背景:志贺氏菌病是低收入和中等收入国家5岁以下儿童中至重度腹泻和痢疾的主要原因。Flexyn2a疫苗将福氏志贺氏菌2a的O-多糖与铜绿假单胞菌外毒素A缀合。我们描述了一项2b期概念验证挑战研究,该研究评估了安全性,免疫原性,和Flexyn2a疫苗预防志贺氏菌病的功效。
方法:在本随机分组中,双盲,安慰剂对照试验,健康成年人以1:1随机分配接受Flexyn2a(10µg)或安慰剂,两次,相隔4周,随后在4周后用1500个菌落形成单位(CFU)的福氏链球菌2a菌株2457T进行攻击。主要结果是疫苗诱导的保护。评估福氏链球菌2a脂多糖(LPS)特异性免疫应答。
结果:共纳入67名受试者,34人接种了疫苗,33人服用了安慰剂。疫苗耐受性良好;大多数不良事件本质上是轻度的。30名疫苗接种者和29名安慰剂接受者接受了福氏链球菌2a攻击。与安慰剂相比,接种疫苗使志贺氏菌病减少了30.2%(13/30vs.18/29;p=0.11;95%CI-15至62.6)。疫苗对严重疾病的疗效更加强劲,对于中/重度腹泻或痢疾并发发热或严重肠道症状,达到51.7%(p=0.015,95%CI5.3~77.9),对于更严重的腹泻(≥10个大便或≥1000g大便/24小时),达到72.4%(p=0.07)。接种疫苗的受试者在攻击后不太可能需要早期抗生素干预(保护效力51.7%,p=0.01;95%CI9至76.8)。在那些患有志贺氏菌病的人中,接种疫苗的受试者具有比安慰剂接受者更低的疾病严重度评分(p=0.002)。此外,Flexyn2a受体中的LPS特异性血清IgG应答与对疾病的保护(p=0.0016)和降低的志贺氏菌病评分(p=0.002)相关。
结论:Flexyn2a生物结合疫苗具有免疫原性,在志贺氏菌攻击后,耐受性良好并可预防严重疾病,是一种有前途的志贺氏菌疫苗构建体。我们确定了抗-S之间的强关联。flexneri2a血清IgG和疾病结局的降低。(Clinicaltrials.gov,NCT02646371。)资金:这项研究的资金来自惠康信托基金的资助。
BACKGROUND: Shigellosis is a major cause of moderate to severe diarrhoea and dysentery in children under 5 years of age in low and middle-income countries. The Flexyn2a vaccine conjugates the O-polysaccharide of Shigella flexneri 2a to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A. We describe a Phase 2b proof-of-concept challenge
study that evaluated safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the Flexyn2a vaccine to protect against shigellosis.
METHODS: In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled
trial, healthy adults were randomized 1:1 to receive Flexyn2a (10 µg) or placebo intramuscularly, twice, 4 weeks apart, followed by challenge 4 weeks later with 1500 colony forming units (CFUs) of S. flexneri 2a strain 2457T. The primary outcome was vaccine-induced protection. S. flexneri 2a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific immune responses were assessed.
RESULTS: Sixty-seven subjects were enrolled, 34 received vaccine and 33 placebo. The vaccine was well tolerated; the majority of adverse events were mild in nature. Thirty vaccinees and 29 placebo recipients received the S. flexneri 2a challenge. Vaccination resulted in a 30.2% reduction in shigellosis compared with placebo (13/30 vs. 18/29; p = 0.11; 95% CI -15 to 62.6). Vaccine efficacy was more robust against severe disease, reaching 51.7% (p = 0.015, 95% CI 5.3 to 77.9) against moderate/severe diarrhoea or dysentery concurrent with fever or severe enteric symptoms and 72.4% (p = 0.07) against more severe diarrhoea (≥10 lose stools or ≥1000 g loose stools/24 h). Vaccinated subjects were less likely to need early antibiotic intervention following challenge (protective efficacy 51.7%, p = 0.01; 95% CI 9 to 76.8). In those who developed shigellosis, vaccinated subjects had a lower disease severity score (p = 0.002) than placebo-recipients. Additionally, LPS-specific serum IgG responses in Flexyn2a recipients were associated with protection against disease (p = 0.0016) and with a decreased shigellosis disease score (p = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS: The Flexyn2a bioconjugate vaccine was immunogenic, well tolerated and protected against severe illness after Shigella challenge and is a promising Shigella vaccine construct. We identified a strong association between anti-S. flexneri 2a serum IgG and a reduction in disease outcomes. (Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02646371.) FUNDING: Funding for this
study was through a grant from the Wellcome Trust.