PIRATES-COV: Modification of the COVID-19 Vaccine Response by an Intervention on the Intestinal Flora

Sponsor
Université de Sherbrooke (Other)
Overall Status
Not yet recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT05195151
Collaborator
CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval (Other)
668
2
10

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The elderly, who are often in poorer health, have been particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent study results show that while vaccines have been very effective in the short term, protection for the elderly may not be sufficient 6 months after the 2nd dose. Some countries have started to offer a 3rd dose. We are considering acting on the intestinal flora of the elderly (which is often unbalanced) in order to increase the effectiveness of the vaccination. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that probiotics (which can rebalance the intestinal flora) significantly increase the production of antibodies after vaccination against the flu virus. Our hypothesis is that taking probiotics one month before and one month after the 4th dose of COVID vaccine would result in longer lasting vaccine protection in seniors. This study will include 668 seniors, aged 65-89 years, who have not had COVID-19, who have received 3 doses of an mRNA vaccine and who will accept a 4th dose of vaccine. All participants will take 1 capsule/day (probiotics or placebo) for 1 month and in the middle of this period will receive a 4th dose of vaccine. On five occasions (inclusion, vaccination,1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-vaccination), they will prick their fingertip and express the drop of blood on a blotting paper. They will mail this dried blood sample in an envelope for antibody testing in Quebec City. A subgroup of 100 participants willing to travel the Sherbrooke Clinical Research Center for 2 times (inclusion visit and final visit) will be invited to do a blood test. The investigators expect to reduce by 1/3 the number of seniors who are poorly protected by the 4rd dose of vaccine 6 months after the injection thanks to the probiotics. If successful, this approach could quickly be implemented worldwide as probiotics have few side effects and are affordable.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Dietary Supplement: Taking capsule containing probiotics or placebo
N/A

Detailed Description

The elderly are at high risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. They are particularly targeted by recent data: i) faster decline of the immune response in the elderly and ii) increase of COVID infection 6 months after the 2nd dose of vaccine. In addition, they often have an imbalance of the microbiota that plays a key role in the activation of the immune system. Taking probiotics, which improve the microbiota, could increase the vaccine response of the elderly. Indeed, it has been shown in 2 meta-analyses that probiotics improve immune response after influenza vaccination. The investigators believe that probiotics taken at the time of4t dose (booster dose) of vaccine could improve immune memory: i) humoral (cellular Receptor-Binding Domain antibody) and ii) (B lymphocytes, CD4+ T and CD8+ T), in the medium term and would then allow a greater spacing of the booster doses in the future OBJECTIVE: To reduce by 33% the percentage of elders without RBD antibodies, 6 months after the booster dose of vaccine, by taking 2 strains of probiotics compared to placebo. Secondary objectives: To improve the evolution of RBD Ac by longitudinal analysis at 5 different time points (inclusion, vaccination, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-vaccination).- To compare the evolution of neutralizing Ac and memory B, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells, at inclusion and 6 months post-vaccination. METHODOLOGYDesign. A randomized, intention-to-treat, blinded, placebo-controlled trial.Investigation products are: for the intervention group, a capsule with 2 strains of probiotics and for control group or a placebo capsule. Participants will take one capsule per day for 30 days (15 d and 15 d after the booster dose of vaccine). Both vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) may be used depending on availability and state of knowledge . With 1:1 allocation, via the REDCap application, using permuted blocks and stratified according to randomization.gender, age (65-79 and 80-89 years) and vaccine type for the booster dose. Inclusion criteria: (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) for more than 6 months, volunteers for booster dose of vaccine, telephone or internet access, informed consent, and living <75 km from CRC (only for participants for blood test visits). Exclusion criteria: patients with allergies (soy...), COVID-19 disease, possibly affected cognitive functions, chronically weakened immune system (AIDS...) or undergoing anti-cancer treatment. Five finger-prick dried blood samples (DBS) are planned (inclusion, vaccination, 1, 3 and 6 months post-vaccination).The DBS will be mailed to Quebec City . A telephone or mail follow up will be realised for each participant. A subgroup of 100 participants willing to travel will be invited to visit us at the inclusion and final visit to do a blood test. . Fecal self-sampling (inclusion) for microbiota study will be sent to I Laforest-Lapointe's laboratory. The levels of RBD Ac will be determined by a validated Elisa test (5 times). From the Results Criteria.venous blood samples (inclusion and 6 months post-vaccination), will be studyied: i) the pseudotyped viral neutralization and ii) the cellular immune memory in flow cytometry (B, T CD4+ and T CD8+ lymphocytes). With 30% undetectable RBD Ac in the placebo group (6 months post-vaccine) and 20% in the intervention group, are required (15% attrition, 80% power, 5% two-sided test). The 668 subjects primary analysis on the dichotomous criterion (Ac RBD) will use a GMM logistic regression model for longitudinal data with covariate variant/time.PROJECT OUTCOMEImproving vaccination and spacing vaccine doses among the elderly are major public health issues. If successful, probiotics could be used worldwide very quickly. They have few side effects, are available over the counter and are affordable.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
668 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Modulation of Immune Responses to COVID-19 Vaccination by an Intervention on the Gut Microbiota: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Anticipated Study Start Date :
Jun 1, 2022
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Oct 1, 2022
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Apr 1, 2023

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Probiotics

taking a capsule containing the probiotics 15 d before and 15 d after booster shot.

Dietary Supplement: Taking capsule containing probiotics or placebo
The probiotics capsule containing two strains of probiotics.

Placebo Comparator: Control

taking a capsule containing a placebo 15 d before and 15 d after booster shot.

Dietary Supplement: Taking capsule containing probiotics or placebo
The probiotics capsule containing two strains of probiotics.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Decreasing of 33% the percentage of elders without Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD) antibodies, 6 months after the vaccine booster shot [6 months]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
65 Years to 89 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Yes
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Men and women, aged 65-89 years, who have received 3 doses of a mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) for more than 6 months, volunteered for a fourth dose of vaccine, had telephone or internet access, were able to provide informed consent, and lived <75 km from the CRC (subgroup of 100 participants only)
Exclusion Criteria:
  • Patients with COVID-19 disease (clinical and serological data at post), with possibly affected cognitive functions (score < 12 on the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ)), with allergies (soy, lactose, yeast, maltodextrin), with a chronically weakened immune system (AIDS...) or undergoing anti-cancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiotherapy) and who do not speak French or English.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

No locations specified.

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • Université de Sherbrooke
  • CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval

Investigators

  • Study Director: Jean-Charles Pasquier, Dr, Université de Sherbrooke

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
Université de Sherbrooke
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT05195151
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • EG9-179473
First Posted:
Jan 18, 2022
Last Update Posted:
May 23, 2022
Last Verified:
May 1, 2022
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
No
Plan to Share IPD:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Keywords provided by Université de Sherbrooke
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of May 23, 2022