Controlled infection model using pertactin-deficient whooping cough bacteria

Open-label, Phase 1/2, Dose-escalation Clinical Trial to Establish a Controlled Human Infection Model by Determining and Confirming the Optimal and Safe J820 Bordetella Pertussis Dose Administered Intranasally to Healthy Adults 18-50 Years of Age That Induces Mild Symptomatic Infection and Detection of B. Pertussis in Nasal Samples

This study will test whether healthy adults can be safely exposed to a pertactin-deficient whooping cough bacterium to create a human challenge model for vaccine research.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 50 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Dalhousie University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
• Trial ID: NCT06827470 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The trial is a phase 1 interventional program that will inoculate healthy adults with a pertactin-deficient Bordetella pertussis strain (J820) to establish a controlled human infection model reflecting currently circulating isolates. Participants will be adults aged 18–50 in good health who agree to close monitoring, diary cards, and follow-up visits. The protocol includes pre-challenge screening, pregnancy prevention for those at risk, and post-inoculation clinical and microbiological surveillance to document colonization, symptoms, and safety. The goal is to create a reproducible model within a North American vaccination and infection exposure context to support future vaccine and immunity studies.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Healthy adults aged 18–50 who can consent, comply with study procedures, and (if at risk of pregnancy) use adequate contraception are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Children, pregnant people, immunocompromised individuals, and people outside the 18–50 age range are unlikely to be eligible or to receive direct benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this model could speed development and testing of vaccines and treatments that protect against current pertactin-deficient pertussis strains.

How similar studies have performed: Human challenge models for Bordetella pertussis have been used historically and in recent research to study infection and vaccine responses, but a controlled human infection model specifically using pertactin-deficient strains that mirror current circulating isolates is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

To be eligible for the study, each participant must satisfy ALL of the following criteria:

1. Age 18-50 years, inclusive.
2. Good general health status, as determined by history and physical examination conducted no longer than 30 days prior to the challenge.
3. Participants who, in the opinion of the Investigator, can and will comply with the requirements of the protocol (e.g., complete Diary Cards, return for follow-up visits).
4. Written informed consent obtained from the participant.
5. If a cis woman and/or gender divergent person is at risk of becoming pregnant has practiced adequate contraception for 28 days prior to challenge and has a negative pregnancy test on the day before B. pertussis challenge and has agreed to continue adequate contraception until 60 days after inoculation.

Risk of pregnancy is defined as any individual assigned female at birth or with reproductive capacity who is sexually active with individuals with sperm-producing capabilities. Individuals who have received the following are considered to not have reproductive capacity:

* Documented hysterectomy
* Documented bilateral salpingectomy
* Documented bilateral oophorectomy
* Documented and current bilateral tubal ligation or occlusion
* Credible self-reported history of diagnosed infertility
* Hormone therapy (e.g., testosterone), provided it is administered consistently and medically assessed as sufficient to reduce pregnancy such that ovulation has ceased
* Any other condition, as determined by the Principal Investigator, that would render an individual incapable of becoming pregnant

Adequate contraception is defined as a contraceptive method with a failure rate of \<1% per year when used consistently and correctly and, when applicable, in accordance with the product label. Examples include the following:

* Combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral, intravaginal, or transdermal
* Progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral, injectable, or implantable
* Intra-uterine device (IUD) with or without hormonal release
* Vasectomized partner, if this is the participant's sole partner and the partner has received a medical assessment of the surgical success
* Credible self-reported history of abstinence for at least 28 days prior to challenge

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants with ANY of the following criteria at the time of screening will be excluded:

1. Underlying chronic medical condition requiring ongoing follow-up and monitoring by a physician (e.g., diabetes, seizure disorder).
2. Underlying cardiac and/or pulmonary disease including hypertension, angina, prior myocardial infarction, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary tuberculosis.
3. Moderate or severe symptoms of health anxiety, anxiety, and mood symptoms. Self-reported current diagnosis of a major psychiatric illness, including a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, substance use, or eating disorder.
4. QT prolongation on electrocardiogram (EKG).
5. History of everyday smoking/vaping in the last 2 years and/or current smoking/vaping more than once per week.
6. Pregnant (known before or established at the time of screening using a urine-based test) or breastfeeding.
7. Immunocompromised (with HIV/AIDS-positive or receiving immunosuppressive therapy involving steroids) or with any medical condition or medication that leads to a compromised immune system.
8. Positive for hepatitis B or C by blood test.
9. Vaccinated against pertussis within previous 5 years and/or \>7 cumulative doses from infancy to date of screening.
10. Reported history of laboratory-confirmed pertussis infection, including having been exposed to B. pertussis in a Controlled Human Infection Model
11. Antibody titer to pertussis toxin \>20 IU/mL (2x the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ)).
12. Detection of B. pertussis in nasal samples prior to challenge using culture isolation and/or PCR detection, or detection of other respiratory infection.
13. Living or working with (any form of close contact) any of the at-risk/vulnerable groups who are not up to date on their vaccination, specifically children \<1 year of age, pregnant woman who have not yet received their maternal Tdap vaccine, immunocompromised individuals, adults \>65 years of age who have not received a dose of Tdap vaccine within the past 10 years, or other at risk persons, as applicable, up to Day 57.

    Note: Household members whose vaccination is not current will be offered or directed to a pertussis-containing vaccine, as recommended and funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.
14. Known allergy to macrolides including azithromycin or erythromycin, history of Clostridium difficile within last 2 months.
15. Any contraindication to receiving azithromycin.
16. Taking any systemic antibiotic currently or within the previous 2 weeks.
17. Currently taking terfenadine, astemizole, theophylline, or cimetidine.
18. Poor venous access, as defined by inability to obtain venous blood after 3 venipuncture attempts.
19. Recent (within 6 months) nasal or sinus surgery, recent use of intranasal steroids (4 weeks), or diagnosis with nasal polyps.
20. Receipt of any investigational drug or vaccine within 6 months prior to challenge. An investigational vaccine is defined as a vaccine that is still being tested in clinical trials or one that has not yet been authorized for use in Canada for administration by public vaccine programs.
21. Receipt of any authorized vaccines within 2 weeks prior to challenge with B. pertussis in this study. (This is to avoid attributing any AEs from these vaccines to the B. pertussis challenge, which would skew the study results.)
22. Previous moderate or severe respiratory infection that required hospitalization.
23. Head trauma (e.g., fracture of the cribriform plate) within 1 year of screening.
24. Any other finding that the Investigator considers will make the participant unsuitable for the study or unable to comply with the study requirements.
25. Symptoms indicative of acute respiratory illness (such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing) identified during the physical examination done on Day -1 (check-in) or Study Day 1 before a participant is challenged.
26. History of Bell's Palsy and/or facial paralysis.
27. Receipt of facial cosmetic filler in the past 3 months.

Where this trial is running

Halifax, Nova Scotia

• Canadian Center for Vaccinology — Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Nick Bartlett

Conditions Pertussis; Bordetella pertussis; Whooping cough; Controlled human infection model; Human challenge; Phase 1 clinical trial; Immune response