Reducing The Community Burden Of Respiratory Infections In Indigenous Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
Lower respiratory infections are the leading cause of preventable mortality among Indigenous children in the Northern Territory. Streptococcus pneumoniae remain one of the major paediatric respiratory pathogens. In this proposal I will describe the impact of past and present pneumococcal vaccination strategies on the burden of infant respiratory infections in this region.
Immunogenicity Of 23-valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination Among Indigenous Australian Adolescents And Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$674,738.00
Summary
Multiple doses of pneumococcal vaccine are recommended for Indigenous Australians under a unique schedule aimed at reducing high rates of pneumococcal disease. However, disease rates have not reduced after several years of the program. This study examines a key, previously unstudied explanation for the lack of disease reduction in this population: that repeated vaccination could produce suboptimal protection against disease. It will provide evidence to underpin future vaccination policy.
Implications Of Bacterial Load For Vaccine Efficacy And Antibiotic Treatment Outcomes In High-risk Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,000.00
Summary
Otitis media (middle ear disease) is a common childhood infection, and a major concern in remote Aboriginal communities of the Northern Territory. For these children, otitis media commences within the first few weeks of life and progresses to perforation of the ear drum in 60% of children by 12 months of age. Few children in remote Aboriginal communities have normal ear status or normal hearing and many have conductive hearing loss, affecting language development and education. Otitis media in t ....Otitis media (middle ear disease) is a common childhood infection, and a major concern in remote Aboriginal communities of the Northern Territory. For these children, otitis media commences within the first few weeks of life and progresses to perforation of the ear drum in 60% of children by 12 months of age. Few children in remote Aboriginal communities have normal ear status or normal hearing and many have conductive hearing loss, affecting language development and education. Otitis media in these children results from infection with the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and-or Moraxella catarrhalis. Therefore the types of interventions we are using to combat the high prevalence of ear disease are antibiotic therapy, Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccination, and hygiene interventions. However we fear that the high load of bacteria carried by these children compromises the treatment and prevention strategies. The current proposal will test this hypothesis, and if found to be true, there will be implications for the management of otitis media. For example, dose, frequency and choice of antibiotic treatment, and vaccine schedule changes including an early dose or a booster dose.Read moreRead less
The pneumococcus is a major cause of bacterial pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis especially in children and the elderly. Antibiotic-resistant pneumococci are becoming more prevalent, and available vaccines have major shortcomings. We propose to identify and characterise the factors produced by this organism during infection that enable it to cause invasive disease. Such factors could be incorporated into protein-based pneumococcal vaccines currently under development.
Diseases caused by the pneumococcus represent the largest cause of vaccine preventable death in the world today, mainly pneumonia and meningitis. In 2011, 16 developing countries will introduce pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, none in east Asia. Lack of research has been a major barrier to their use in the region. We have established an international centre of excellence in the field and we seek support to extend the capacity of this group and to transfer the technology to Vietnam.
Protein Glycan Interactions In Infectious Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$9,182,220.00
Summary
Infectious diseases remain a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. This is a broad-based collaborative proposal, building on our previous achievements. Its aim is to better understand the dynamic interactions between major disease-causing microbes and their human hosts, and to directly apply this new knowledge to the development of improved vaccines and novel treatment strategies. These are urgently needed to combat infectious diseases in the 21st centu ....Infectious diseases remain a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. This is a broad-based collaborative proposal, building on our previous achievements. Its aim is to better understand the dynamic interactions between major disease-causing microbes and their human hosts, and to directly apply this new knowledge to the development of improved vaccines and novel treatment strategies. These are urgently needed to combat infectious diseases in the 21st century.Read moreRead less
Pathogenesis, Treatment And Prevention Of Bacterial Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$852,458.00
Summary
Bacterial infectious diseases remain a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. My research program aims to better understand the dynamic interactions between major disease-causing bacteria and their human hosts, and to directly apply this new knowledge to the development of improved vaccines and novel treatment strategies. These are urgently needed to combat bacterial infectious diseases in the 21st century.
Impact Of DTP Schedules On The Immunogenicity Of 2 Doses Of 13v-PCV Followed By An Early Booster
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,651,687.00
Summary
This project aims to come up with a vaccination schedule to make pneumococcal vaccines more effective and affordable for Fiji and other developing countries. We will evaluate schedules involving a 2 dose primary series in early infancy with a booster at 9 months of age. We will compare the immune responses to 3 different primary series and 2 booster options. The results of this project will be used to provide advice, at global and country levels, regarding introduction of pneumococcal vaccines.
A Study To Investigate Alternative Regimens For Pneumococcal Vaccination Of Infants In A Developing Country
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,622,210.00
Summary
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pnc) is the leading vaccine preventable cause of serious infection in infants. The current Pnc conjugate vaccine is very expensive (approximately USD $200-infant) so it is unlikely to be affordable for most developing countries. Moreover, as health care access in developing countries may be episodic and unreliable, many children do not receive either complete or timely vaccine courses. Therefore, it is important to investigate affordable and flexible ways to deliver thi ....Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pnc) is the leading vaccine preventable cause of serious infection in infants. The current Pnc conjugate vaccine is very expensive (approximately USD $200-infant) so it is unlikely to be affordable for most developing countries. Moreover, as health care access in developing countries may be episodic and unreliable, many children do not receive either complete or timely vaccine courses. Therefore, it is important to investigate affordable and flexible ways to deliver this vaccine, which are safe and effective. A recent WHO-GAVI meeting to address impediments to the introduction of these vaccines in developing countries recognized the need to evaluate other regimens of Pnc conjugate vaccine as an important research priority. This study has been deliberately formulated with that need in mind. The site for this research is Fiji. Although health services are good, Pnc disease, particularly pneumonia, remains the commonest cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Fiji has good vaccine coverage and was the first Pacific country to introduce Hib vaccine. The arrival of the new, expensive Pnc conjugate vaccine presents a dilemma for Fiji and many similar countries. The expense of this vaccine would consume a large portion of the health budget. This study has two components: 1. A Phase 2 immunogenicity study (involving 750 infants) to evaluate regimens using reduced numbers of doses of Pnc conjugate vaccine, and using timing of dosing and combinations with the Pnc polysaccharide (PS) vaccine that may be more suited to the epidemiology of Pnc disease in developing countries. 2. An epidemiological study will measure the burden of invasive Pnc disease and pneumonia in Fiji. This will be part of a global effort to address these issues, and will be used to develop rapid assessment tools for these diseases in developing countries. We will seek cofounding for this component.Read moreRead less