Clinical Research Directory

Rechallenge With a Low Pathogenicity Avian H10N7 Influenza Virus in Healthy Human Volunteers Previously Challenged With H10N7 Influenza

Background: Influenza (flu) is a virus that can infect humans and animals. In humans, the flu can cause mild symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue. It can also cause sinus infections or pneumonia. Some flu strains, such as H5N1 and H7N9, which come from birds, can lead to more severe symptoms or death. Others, like H10N7, also come from birds but usually cause mild symptoms. Researchers want to study bird flu in humans to help develop new flu vaccines and treatments. Objective: To learn more about how bird flu viruses infect humans. Eligibility: Healthy people aged 18 to 55 years who were infected with the H10N7 bird flu strain as part of a previous study. Design: Participants who were infected with H10N7 in a previous study will be infected again with the same virus. The virus will be sprayed into their nostrils. Participants will stay in the hospital for at least 9 days. They will stay in an isolation unit. No outside visitors will be allowed. During their stay, participants will provide blood, urine, and nasal fluid samples. They will have tests of their heart and lung function. They will complete questionnaires about their symptoms. Participants will remain in the hospital until they test negative for the flu 2 days in a row. They will continue to complete questionnaires about their symptoms for 2 weeks after they were infected with the virus. Participants will have 2 follow-up visits, at 5 weeks and 9 weeks after they were infected. They will have a physical exam and provide samples of blood and nasal fluids. They will have a test of their heart function.

In-depth Analysis of the Immune Responses in the Upper Respiratory Tract in Older Adults Infected or Colonized With Streptococcus Pneumoniae (Spn)

The NoseSpn-Elderly study aims at characterizing the immune response in the upper respiratory tract in adults aged 60 and over diagnosed with a pneumonia due to a Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) infection. The immune response during the acute phase of the infection and after recovery will be compared to the immune response of asymptomatic Spn carriers as well as to the immune response of patients diagnosed with a viral respiratory infection (flu or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)). The primary objective of this observational study is to quantify the inflammatory response in the nasal cavity and to correlate it with bacterial/viral load and with clinical parameters. The study also aims to compare the inflammatory response measured in the nose to that measured in the blood. Participants will have two study visits including a blood draw, several nasal samplings (nasal lining fluid and nasal cells) and a saliva sampling, one within 72 hours of their hospital admission and another one month later. Nasal lining fluid and saliva will be obtained every two or three days until discharge from the hospital or resolution of symptoms. During those visits, questions regarding symptoms will be asked.

In-depth Analysis of the Immune Responses in the Upper Respiratory Tract of Influenza-infected Children

The NoseFlu-Kids project aims at characterizing the immune response in the upper respiratory tract in children aged 2 to 5 with a laboratory-confirmed influenza infection. The immune response during the acute phase of the infection and after recovery will be compared to that of control children with no infection or vaccinated with the inactivated flu vaccine by the nasal route (recruited as part of a mirror study in Oxford). The primary objective of this observational study is to quantify the inflammatory response in the nasal cavity and to correlate it with viral load and with clinical parameters. The study also aims to compare the inflammatory response measured in the nose to that measured in the blood. Participants will have two study visits including a blood draw, several nasal samplings (nasal lining fluid and nasal cells) and a saliva sampling, one within 72 hours of their hospital admission and another one month later. Nasal lining fluid and saliva will be obtained every two or three days until symptoms disappear. During those visits, questions regarding symptoms will be asked.