Controlled human hookworm infection models in endemic regions: findings from Gabon presented at the EDCTP forum

When parasitic worms infect a human body, immunity generally develops slowly. If, after treatment, the person comes in contact with the worm again, reinfection is common. Scientists are trying to better understand why this is the case and use this knowledge to develop vaccines that prevent these infections and ease the health burden they currently cause.

As part of the WORMVACS2.0 project, researchers are utilising controlled human hookworm infection (CHHI) models in both endemic and non-endemic countries to gain further insight into protective immune responses to parasitic worms. Some findings have already emerged from this work at CERMEL, a research institution and WORMVACS2.0 partner in Gabon, and two of its researchers travelled to this year’s EDCTP forum in Kigali, Rwanda, to present them.

Christine Ndong presented a poster titled “Quality of Necator americanus third stage larvae as an investigational product for Controlled Human Infection in Gabon”. It included findings from CERMEL’s work producing field strain-derived infective third-stage Necator americanus larvae, which can be used in establishing the controlled human hookworm infection (CHHI) model. The team created a dedicated facility that meets cleanroom standards and a robust platform for hookworm production for the CHHI model. They ran 73 productions, of which 5% met the standards which allow them to be used in the controlled human infection models.

You can find more information in the poster here.

Christine Ndong at the EDCTP forum.

Ayodele Alabi, another CERMEL researcher, presented a poster titled “Controlled human hookworm infection for accelerated development of drugs and vaccines in Africa”. His presentation focused on the use of CHHI in Gabon, which is the first such study conducted in an endemic country in Africa. The approach was optimised by using autochthonous Gabonese Necator americanus isolated from donor samples. The infection was established in all participants.

You can find more information in the poster here.

Ayodele Alabi at the EDCTP forum.

The results from the CHHI models in Gabon are only one piece of the larger puzzle. As part of the WORMVACS2.0 project, similar work is being undertaken in other countries, both endemic and non-endemic. As results emerge, the findings will inform further work on developing parasitic worm vaccine candidates.