Table 2 The whys and hows of the controlled human infection model. Concepts particular to endemic regions are presented in bold
Why? | How |
|---|---|
Need to develop and assess vaccine and drug candidates | • CHHI provides expedient assessment of vaccine and drug candidates • Allows for mining for vaccine candidates when combined with proteome and glycan arrays • Creates a benchmark for assessing vaccine and drug efficacy in endemic populations |
Unwanted/allergic responses to candidate vaccines | • Report IgE reactivity to hookworm antigens • De-risks future development of candidates by testing antibody recognition in hookworm endemic population (in particular testing for IgE recognition and eosinophilia with challenge material) |
Differing immune profiles between Africans and residents of non-endemic areas where vaccines are often developed | • Provides data on innate and adaptive cellular responses to hookworm infection • Report on IgM, IgG, IgG subclasses, and IgA reactivity to hookworm antigens • Provides insight into local (skin, airway mucosa, and gut) immune responses • Allows for comparison between responses of volunteers from the Netherlands and Gabon |
Need to develop Correlates of protection | • Establish a profile of immune responses to hookworm as a surrogate of past exposure • Using vaccine candidates, CHHI allows for the identification of molecular patterns that could correlate with protection |