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Research

Multi-centre, multi-disciplinary study using a systems biology approach to investigate immunomodulation in children with acute wheeze

Ingrid Pat Laing Holt IL PG BSc PhD PhD, DSc, FRCPath, FRCPI, FAA Head, Children's Respiratory Science Emeritus Honorary Researcher 6319 1828

Research

Acute infection and long term follow-up of people with HIV

Investigators: Peter Le Souef Project description There have been almost no studies of the first illness caused by HIV infection. We have recruited

Research

Aquatic high intensity interval training to improve aerobic capacity is feasible in adolescents with cerebral palsy: pilot randomised controlled trial

To investigate feasibility of aquatic high intensity interval training for adolescents with cerebral palsy, who can ambulate independently but may choose a mobility aid in some circumstances.

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Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms are associated with severity of wheezing illnesses and asthma exacerbations in children

These findings suggest that genetic variants at the VDR locus may play a role in acute wheeze/asthma severity in children

Research

Future Child Health

Alexander Larcombe A BScEnv (Hons) PhD Team Leader, Respiratory Environmental Health Team Leader, Respiratory Environmental Health Associate

Research

Increased nasal Streptococcus pneumoniae presence in Western environment associated with allergic conditions in Chinese immigrants

Chinese immigrants living in Australia experience increased allergic conditions: asthma, eczema, hay fever and wheeze. Recently we reported diminished innate cytokine responses in long-term immigrants, potentially increasing their pathogenic viral load and microbial carriage. We hypothesise that a Western environment changes the nasal microbiome profile, and this altered profile may be associated with the development of allergic conditions. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to examine the loading of viral and microbial respiratory pathogens in the upper airway.

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Defining Age-specific Relationships of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Rhinovirus Species in Hospitalized Children With Acute Wheeze

Acute wheezing is one of the most common hospital presentations for young children. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus (RV) species A, B and the more recently described species C are implicated in the majority of these presentations. However, the relative importance and age-specificities of these viruses have not been defined.

Research

Rhinoviruses A and C elicit long-lasting antibody responses with limited cross-neutralization

Rhinoviruses (RVs) can cause severe wheezing illnesses in young children and patients with asthma. Vaccine development has been hampered by the multitude of RV types with little information about cross-neutralization. We previously showed that neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses to RV-C are detected twofold to threefold more often than those to RV-A throughout childhood. Based on those findings, we hypothesized that RV-C infections are more likely to induce either cross-neutralizing or longer-lasting antibody responses compared with RV-A infections.

Research

Early disease surveillance in young children with cystic fibrosis: A qualitative analysis of parent experiences

Sensitive measures of early lung disease are being integrated into therapeutic trials and clinical practice in cystic fibrosis (CF). The impact of early disease surveillance (EDS) using these novel and often intensive techniques on young children and their families is not well researched.

Children’s Respiratory Science

The Children’s Respiratory Science group’s research has an emphasis on mechanisms of respiratory health in children including those that predict and underpin acute viral respiratory infections in children.