Study of acellular pertussis vaccine and its effect on whooping cough colonization in healthy adults using controlled human infection

This clinical trial focuses on studying pertussis, also known as whooping cough, a contagious respiratory disease. The study aims to investigate how booster vaccination affects bacterial colonization in the nose after controlled exposure to Bordetella pertussis bacteria. The research compares two different vaccines: Repevax (a combination vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio) and Revaxis (a vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and polio).

During the study, participants will receive one of these vaccines as a booster shot. Later, they will be exposed to a carefully controlled amount of pertussis bacteria through the nose. The researchers will then collect samples from the nose over several weeks to check for the presence of bacteria. Participants will receive azithromycin, an antibiotic, as part of the study protocol to ensure safety.

This is a Phase 4 study, which means the vaccines being tested are already approved for use but are being studied to gather additional information about their effects. The study will help understand how vaccination might prevent the bacteria from establishing itself in the nose, which could reduce the spread of whooping cough in communities.