- In just-published results, a COVID-19 human challenge trial conducted in the United Kingdom has given unique insights into the progress of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- The mean time between exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and first COVID-19 symptoms is much shorter than previously thought.
- Viral load peaked at 5 days after exposure, but active virus was still detectable in some people after 12 days.
- Peak levels were highest in the nose, reinforcing the importance of wearing a face covering over both nose and mouth.
Imperial College London (ICL) has announced the results of the first COVID-19 human challenge trial. A human challenge trial is a carefully controlled study in which researchers deliberately infect participants with a pathogen to study the effects of that infection.
Prof. Christopher Chiu of ICL led this trial, which researchers carried out in a unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London. The results have not yet undergone peer review and appear on the preprint server Research Square.
Participants in the trial were young, healthy people who had not received a COVID-19 vaccination or had a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. All those included were 18–30 years old.
The trial
Researchers gave all 36 participants a low dose of the original variant of SARS-CoV-2 as a droplet into the nose. They then monitored them for 14 days.
Half of the participants developed a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Two of these participants were asymptomatic. The remaining 16 developed mild symptoms, including a runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat. Some also reported tiredness, headache, slight fever, and muscle aches.
Half of those in the trial did not develop COVID-19 following exposure to SARS-CoV-2. No participants developed serious symptoms.
None of those who acquired an infection developed lung changes, but 12 people experienced anosmia — a loss of sense of smell. All but three people fully regained their sense of smell within 3 months. Researchers continued monitoring participants for 12 months.
Unique insights
This SARS-CoV-2 human challenge trial has revealed new information about the course of the infection.
People develop COVID-19 soon after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. On average, participants who got COVID-19 tested positive for the active virus after only 42 hours. This is contrary to the previous belief that people develop symptoms 5–6 days after exposure. CDC advice has been to test 5 days after suspected contact with SARS-CoV-2.
Viral load increased rapidly following infection, peaking at 5 days after exposure. Those who got the infection still had high levels of active virus 10 days, and some had active virus 12 days following inoculation.
During the course of infection, the virus moved. At around 40 hours after exposure, people had the highest amount of active virus in their throats. The viral load then became higher in the nose.
An important finding of the trial was that lateral flow tests (LFTs) were a good indicator of whether a person has viable virus, even in those without symptoms of COVID-19.
Implications for public health
The trial’s insights into the course of SARS-CoV-2 infections could help with the management of COVID-19.
“Our study reveals some very interesting clinical insights, particularly around the short incubation period of the virus, extremely high viral shedding from the nose, as well as the utility of lateral flow tests, with potential implications for public health.”
– Prof. Christopher Chiu, chief investigator on the trial
LFTs can detect even asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, they are less effective at detecting low levels of the virus in only the nose.
People should therefore swab the throat as well as the nose if performing an LFT soon after suspected exposure.
“[O]verall, lateral flow tests correlate very well with the presence of infectious virus,” says Prof. Chiu. “Even though in the first day or two they may be less sensitive, if you use them correctly and repeatedly, and act on them if they read positive, this will have a major impact on interrupting viral spread.”
The researchers found the highest levels of virus in the nose, so they advise that there is a greater risk of viral shedding from the nose. They stress the importance of wearing face coverings correctly to cover the nose and the mouth.
People should also isolate if they contract the infection, as most still have active virus 9 days after exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
“This innovative, careful and ethical human challenge study provides new insights into the brief incubation period of COVID-19 virus infections, helping to explain how the virus is so extraordinarily contagious. The utility of rapid tests in diagnosing infection was confirmed, as well as the importance of mask-wearing as a means of curtailing transmission.”
– Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, speaking to MNT
Further investigations
Researchers performed this trial using an early variant of the virus from before the Alpha variant was detected. Investigators are keen to continue human challenge trials using later variants, including Delta.
Dr. Schaffner would like to see further trials. “The study used an early COVID-19 virus strain, and we look forward to results of further studies of the Omicron variant, which [is now] the dominant virus strain worldwide,” he said.
In this trial, only 50% of those exposed to SARS-CoV-2 contracted the infection. The researchers now plan to investigate why some people appear to be resistant to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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