ETEC vaccine(Acambis Plc)

This is a research study about an experimental (investigational) oral ETEC vaccine (ACE527). ACE527 is a live attenuated vaccine that is being made to prevent disease from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), which causes watery diarrhea, largely in children living in developing countries and in travelers to those countries. This research study is also testing an investigational adjuvant called dmLT. An adjuvant is something that is added to a vaccine to make it work better. The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, Part A aims to find out if the vaccine by itself or the vaccine combined with the adjuvant is safe, tolerable, and initiates an immune response. Second, Part B aims to find out if the vaccine by itself or the vaccine combined with the adjuvant prevents diarrheal disease when challenged with ETEC H10407. About 60 healthy adults, ages 18-50, will participate in Part A, and they will be required to stay in the research facility for several nights for the first dose, but will not be required to stay overnight for the second and third doses. Participants will be assigned to receive either the vaccine alone, the vaccine with adjuvant, or placebo by mouth. Study procedures include: stool samples, blood samples, and documentation of side effects. Participants will be involved in study related procedures for about 8 months.
Interested volunteers from Part A will along with volunteers who were never vaccinated in Part A will return to participate in Part B. These volunteers will be required to stay overnight in the research facility for several nights after challenge, after which they will be treated with antibiotics and sent home. Study procedures include stool samples, blood samples, and documentation of infection with ETEC H10407. If the vaccine with/without adjuvant is effective, the volunteers should not development diarrhea, but if the vaccine with/without adjuvant is not effective, the volunteers will have diarrhea for a few days.