Infectious Diseases Group Current Research

Project One: Tuberculosis (TB) Vaccine Development

The currently available vaccine against Tuberculosis, BCG, has been given to more than three billion people worldwide, yet it fails to consistently provide protection against the bacterium that causes the disease. Efforts to develop a new, more effective vaccine for TB have been hampered by a lack of understanding of what constitutes a protective memory immune response.

We are currently trying to understand which of the protective cell types generated after BCG vaccination are important for mediating vaccine-induced protection against TB. In 2008 we determined the likely location of the protective memory cells against TB using a drug called Fingolimod, which traps cells in the lymph node and are now focused on refining this critical discovery.

In other work in collaboration with Dr Shaun Lott from the University of Auckland, we are developing vaccines targeted against multiple TB antigens. During an early infection the TB bacterium grows very fast before it enters a dormancy or latency phase in which its growth gradually tapers off. The antigens produced during the fast and dormant growth phases are quite different, so by developing a vaccine that targets both we hope to more effectively halt the progression of this deadly disease.

Project Two: Multicentre Rotavirus Strain Surveillance

Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that most commonly affects children under the age of two. It causes diarrhoea and vomiting, resulting in approximately 1000 hospitalisations in this country each year. Over the past three years we have been collecting data for a multi-centre rotavirus strain surveillance study aimed at monitoring New Zealand's rotavirus strains pre- and post-introduction of a commercial rotavirus vaccine. This information will be vital for predicting the potential effectiveness of the vaccines that will be introduced into New Zealand.

Early indications from this study have shown a strong geographical link between the different rotavirus strains, with those prevalent in the South Island each winter differing to those prevalent in the North Island. Furthermore, while the predominant strain seen globally and in NZ is consistently G1, the strains making up the remaining 40-50% change quite dramatically each season and no-one knows why.

Two rotavirus vaccines have been recommended for inclusion in the national immunisation schedule but have yet to be approved. If a vaccine is approved, we will aim to re-establish strain surveillance to determine the effect of the introduced vaccine(s) on circulating rotavirus strains.

Project Three: Interventions to RSV-Induced Hospitalisation

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of infant hospitalisation, affecting more than 95% of children under the age of two.

We have shown previously that Maori and Pacific infants have a higher risk of being hospitalised from RSV bronchiolitis than NZ European infants.

In 2008 we initiated a collaborative pilot study with the Wellington Asthma Research Group to identify possible interventions to RSV-induced hospitalisation, in an effort to reduce the rate of severe RSV infection in this country.

This study is focused on determining whether vitamin D levels correlate with the ability to protect against RSV infection and hence disease severity.

Samples are currently being collected for analysis in 2009.

Collaborators

Dr Volker Brinkmann, Novartis, Switzerland

Dr Bryce Buddle, Dr Geoff deLisle & Dr Michel Denis, AgResearch, Wallaceville, New Zealand

Prof Julian Crane and Dr Tristram Ingham, Wellington Asthma Research Group, University of Otago, New Zealand

Prof Brett Delahunt, Department of Pathology, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand

Prof Keith Grimwood, Royal Children's Hospital, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Australia

Dr Shaun Lott, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Dr Ronan O'Toole, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Also New Zealand contributions by:

Aotea Pathology
Capital & Coast Health Laboratory
Health Waikato
Hutt Hospital Laboratory
Medlab South
Paediatric Units and laboratories at Canterbury Health
Starship Auckland Hospital
Southern Community Laboratories

Funding Sources

The Cancer Society of New Zealand 

Foundation for Research, Science & Technology (FRST)

New Zealand Lottery Health Research

The Royal Society of NZ Marsden Fund

University of Otago

Wellington Medical Research Foundation