research

pneumococcal research

summary

The bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is the most common cause of pneumonia, the leading cause of death of children under five years old worldwide. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has been widely introduced in developed countries. However, high rates of pneumoniae in developing countries and the increase in disease caused by non-vaccine serotypes worldwide highlight the need for additional research that could lead to improved surveillance, prevention, and treatment strategies. Our research utilises a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates microbiology, immunology, and molecular biology to investigate carriage of the pneumococcus and other respiratory pathogens in order to evaluate and enhance vaccination strategies worldwide.

group leader(s)

Prof Kim Mulholland

current research projects

Project 1: Pneumococcal vaccination in developing countries

A major aim of our group is to improve pneumococcal vaccination strategies in developing countries. Clinical trials in Fiji and Vietnam, funded by the National Health and Medical Research council, are used to examine vaccine efficacy, to compare different vaccine schedules and to evaluate the impact of vaccination on carriage and serotype replacement. Prof Mulholland leads the NHMRC-funded Centre for Research Excellence in Pneumococcal Vaccinology, which provides a framework for collaborative research on vaccination, carriage, and immunity.

Project 2: PneuCarriage Project

Over 90 immunologically distinct serotypes ofS. pneumoniaeexist, and children can carriage multiple serotypes. Information about multiple serotype carriage is particularly important when considering the link between immunisation and carriage. A major barrier to the interpretation of such studies is that there is no standard method to detect nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococcal strains of different serotypes directly from nasopharyngeal specimens. This project, funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to determine the best method for identifying multiple serotypes in a global fashion. We are coordinating the testing of over 20 methods developed to detect multiple serotype carriage using a combination of spiked and field samples.

Project 3: Fiji Pneumococcal Project

Our Phase II clinical trial comparing pneumococcal vaccination schedules in Fiji demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of two doses of conjugate vaccine and led to the inclusion of pneumococcal vaccination in the national immunization program. As a continuation of this project, we are investigating immune hyporesponsiveness associated with the polysaccharide vaccine using functional assays and investigating the links between immune response and carriage.

team members

Ross Andrews - PRINCIPAL RESEARCH FELLOW
Eileen Dunne - POSTDOCTORAL SCIENTIST
Laura Dworak - MPhil Student (UoM Paeds)
Maha Habib - Research Assistant
Mary John - PhD Student (UoM Otolaryngology)
Julian Kelly - RESEARCH AFFILIATE
Jayne Manning - Research Assistant

Sarah Mcnab - PhD Student (UoM Paeds)
Eleanor Neal - Administrative Coordinator
Frances Oppedisano - Laboratory Manager
Belinda Ortika - Research Assistant
Casey Pell - Research Assistant
Barbara Porter - Senior Research Assistant
Catherine Satzke - SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICER

publications

Buttery JP., Lambert SB., Grimwood K., Nissen MD., Field EJ., Macartney KK., Akikusa JD., Kelly JJ., Kirkwood CD. Reduction in Rotavirus-associated Acute Gastroenteritis Following Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccine Into Australia's National Childhood Vaccine Schedule. PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL 30 (1) (2011) PubMed
Carrol ED., Mankhambo LA., Guiver M., Banda DL., Denis B., Dove W., Jeffers G., Molyneux EM., Molyneux ME., Hart CA., Graham SM. PCR Improves Diagnostic Yield from Lung Aspiration in Malawian Children with Radiologically Confirmed Pneumonia. PLOS ONE 6 (6) (2011) PubMed
Chisti MJ., Duke T., Robertson CF., Ahmed T., Faruque ASG., Bardhan PK., La Vincente S., Salam MA. Co-morbidity: exploring the clinical overlap between pneumonia and diarrhoea in a hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. ANNALS OF TROPICAL PAEDIATRICS 31 (4) : 311 - 319(2011) PubMed
Dunne EM., Ong EK., Moser RJ., Siba PM., Phuanukoonnon S., Greenhill AR., Robins-Browne RM., Mulholland EK., Satzke C. Multilocus Sequence Typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Use of Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY (2011) PubMed
Graham SM. Misperceptions About Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Sepsis in Developing Countries. PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL 30 (3) : 271 - 272(2011) PubMed
Graham SM. Treatment of paediatric TB: revised WHO guidelines. PAEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY REVIEWS 12 (1) : 22 - 26(2011) PubMed
Graham SM., Mankhambo L., Phiri A., Kaunda S., Chikaonda T., Mukaka M., Molyneux EM., Carrol ED., Molyneux ME. Impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection on the Etiology and Outcome of Severe Pneumonia in Malawian Children. PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL 30 (1) : 33 - 38(2011) PubMed
La Vincente SF., Peel D., Carai S., Weber MW., Enarson P., Maganga E., Soyolgerel G., Duke T. The functioning of oxygen concentrators in resource-limited settings: a situation assessment in two countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE 15 (5) : 693 - 699(2011) PubMed
Licciardi PV., Balloch A., Russell FM., Nahm MH., Mulholland K., Tang MLK. Pneumococcal glycoconjugate vaccines produce antibody responses that strongly correlate with function. NATURE REVIEWS DRUG DISCOVERY 10 (5) : 394 - 395(2011) PubMed
Russell FM., Balloch A., Licciardi PV., Carapetis JR., Tikoduadua L., Waqatakirewa L., Cheung YB., Mulholland EK., Tang MLK. Serotype-specific avidity is achieved following a single dose of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and is enhanced by 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide booster at 12 months. VACCINE 29 (27) : 4499 - 4506(2011) PubMed
Tabrizi SN., Law I., Buadromo E., Stevens MP., Fong J., Samuela J., Patel M., Mulholland EK., Russell FM., Garland SM. Human papillomavirus genotype prevalence in cervical biopsies from women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cervical cancer in Fiji. SEXUAL HEALTH 8 (3) : 338 - 342(2011) PubMed
Vernet G., Saha S., Satzke C., Burgess DH., Alderson M., Maisonneuve JF., Beall BW., Steinhoff MC., Klugman KP. Laboratory-based diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia: state of the art and unmet needs. CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION 17 : 1 - 13(2011) PubMed