Trichomonas Vaginalis: Prevalence In An Urban Indigenous Population And Validation Of New Assays
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,880.00
Summary
The infection called trichomonas is the commonest sexually transmitted infection (STI) world-wide. It is caused by a parasite and is particularly common amongst disadvantaged, poor communities. It is important to diagnose and treat (readily available treatments exist) this infection because it is linked with early birth in pregnant women and increases the spread of HIV-AIDS virus. The diagnosis has not changed for decades until recently, when a new more sensitive test became available.Wehave ada ....The infection called trichomonas is the commonest sexually transmitted infection (STI) world-wide. It is caused by a parasite and is particularly common amongst disadvantaged, poor communities. It is important to diagnose and treat (readily available treatments exist) this infection because it is linked with early birth in pregnant women and increases the spread of HIV-AIDS virus. The diagnosis has not changed for decades until recently, when a new more sensitive test became available.Wehave adapted it to work on self-collected specimens such as in-out tampons or urines. Proof that this new diagnostic tool is better, is needed in Australia in high-risk groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities where other STIs have already been shown to be at high rates. How this parasite causes disease in humans is poorly studied. We plan to test this new diagnostic method and compare it to traditional tests in a high-risk population and to ultimately study how the parasite causes disease.Read moreRead less
Community-based Surveillance Of Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens In The NT And WA
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,905.00
Summary
This surveillance project is a continuation of previous work that describes the strains of respiratory bacterial pathogens in the various community groups - Indigenous and non-Indigenous - across the NT and in WA (urban and remote areas). New vaccines are complex and whilst overall benefits are considerable, there are potential influences on microbiology that may be unwanted. Detailed knowledge of these effects will assist in selection of the best vaccines for use in Australia.