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The Oxford Vaccine Group in the Department is currently looking to recruit healthy adults aged between 18 to 60 in a study investigating how the adult immune system responds to a new meningococcal B vaccine.

Investigating Meningococcal Vaccines in Adults
Investigating Meningococcal Vaccines in Adults

This study will test a new vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis (also known as meningococcus). Meningococcal bacteria are carried naturally in the back of the throat in 10-15% of the population without causing any harm. However, they can sometimes overcome the body‘s defence and infect the lining of the brain (meningitis) or the blood stream (septicaemia). These infections can affect all ages, but especially children, adolescents and young adults.

Vaccines are the most effective way of preventing meningococcal disease. They work by stimulating the immune system to produce specialised proteins - called antibodies - and white blood cells designed to provide protection from the infection later in life. There are 6 main groups of the meningococcus family that cause disease: A, B, C, W, Y and X and different types of meningococcus require different vaccines. Vaccines against some types, such as group C, are given to children routinely and have saved many lives. 

Group B meningococcus (MenB) is the most common type of meningitis in the UK, where it causes 90% of meningococcal disease (approximately 600 cases per year). Vaccines that protect against MenB have only recently been developed and one of these vaccines, called 4CMenB (or Bexsero®), has been licensed for use in the UK and the NHS can now offer the vaccine to babies for free. 

The purpose of this study is to explore in more detail how the immune system of adults responds to vaccination with 4CMenB (Bexsero®). Specifically, it will look in detail at the range of antibodies produced in response to 4CMenB immunisation and the co-ordination of the immune response by immune cells.

Everyone who takes part in this study will receive two doses of the 4CMenB (Bexsero) vaccine against Meningococcal B (MenB). The study consists of 4 visits, a month apart over the course of 3 months; all visits will take place at the Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine (CCVTM) in the Churchill Hospital. The study will involve receiving two doses of the Men B vaccine, at the first and third visit, with blood samples taken at each of the 4 visits.

You will be reimbursed for your time and travel when you participate in this study.

Eligibility  

Are you:

- Aged 18 to 60?

- Healthy?

- Interested in taking part in a study of a licensed vaccine to protect against meningitis?

Then please consider contributing to this research.

For detailed information about the study you can read the information booklet here

You can also contact the researchers by telephone on 01865 857420 or via email at info@ovg.ox.ac.uk