Investigators: Sharon Clark, Dr Ruth Thornton, Dr Elke Seppanen, Professor Peter Richmond
Project description
Bacterial ear and lung infections disproportionately affect Australian Aboriginal children, leading to hearing loss, speech delay, chronic disease and hospitalisation. Two of the main bacteria causing disease are non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and Moraxella catarrhalis. Currently there is no licenced vaccine for NTHi or Moraxella catarrhalis however, one is now being trialled in adults with chronic lung disease. This vaccine contains three NTHi proteins and one Moraxella catarrhalis protein. We have previously developed a test to measure antibodies to two NTHi vaccine proteins, and showed that Australian Aboriginal children have lower antibody levels compared to non-Aboriginal children. This suggests that some children are not producing an immune response to protect them from infection. Currently we have no tests to measure antibody levels to Moraxella catarrhalis, or the remaining NTHi vaccine protein. This information is necessary to understand why some children get chronic infections and to guide if Australian children might benefit from this new vaccine.
This project aims to develop a test to measure antibodies specific to the Moraxella catarrhalis and remaining NTHi proteins in the candidate vaccine. These data will inform if the vaccine should be trialled in children susceptible to chronic disease.
Project outputs
- Establishment of immunological assays to measure PE and UspA2 antibody levels
- Measuring anti-PE and anti-UspA2 IgG in children with chronic ear and lung disease
External collaborators
- Professor Kristian Riesbeck (Lund University, Sweden)
Funders
- WCVID Seed Grant