Nose drops of pneumonia bacteria could pave way for better vaccines
NCT ID NCT05535868
First seen Jun 29, 2026 · Last updated Jun 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates how a specific strain of pneumococcus bacteria (serotype 3) colonizes the nose of healthy adults. Researchers will give volunteers nose drops containing the bacteria to see what dose leads to colonization and how long the bacteria stay before the immune system clears them. The goal is to develop a reliable model for testing future vaccines against pneumococcal infections.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Serotype 3 pneumococcal bacteria (nose drops)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this model could help researchers test new vaccines that prevent pneumococcal infections more effectively.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage model study, not a treatment trial. It may not translate into real-world vaccine success, and some participants may experience temporary nasal colonization.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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91 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2022
- Finished
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Nov 2023
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 50 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria:• Healthy young adults aged 18-50 years (inclusive). This age range minimises the risk of invasive pneumococcal infection and allows comparison with previously published experimental work done by our group. * Fluent spoken English - to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the research project and their proposed involvement, enabling valid consent to be given. * Access to their own mobile telephone - to ensure safety and timely communication. * Capacity to give informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * o Currently involved in another study unless observational or non-interventional, excluding the EHPC bronchoscopy study (at the discretion of the study team). This is to ensure no harm comes to the participants through over-sampling. * Participant in any previous EHPC trial in past year * Participant in previous EHPC trial inoculated with SPN3 in the last 3 years * Participant in EHPC Pneumo 2 trial * Vaccination: Previous pneumococcal vaccination PPV23 or PCV13 (routine in babies born in the UK since 2005) or PCV10. This can be self-reported or confirmed from GP questionnaire (GPQ) if deemed necessary at clinician discretion. * Allergy: to penicillin/amoxicillin * Health history (self-reported or confirmed by GPQ or medical summary if felt to be necessary at clinician discretion): * Chronic ill health including immunosuppressive history, diabetes, asthma (on regular medication), recurrent otitis media or other respiratory disease. * Medication that may affect the immune system e.g., steroids, inflammation altering or disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs. * Long term use of antibiotics for chronic infection. * Major pneumococcal illness requiring hospitalisation in the last 10 years. * Other conditions considered by the clinical team as a concern for participant safety or integrity of the study * Significant mental health problems (uncontrolled condition or requiring previous admission to a psychiatric unit) that would impair ability to participate • Direct caring role or close contact with individuals at higher risk of infection during the inoculation period if personal protective equipment (PPE) not worn: * Children under 5 years age * Adults with chronic ill health or immunosuppression * Hospital patients • Smoker: * Current or ex-smoker (daily cigarettes, daily e-cigarettes/vaping and daily smoking of recreational drugs) in the last 6 months. Participants who smoke \<5 cigarettes per week may be included. * Previous significant smoking history (\>20 cigarettes per day for 20 years or equivalent \[\>20 pack years\]). • Biologically female participants of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) who are: * Currently pregnant/lactating * Intending on becoming pregnant during the study * Not deemed to have effective birth control • History of or current drug or alcohol abuse: * Men should not drink \>3 units/day regularly * Women should not drink \>2 units/day regularly * Overseas travel planned in follow up period of study visits * Natural SPN 3 colonisation in baseline nasal wash - if a participant is colonised with non-SPN3 pneumococcus, they can be included as part of exploratory analyses, but would not be included in the primary analysis * STOP criteria - participants who meet STOP criteria at time of screening (Table 3) 6.3 Temporary Exclusion Criteria * Ongoing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, anosmia or ageusia) or confirmed current COVID-19 infection. Participants with resolved COVID-19 after their UKHSA determined isolation period has ended can be included. * Current/acute illness within 14 days prior to inoculation if COVID-19 negative * Positive COVID-19 swab whether symptomatic or asymptomatic within 10 days of inoculation * Currently isolating following exposure to COVID-19 as per UKHSA guidance * Antibiotic use within 28 days of inoculation. * Participants who have been temporarily excluded at screening may be re-screened at a later date to assess their eligibility at this time for inclusion into the study. At this point, the participant would be re-consented if their initial written consent was given \>4 months prior to this date. * Vaccination 21 days prior to inoculation
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Liverpool, L7 8XZ, United Kingdom
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.