The experimental human pneumococcal challenge model: chances and applications

Nasal colonisation (also known as carriage) with Streptococcus pneumoniae is common with 10-30% of adults and 50-90% of children under the age of 3 colonised at any time. Carriage is an important pre-requisite for pneumococcal disease and the primary reservoir for transmission. The paradox of pneumococcal colonisation is that some people develop pneumococcal disease whilst others asymptomatically carry the bacteria in their nose. We developed an experimental human pneumococcal carriage model where volunteers are inoculated with a defined dose of Streptococcus pneumoniae in both nares. To date, we have inoculated over 2000 study participants of whom approximately 50% become colonised. The model allows us to define which immune responses in the nasal mucosa are associated with protection from pneumococcal carriage and the impact of vaccination or co-infection between pneumococcus and viruses on carriage rates and clearance of pneumococci from the nose. Britta Urban is a Reader in Immunology at the University of Oxford with extensive experience in the analysis of human immune responses to Plasmodium falciparum malaria, HIV and respiratory infections. As part of Prof Ferreira’s team, she leads experimental human pneumococcal challenge studies on correlates of protection in response to pneumococcal vaccines and risk factors associated with pneumococcal carriage in older adults. Moderation: Professor Dr. Sven Hammerschmidt

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