A Pilot Study for Collection of Anti-Influenza A Immune Plasma

Two types of influenza A widely circulate in humans and cause seasonal outbreaks and epidemics - H1N1 (swine flu) and H3N2 (a subtype abundant in seasonal influenza). During the 2009-2010 influenza season, the most commonly reported virus was influenza A (H1N1). However, during the 2010-2011 influenza season, the most commonly reported virus was influenza A (H3N2), but influenza A (H1N1) viruses and influenza B viruses circulated as well. A certain age group may be hit harder by one type of influenza virus than another (for example, the 2009 H1N1 virus disproportionately affected people younger than 65 years of age rather than those older than 65, whereas H3N2 virus often affects those older than 65 years). However, influenza A has a substantial health effect on every age group. Due to the limited therapeutic options for influenza and significant morbidity and mortality despite treatment, additional therapeutics are warranted. One potential therapeutic that is fairly rapidly available is the use of anti-influenza A immune plasma as immunotherapy. The objective of this protocol is collection of anti-influenza A immune plasma from male volunteers that meet criteria for use in human plasma therapy studies. The use of plasma from male donors will minimize the risk of transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI), which has been associated with antibodies (likely generated during pregnancy) found in female plasma. For this reason, only male donors will be enrolled. This protocol does not administer any investigational product, but rather collects plasma from subjects with a high anti-influenza A antibody titer (convalescent survivors of influenza infection or recipients of a licensed influenza vaccine). Following screening of potential subjects to identify those who are not eligible to participate in plasma donations and to determine the likelihood of having antibodies to influenza A (H1N1 or H3N2) from a recent infection or immunization, enrolled subjects will receive a baseline physical and laboratory examination. Eligible subjects with high influenza A hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titers will then be scheduled for at least 3 (and up to 20) plasma collection sessions. Following testing of the collected plasma for potential pathogens, it may be used as therapeutic plasma, and/or it may be used for the manufacturing of high titer anti-influenza A intravenous immune globulin (IVIG). Both options would support clinical trials aimed at developing additional therapeutics for influenza infection.