Study of Immune Response and Transmission Using Influenza A H3N2 Virus in Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 49

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how the immune system responds to influenza and how the flu virus spreads in the environment to help develop better vaccines and treatments. This study focuses on the H3N2 influenza virus strain ATexas712017 clade 3C3a, produced for controlled human infection research. The study will also evaluate the safety of this flu challenge in healthy adults aged 18 to 49, expecting mild to moderate symptoms based on previous data. Participants will be screened and enrolled from the general population and divided into groups receiving the flu virus either through a nasal spray or exposure to infected individuals. The study involves an 8 to 12 day inpatient stay at Emory University Hospital for close observation after exposure. Following this, participants will attend outpatient follow-up visits at the Emory Vaccine Center. Compensation is provided, and there are no costs to participants. During the study, participants will undergo clinical monitoring including assessment of flu symptoms and safety events up to 12 days after infection, with serious adverse events tracked up to 12 weeks. Immune responses will be measured by blood tests before and 28 days after exposure. Participants must comply with study procedures and attend all visits over about 5 months. Researchers aim to understand flu pathogenesis, immunity, transmission, and evolution using this controlled human challenge model.

A/Texas Flu Challenge