Characterization of Adaptive Immune Responses to Oropouche Virus (OROV) Infection (OROV-IMM)

November 2, 2026 updated by: Institut Pasteur

Oropouche virus (OROV), a re-emerging South American arbovirus causing dengue-like fever and occasional neurological complications, is expanding its circulation towards more densely populated areas in French Guiana, as evidenced by recent cases near Cayenne in 2026. While animal models indicate that B cell-mediated humoral immunity is critical for viral control, the human antibody response to OROV remains poorly characterized. Despite WHO-led international research efforts, there is currently no vaccine, antiviral treatment, or described human monoclonal antibody against OROV - a major gap that hinders therapeutic and vaccine development. Identifying human neutralizing monoclonal antibodies could offer a promising therapeutic option, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The goal of this project is to characterize the adaptive immune response to OROV infection during the convalescent phase.

The study is based on three complementary populations: (1) 17 adults with confirmed past OROV infection (2020) who will be recontacted for follow-up sampling; (2) 50 adults recruited prospectively from a village with ∼80% seroprevalence, aiming to include at least 20 seropositive individuals for robust analysis of antigen-specific B and T cell responses; and (3) an exploratory cohort of 1 to 10 newly confirmed OROV cases identified during the study period in the Cayenne region, enrolled during the convalescent phase (≥1 month post-diagnosis) to complement the immunological analyses conducted in the first two populations.

A 20 ml blood sample is collected, along with data collection (mainly health data), at the time of enrollment.

The study involves: (1) confirming past OROV infection by detecting OROV-specific polyclonal antibodies in plasma; and (2) characterizing OROV-specific B and T cell responses. Key methodological steps include: isolation of OROV-specific B cells by flow cytometry followed by single-cell culture and stimulation to generate human monoclonal antibodies; screening of secreted mAbs against OROV antigens combined with VDJ sequencing to characterize immunoglobulin repertoires; and structural characterization of neutralizing mAbs using cryo-electron microscopy and nano-imaging to identify conserved epitopes.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

80

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population lives in French Guiana in 3 different areas (Saül, Trois Sauts, and Cayenne and its surroundings), and eligible individuals (Populations 1 and 3) or those residing in a high-seroprevalence geographic area (Population 2) were identified by the National Reference Center (CNR) for Arboviruses at the Institut Pasteur of French Guiana (IPG) as part of arbovirus virological surveillance in French Guiana.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

For all:

  • Adults (≥18 years old)
  • Willingness to participate in the study after explanation and signing of the informed consent form

Study population 1:

- Presenting a laboratory-confirmed OROV infection, defined by a positive real-time RT-PCR and/or positive seroneutralization performed as part of the management of and response to the 2020 OROV epidemic in Saül.

Study population 2:

- Residing in Trois-Sauts for at least 5 years

Study population 3:

- Presenting a laboratory-confirmed OROV infection, defined by a positive real-time RT-PCR and/or positive seroneutralization, identified in the Cayenne area and surrounding localities during the study period, as part of the surveillance activities of the CNR for Arboviruses (IPG).

Exclusion Criteria:

For all:

  • Pregnant women.
  • Individuals presenting with severe chronic pathologies (notably active cancer, primary or secondary immunodeficiency, immunosuppressive treatment, HIV infection, or autoimmune diseases), according to the information declared by the participants.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: OTHER
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
adults with confirmed past OROV infection (2020) recruited from Saül

A 20-ml blood sample

adults recruited from Trois-Sauts with ∼80% seroprevalence

A 20-ml blood sample

newly confirmed OROV cases identified during the study period in the Cayenne region

A 20-ml blood sample

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Characterization of the adaptive immune response to OROV infection during the convalescent phase.
Time Frame: 12 months

OROV-specific polyclonal antibodies will be detected in participants' plasma to confirm prior infection.

12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Isolate OROV-specific B cells (recognizing the Gn_Gc antigenic complex) and generate human monoclonal antibodies by single B cell culture.
Time Frame: 12 months

Isolation of OROV-specific B cells by flow cytometry, followed by culture and stimulation of single B cells to generate and identify human monoclonal antibodies specific to OROV.

12 months
Screening of secreted mAbs using OROV antigens and VDJ sequencing to characterize immunoglobulin repertoires.
Time Frame: 12 months

secreted mAbs using OROV antigens and VDJ sequencing will be screened to characterize immunoglobulin repertoires.

12 months
Structural characterization of neutralizing mAbs by cryo-EM and nano-imaging to identify conserved epitopes.
Time Frame: 12 months

cryo-EM and nano-imaging will be performed on neutralizing mAbs to characterize structurally the mAbs

12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Collaborators

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

November 30, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

November 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 2, 2026

Last Verified

October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026-047_OROV-IMM
  • 2026-A01467-44 (Other Identifier: ID-RCB)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.