Single Versus Combination Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (13PCV And PHiD-CV) For High-risk Aboriginal Children (COMBO)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,017,464.00
Summary
Two new pneumococcal vaccines, each offering protection from different pneumococcal strains and pathogens will soon be available. At this time, health experts do not know which vaccine will be best for Indigenous children. The hypothesis of this project is that both vaccines, given as a 4 dose schedule may be a better than 3-dose single vaccines for Indigenous and high-risk children. The vaccines' effects on immune response and on nasal colonisation with bacterial pathogens will be compared.
HIV currently infects ~40 million people world-wide, causing ~3 million deaths in 2003, mainly in the world's poorest countries. A cheap, effective vaccine seems the best means of preventing the spread of the epidemic. The two main approaches to vaccination are either to make antibodies (which bind to and inactivate the virus), or killer T cells (which kill infected cells). Many of these vaccines are now being tested in monkeys. The results of killer T cell vaccination trials have been both enco ....HIV currently infects ~40 million people world-wide, causing ~3 million deaths in 2003, mainly in the world's poorest countries. A cheap, effective vaccine seems the best means of preventing the spread of the epidemic. The two main approaches to vaccination are either to make antibodies (which bind to and inactivate the virus), or killer T cells (which kill infected cells). Many of these vaccines are now being tested in monkeys. The results of killer T cell vaccination trials have been both encouraging and disappointing. The vaccines do not appear able to prevent the monkeys from getting infected with the virus. However, in many cases even though the monkeys become infected with HIV, they do not get the usual disease associated with AIDS, and hence live with rather than die from this infection. The aims of this project are to use statistical analysis, and more complex mathematical and computer models to try to analyse the data generated by these vaccine trials and to understand how these partially effective vaccines help control virus. For example, even if a vaccine does not prevent infection, we can investigate whether it slowed viral growth, or increased killing of infected cells, and if so, whether an increase in this response could be effective. In preliminary work we have analysed data from a vaccination trial performed in Boston. The results of this study suggest that the reason vaccinated monkeys still become infected is that the killer T cells produced by the vaccine do not appear to activate for the first 10 days of infection. In these first 10 days the virus grows normally and is able to establish a foothold for continuing infection. By contrast, we find that antibodies act extremely early after infection. The methods we propose have not been used before to study vaccines, and by studying the kinetics of the virus and immune response from a large number of vaccine trials we hope to help identify the optimal vaccine design.Read moreRead less
The Role Of CD4+ T-helper Cells In The Generation, Maintenance And Activation Of A Long Lasting Anti-tumour CTL Effect.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$247,383.00
Summary
In this research project we will be studying the mechanisms how a long-lasting anti-cancer response could be achieved by vaccination. This information not only will help to design better vaccines against cancers, but also will help to design better vaccines against viral diseases.
Determinants Of The Clearance Of HIV Infected Cells By Successful AIDS Vaccines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,500.00
Summary
A vaccine is urgently needed to halt the global AIDS epidemic caused by HIV infection. We have previously demonstrated that new generation vaccine technology can prevent HIV infection. DNA and fowlpoxviruses vaccines are designed to carry in parts of HIV and induce very vigorous immune defences to be mounted against HIV. The proposal seeks to understand why these vaccines work, their limitations, and to help guide further improvements to these vaccines. In particular, we will look at how these v ....A vaccine is urgently needed to halt the global AIDS epidemic caused by HIV infection. We have previously demonstrated that new generation vaccine technology can prevent HIV infection. DNA and fowlpoxviruses vaccines are designed to carry in parts of HIV and induce very vigorous immune defences to be mounted against HIV. The proposal seeks to understand why these vaccines work, their limitations, and to help guide further improvements to these vaccines. In particular, we will look at how these vaccines clear cells that become infected with the virus and which are the most important cells that do this. We will also look at whether HIV can hide away in latent forms despite seemingly successful vaccination. Importantly, we will address whether these vaccines should limit the spread of HIV between people, an important public health goal of successful vaccines.Read moreRead less