Validation of Low-dose ETEC Challenge Model in U.S. Adults and Re-challenge of Immune Subjects With a Homologous ETEC Strain (H10407)

Detailed Summary

This study will validate a model for testing new vaccines designed to protect against intestinal infections with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). ETEC is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in developing countries and is a common cause of travelers diarrhea. Vaccines are now being developed and their development will be facilitated if we have a valid model for testing these vaccines in human volunteers. We anticipate that the new vaccines will be given to volunteers and they will then be given a dose of virulent ETEC bacteria. If the vaccine is effective, the volunteers should not development diarrhea, but if the vaccine is not effective, the volunteers will have diarrhea for a few days. During this study, we will validate a minimum dose of virulent ETEC bacteria which is sufficient to cause diarrhea in healthy adult volunteers and to identify conditions that can make this model reliable. We will also determine, in a follow-up group of volunteers, if being exposed to the ETEC bacteria previously will protect against a subsequent illness when they are exposed to the same bacteria a second time. We believe that the previously exposed group will be protected and we will study the immune response to these exposures to help design vaccines that can accomplish this kind of protection.

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