Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease and Immunology Research (CIIDIR)

Awards

• Dr Bridgette McNamara: Best Research Paper of the Year, Barwon Health Symposium
• Dr Luba Sominsky: Best Research Paper of the Year, Barwon Health Symposium
• Katelyn Stanhope: Best Early Career Researcher Poster – Malaria in Melbourne
• Paolo Bareng: Most Outstanding Young Investigator Award – Joint International Tropical Medicine and Malaria meeting, Thailand
• Dr Luba Sominsky: Robert Ader New Investigator Award to an outstanding new research scientist who has made exciting contributions to psychoneuroimmunology

Conferences

• 81st International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science
• Molecular Approaches to Malaria Conference 2024

Events

• CIIDIR hosted its first Day of Immunology Event at the Health Education and Research Building in Geelong.

Publications

• Bush M, Bennett CM, Hutchinson A, Bouchoucha SL. Post implementation quarantine recommendations that support preparedness: A systematic review and quarantine implementation capability framework. Infect Dis Health. 2024 Aug;29(3):152-171. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2024.02.004. Epub 2024 Mar 11. PMID: 38472077.
• Singhaarachchi PH, Antal P, Calon F, Culmsee C, Delpech JC, Feldotto M, Geertsema J, Hoeksema EE, Korosi A, Layé S, McQualter J, de Rooij SR, Rummel C, Slayo M, Sominsky L, Spencer SJ. Aging, sex, metabolic and life experience factors: Contributions to neuro-inflammaging in Alzheimer’s disease research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2024 Jul;162:105724. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105724. Epub 2024 May 16. PMID: 38762130.
• Murray HC, Muleme M, Cooper D, McNamara BJ, Hussain MA, Bartolo C, O’Brien DP, Athan E. Prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of secondary infections among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 conditions in Victoria, 2020-2023. Int J Infect Dis. 2024 Aug;145:107078. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107078. Epub 2024 May 1. PMID: 38697606.
• Kearney EA, Amratia P, Kang SY, Agius PA, Alene KA, O’Flaherty K, Oo WH, Cutts JC, Htike W, Da Silva Goncalves D, Razook Z, Barry AE, Drew D, Thi A, Aung KZ, Thu HK, Thein MM, Zaw NN, Htay WYM, Soe AP, Beeson JG, Simpson JA, Gething PW, Cameron E, Fowkes FJI. Geospatial joint modeling of vector and parasite serology to microstratify malaria transmission. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Jun 11;121(24):e2320898121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2320898121. Epub 2024 Jun 4. PMID: 38833464; PMCID: PMC11181033.
• Ruybal-Pesántez, S., McCann, K., Vibin, J., Siegel, S., Auburn, S., & Barry, A. E. (2024). Molecular markers for malaria genetic epidemiology: progress and pitfalls. Trends in parasitology, 40(2), 147–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2023.11.006

Since CIIDIR launched in December 2022, there have been a number of exciting developments, including:

• Launch of the CIIDIR website https://ciidir.com.au which includes information on programs, projects, our research team and news.
• Seed and Project Grants. A call for proposals for small projects intended to stimulate new ideas and multidisciplinary collaborations was launched in early 2023. CIIDIR received 14 excellent applications from eight different research groups and spanning all four research pillars. Of these, we were able to fund nine proposals. This has stimulated new collaborations on a range of topics including on Buruli ulcer therapeutics, COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance.
• Major grant funding: Several CIIDIR members have been successful as Chief Investigator on major grant bids worth over $12 million including from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Medical Research Future Fund, the USA Food and Drug Administration, Ian Potter Foundation, and the Victorian Critical Vaccinees Collection.

The Clinical and Public Health Research Pillar includes clinical studies of infectious disease and immune disorders/ Implementation and operational research on public health interventions. Projects include:

COVID-19 post recovery

This project aims to better understand the burden and symptomology of post-COVID19 recovery. This cohort study involves the use of surveys, medical tests such as ECGs, blood tests, immunoassays, flow cytometry and molecular work to understand COVID recovery at 3-, 6- and 12- months post infection.

Beating Buruli in Victoria

Transmission pathways for Buruli Ulcer (caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans) are not fully understood. The incidence of Buruli Ulcer (BU) is rising in Victoria and is spreading to new geographic areas. This study aims to identify host, environmental and behavioural factors associated with BU in the endemic regions of Victoria. This study will help inform public health interventions, messaging and mitigation strategies to help control the disease spread of BU in our region and Victoria.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0274627

Improving diagnostic antimicrobial stewardship in respiratory tract infections

A protocol for a scoping review investigating point-of-care testing programs in community pharmacy.

This study maps out evidence around the effectiveness, feasibility, and implementation challenges of point-of-care testing services in community pharmacy to improve safe antimicrobial use in respiratory tract infections. Findings would have implications to guide and inform future diagnostic antimicrobial stewardship policy directions in the context of community pharmacy.

