Enteric Diseases

Development of the novel human neonatal Rotavirus vaccine (RV3-BB)
RV3-BB vaccine was developed from the human neonatal rotavirus strain, RV3 (G3P[6]), identified in the stool of asymptomatic infants in Melbourne hospital nurseries in 1974-83.  Wild-type infection with RV3 provided protection from severe (100%) and moderately severe (75%) rotavirus gastroenteritis during the first 3 years of life with strong heterotypic serological responses to community rotavirus strains. Based on a human neonatal P[6] rotavirus strain, RV3-BB vaccine has intrinsic characteristics that may enhance its uptake in newborns and be more effective in populations of Africa and Asia with a higher prevalence of the Lewis negative phenotype. RV3-BB vaccine has now been studied in adults, children, infants and newborns in trials conducted in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Malawi, Africa.  RV3-BB vaccine has been shown to be safe, immunogenic and be highly protective against severe rotavirus disease in babies and infants. In Indonesia, where rotavirus causes over 8,000 deaths per year in children less than 5 years of age, our clinical trial showed that RV3-BB vaccine protected 95% of babies from severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in the first year of life and 75% of infants up to 18 months of age.  The Enteric Disease Group have assisted in the development of a large scale manufacture process and formulation development with partners. The group has provided input to the RV3-BB vaccine program at BioFarma Indonesia. 

Exploring the barriers to oral rotavirus vaccine performance in low resource settings
Current licensed rotavirus vaccines provide less protection against severe rotavirus disease in infants in low income countries compared with that observed in high income countries, such as Australia. There have been many theories proposed to why this may occur.  Embedded within the clinical trials of RV3-BB we have included studies that explore the impact of maternal immunity and breast milk antibodies on vaccine take. We are also exploring the role of the gut microbiome, histo-blood antigens, co-administration of other vaccines such as oral polio vaccine and the developing immune responses in babies.

Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program
The Australian National Rotavirus Reference Centre undertakes surveillance and characterisation of rotavirus strains causing severe diarrhoea in children and adults throughout Australia. This program undertakes molecular epidemiological studies on the rotavirus strains circulating in the population, which allows researchers to track seasonal changes in rotavirus strains causing severe disease.
Specific projects include:
•    Annual rotavirus surveillance of genotypes circulating in Australian children and adults with gastroenteritis.
•    Genetic characterisation of rotavirus strains emerging in the vaccine era.
•    Evolutionary analysis of strains to investigate selective pressures on strains circulating in the vaccine era.

WHO International Rotavirus Surveillance
The WHO Regional Reference Laboratory situated at MCRI supports Government and Reference Laboratories in the Western-Pacific region in the laboratory diagnosis of rotavirus infection.  
Specific projects include:
•    The Laboratory participates in the WHO annual proficiency testing, quality control program and the inter-regional quality control program.  Support is provided to national network laboratories in addressing laboratory problems and participates in training of national laboratory staff. 
•    Surveillance of rotavirus genotypes in the Western Pacific region

COVID-19
The Laboratory is involved in a range of projects through the COVID-19 at The Melbourne Children’s Campus project aimed to gain insights into how SARS-CoV-2 transmits, infects and causes disease in children. 
Specific projects include: 
•    SARS-CoV-2 testing of urine and stool samples collected through the FFX family transmission study 
•    Full genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 positive samples