Study protocol for cholera vaccination as a model to measure the inflammatory response in the gut: A case of modulation with a Lactobacillus plantarum K8 lysate

PLoS One. 2023 Feb 21;18(2):e0281817. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281817. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

It is crucial for human health that the immune system of the gastrointestinal tract works effectively. Dietary modulation is one of the factors that regulate the immune response in the gut. This study aims to develop a safe human challenge model to study gastrointestinal inflammation and immune function. This study focuses on evaluating gut stimulation induced by the oral cholera vaccine in healthy people. In addition, this paper describes the study design for assessing the efficacy and safety of a probiotic lysate, identifying whether functional ingredients in food can modulate inflammatory response induced by oral cholera vaccine. Forty-six males aged 20 to 50 with healthy bowel habits will be randomly allocated to the placebo or intervention group. Participants will consume 1 capsule of probiotic lysate or placebo twice daily for 6 weeks, take oral cholera vaccines on visit 2 (day 15) and visit 5 (day 29). The level of fecal calprotectin, a marker of gut inflammation, will be the primary outcome. The changes of cholera toxin-specific antibody levels and local/systemic inflammatory responses will be evaluated in blood. The purpose of this study is to evaluate gut stimulation of the oral cholera vaccine and investigate the effect of a probiotic lysate on improving the mild inflammatory response induced by the vaccine or supporting the immune response in healthy subjects. Trial registration: * This trial is registered in the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform of WHO (ICTRP, registration number: KCT0002589).

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cholera Vaccines*
  • Cholera* / prevention & control
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Lactobacillus plantarum*
  • Male
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Cholera Vaccines

Grants and funding

This work was primarily supported by the "Bio&Medical Technology Development Program" of the Natl. Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science & ICT (NRF-2012M3A9C4048761); The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. This work was also supported by Sempio Co., Ltd (Seoul, South Korea); The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. There was no additional external funding received for this study.