The Parasite Genetic and Host Immunological determinants of immune evasion in Plasmodium falciparum malaria

The partial efficacy of the recently approved P. falciparum vaccines has been in part attributed to the extensive genetic diversity of antigens being developed as subunit vaccines. Antigen diversity is one strategy of malaria parasites to evade host immune responses – a process known as an immune evasion. Myo’s project focused on identifying the diversity of the leading P. falciparum vaccine candidate antigens and determining critical immune escape genes and specific polymorphisms that are associated with immune evasion. The research provided evidence of allele-specific immunity in malaria through the use of population genetics, bioinformatics, genomics, and serological data. His research provides a vital framework for the prioritization of vaccine candidate antigens and a ‘serotype classification system’ to identify immune escape polymorphisms and for evaluating strain specific efficacy during vaccine trials.

Genetic determinants of immune escape in Plasmodium vivax

In recent years, innovative strategies to control malaria infection have significantly reduced the global burden of malaria.  However, there has been limited understanding on the genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax and its impact on the global malaria control and elimination campaign. Considering that P. vivax is proven to be more resistant to malaria control measures, deeper insights on the diversity and dynamics of vivax natural population is extremely important. Paolo’s research employs the use of population genetics, in silico analysis, structural bioinformatics, and genomics to examine the global P. vivax antigenic diversity as well as the underlying amino acid changes on the genes associated with immune escape. Identifying immunologically relevant genes and allelic substitutions would enable further studies on the relationship between vivax transmission and immunity, and most importantly, guide vaccine developers into making informed decisions in designing a broadly efficacious multivalent vaccine against P. vivax infection.

Development of a Coxiella burnetii vaccine

The aim of this project is to develop an endogenous vaccine that will protect goats from the C. burnetii pathogen.  Initially the agent was isolated from the endemic farm and then amplified at the ACDP.  Following inactivation it will be used to vaccinate the goats.  The vaccine needs to be approved and licensed by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.  This regulatory process requires the vaccine to be manufactured under GMP conditions. Once we have vaccinated the animals we will gauge the efficacy of the delivery by monitoring both, animals and their immediate environment for the presence of C. burnetii.

www.rickettsialab.org.au

Defining host and parasite mechanisms that drive asymptomatic malaria

Despite unprecedented success in reducing the global burden of malaria by over 50% in the past two decades, recent data from the WHO shows that progress has stalled, and the disease has resurged in some areas. Defining and addressing the key factors leading to faltering control is a major research priority to ensure continued reduction of malaria. Molecular surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum, the most common and virulent human malaria parasite, has revealed a high prevalence of low-density asymptomatic infections. These infections fuel ongoing transmission yet are beyond the scope of current malaria control programs. Furthermore, the proportion of infections that are asymptomatic increases with declining transmission suggesting that current control efforts may select for avirulent parasites.

This project aims to determine the host and parasite factors underlying the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria at different stages in the elimination timeline throughout Papua New Guinea. We use var genes, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and Whole Genome data to understand protective immunity,  antigenic diversity and parasite population structure. An alternative explanation for a high interdependent relationship between parasite diversity and immunity is strong natural selection against virulent parasites, due to the extended focus on clinical case management. Genome-wide scans of selection using parasite genomic data will therefore reveal loci under selection during population decline that may contribute to avirulent parasite phenotypes.

Investigating how malaria parasites interact with their host cells

Malaria is one of the world’s most devastating human health problems, give rise to ~229 million cases each year, ~409,000 of which will be fatal. Unfortunately, there is no highly efficacious licenced malaria vaccine and resistance to currently available anti-malaria drugs is widespread. Thus, there is a desperate need to identify new intervention strategies to reduce the global malaria parasite burden.

Our research program aims to investigate at a molecular level key parasite-host interactions that enable malaria parasites to thrive and survive in their host. We genetically engineer malaria parasites that infect humans and rodents in order to dissect the functional significance and contribution of parasite proteins to pathogenesis and parasite survival. By understanding the key mechanisms by which parasites are able to survive within their host and cause disease, our research is uncovering new drug and vaccine targets that can be used to prevent the large morbidity and mortality associated with malaria infections.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=de+Koning-Ward&sort=date

Identifying the role of cytokine regulators in respiratory disease

This project aims to study the role of a protein known to regulate cytokine expression, the cytokine-inducible SH2- containing (CISH) in respiratory disease. The role of CISH expression following virus infection remains largely uncharacterised. We intend to define the mechanism of action and the overall contribution of CISH to influenza virus pathogenesis.

Prosthetic joint and cardiac device infections

This project aims to better understand the burden and best management practise for medical device related infections. This includes the use of epidemiological clinical data and in vitro microbial experiments such as the detection of biofilms.

https://bcore.deakin.edu.au/