 48];Skin imaging of administration site[Once a week from Weeks 0 - 8];Gut motility analysis via Smartpill [Weeks 0, 6, 12 & 48];IgE antibody response in serum using ELISA[Weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 & 48];Test the effect of hookworm on intestinal barrier function using a Sugar permeability test[Week -1 and weeks 8 & 24 post infection]
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