This is a double-blind randomized controlled trial to test whether the group B meningitis vaccine 4 component Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B vaccine (BEXSEROTM) (4C-MenB), trade name Bexsero™), currently approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for protection from Neisseria meningitidis infections, also protects from Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection using controlled human experimental infection to test protection. The information the investigator learn by doing this study may also help to develop a vaccine that protects individuals from having gonorrhea infection. The study population will consist of male participants \> 18 and \< 36 years old, living in central North Carolina, in general good health without a history of 4C-MenB vaccination. Approximately 120-140 participants will be enrolled. Participants will receive 2 doses of vaccine (2 doses of 4C-MenB or 2 comparator vaccines- seasonal influenza and tetanus/diptheria booster) as intramuscular injections, and then one intraurethral challenge with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Following the challenge, participants will cross-over and receive two doses of vaccines not received prior to challenge (2 doses of 4CMenB or the 2 comparator vaccines- seasonal influenza and tetanus/diptheria booster) All participants receive all vaccinations by the end of the study and all vaccines used in this study are licensed and FDA-approved.
The study is a single-site, double-blind randomized controlled trial to test whether vaccination with 4C-MenB, BEXSERO™ (approved for protection against invasive disease with group B Neisseria meningitidis), according to the FDA-approved schedule , provides protection from urethral infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the controlled human male gonococcal infection model. The study will be conducted in 3 phases: 1) initial vaccination phase, 2) Neisseria gonorrhoeae challenge phase, and 3) post-challenge vaccination phase. The study intervention is vaccination with two doses of BEXSERO™ and two commercially available FDA-approved vaccines that do not have relevance to Neisseria gonorrhoeae: quadrivalent influenza (FLULAVAL™) and tetanus/diphtheria (TDVAX™). At enrollment, participants are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the control vaccine arm or the experimental vaccine arm. All participants receive two immunizations prior to the bacterial challenge phase and two immunizations in the post-challenge phase. Individuals assigned to the experimental arm receive two doses of BEXSERO™ prior to Neisseria gonorrhoeae challenge and control vaccines in the post-challenge vaccination phase. Participants assigned to the control arm receive FLULAVAL™ and TDVAX™ prior to challenge and BEXSERO™ in the post-challenge vaccination phase. Primary and secondary outcomes are determined following bacterial challenge. This study design provides clinical equipoise, because all participants receive the known benefits associated with administration of BEXSERO™ for protection against meningococcal disease. For bacterial challenge, all participants receive a suspension containing 10\^6 colony-forming units of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain FA1090 delivered to the anterior urethra. This dose has been shown to produce symptomatic gonococcal urethritis in 80-90% of unvaccinated, exposed participants within 5 days after bacterial inoculation. Participants are followed with daily visits to assess for development of urethritis and presence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in their urine. Participants receive 100% effective antibiotic treatment when (1) requested by the participant regardless of signs, symptoms or positive cultures, (2) urethral discharge is observed by the examining clinician or reported by the participant, or (3) 10 days after urethral inoculation with bacterial product, regardless of infection status.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
140
Mandatory rescue therapy consisting of cefixime 400 mg orally in a single dose: on patient request, at the onset of clinically apparent urethritis or on the 10th study day after inoculation.
Mandatory rescue therapy consisting of ceftriaxone 250 mg intramuscularly in a single dose: on patient request, at the onset of clinically apparent urethritis or on the 10th study day after inoculation.
Mandatory antibiotic treatment failure therapy: Ciprofloxacin 500 mg orally in a single dose: if the subject has a positive N. gonorrhoeae test within 1 week post initial antibiotic treatment
0.4 mL of a suspension containing 10\^5 - 10\^6 CFU of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, in phosphate-buffered saline, delivered to the anterior urethra through a No.8 pediatric French catheter.
All participants will receive 2 doses of the 4CMenB vaccine, 0.5 mL intramuscularly
All participants will receive the quadrivalent influenza vaccine, 0.5 mL intramuscularly.
All participants will receive the Td vaccine, 0.5 mL intramuscularly.
Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) at University of North Carolina (UNC) Hospitals and/or at UNC Global Clinical Research North
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
RECRUITINGInfectivity of N. gonorrhoeae inoculum
Infectivity is defined as the proportion of participants positive for N. gonorrhoeae by N. gonorrhoeae Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) or urine culture or swab culture on the post-inoculation antibiotic treatment day in each study group (control and experimental).
Time frame: between 1 and 10 days after N. gonorrhoeae inoculation (between study day 58 and study day 123)
Proportion of participants that develop macroscopic urethritis
The proportion of participants with protocol defined macroscopic urethritis on the post-inoculation antibiotic treatment day in each study group (control and experimental).
Time frame: between 1 and 10 days after N. gonorrhoeae inoculation (between study day 58 and study day 123)
Proportion of participants that develop symptomatic microscopic urethritis
The proportion of participants with protocol defined symptomatic microscopic urethritis on the post-inoculation antibiotic treatment day in each study group (control and experimental).
Time frame: between 1 and 10 days after N. gonorrhoeae inoculation (between study day 58 and study day 123)
Time to develop macroscopic urethritis
The time to develop macroscopic urethritis is defined as the number of days after urethral inoculation with N. gonorrhoeae to the day that protocol defined macroscopic urethritis triggers antibiotic treatment will determined for each study group (control and experimental)
Time frame: between 1 and 10 days after N. gonorrhoeae inoculation (between study day 58 and study day 123)
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