A5057203981- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Respiratory and Cough-Related Research
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Pediatric health and respiratory diseases
- Ear Surgery and Otitis Media
- Tracheal and airway disorders
- Gut microbiota and health
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Advances
- Respiratory viral infections research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Sinusitis and nasal conditions
- Otolaryngology and Infectious Diseases
- Global Health Workforce Issues
- Emergency and Acute Care Studies
- Global Health and Surgery
- Health and Medical Research Impacts
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Intensive Care Unit Cognitive Disorders
Menzies School of Health Research
2015-2025
University of Tasmania
2023-2025
Charles Darwin University
2014-2024
National Health and Medical Research Council
2024
Royal Darwin Hospital
2018-2023
Karolinska Institutet
2023
University of Michigan
2011-2023
Walsall Manor Hospital
2022
Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute
2021
Nepal Health Research Council
2021
The rapid expansion of 16S rRNA gene sequencing in challenging clinical contexts has resulted a growing body literature variable quality. To large extent, this is due to failure address spurious signal that characteristic samples with low levels bacteria and high non-bacterial DNA. We have developed workflow based on the paired-end read Illumina MiSeq-based approach, which enables significant improvement data quality, post-sequencing. demonstrate efficacy methodology through its application...
Invasive methods requiring general anaesthesia are needed to sample the lung microbiota in young children who do not expectorate. This poses substantial challenges longitudinal study of paediatric airway microbiota. Non-invasive upper sampling is an alternative method for monitoring microbiota; however, there limited data describing relationship such results with children. In this study, we compared and lower determine whether non-invasive procedures provide a reliable measure either or...
Metagenomic sequencing is a promising approach for identifying and characterizing organisms their functional characteristics in complex, polymicrobial infections, such as airway infections people with cystic fibrosis. These analyses are often hampered, however, by overwhelming quantities of human DNA, yielding only small proportion microbial reads analysis. In addition, many abundant microbes respiratory samples can produce large extracellular bacterial DNA originating either from biofilms...
Rationale: DNA-based microbiological studies are moving beyond studying healthy human microbiota to investigate diverse infectious diseases, including chronic respiratory infections, such as those in the airways of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis. The species identified secretion from patients can be classified into that common abundant among similar subjects (core) versus infrequent rare (satellite). This categorization provides a vital foundation for...
Background Unambiguous identification of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is not possible by conventional microbiology. Molecular characterisation phenotypically defined NTHi isolates suggests that up to 40% are haemolyticus (Hh); however, the genetic similarity and Hh limits power simple molecular techniques such as PCR for species discrimination. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we assess ability previously published novel PCR-based assays identify true NTHi. Sixty phenotypic...
Lower airway biofilms are hypothesised to contribute poor treatment outcomes among children with chronic lung disease; however, data scarce. We aimed determine the presence and prevalence of biofilm in bronchoalveolar lavage from protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) or bronchiectasis; whether was associated signs lower infection; were consistent an upper origin.In this cross-sectional study, fluorescent microscopy techniques used detect archived specimens a paediatric cohort (age <18 years)...
Haemophilus influenzae is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that exclusively colonises humans and associated with both acute chronic disease. Despite its clinical significance, accurate identification of H. a non-trivial endeavour. haemolyticus can be misidentified as from specimens using selective culturing methods, reflecting the shared environmental niche phenotypic similarities these species. On molecular level, frequent genetic exchange amongst spp. has confounded influenzae, leading...
Indigenous Australian children living in remote communities experience high rates of acute otitis media with tympanic membrane perforation (AOMwiP). Otitis this population is associated dense nasopharyngeal colonization three primary otopathogens; Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Little known about the relative abundance these pathogens during infection. The objective study was to estimate concordance otopathogens ear discharge paired swabs from...
Introduction Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) remain the leading causes of repeated hospitalisations among young disadvantaged Australian and New Zealand First Nations Timorese children. Severe (hospitalised) recurrent ALRIs in first years life are associated with future chronic lung diseases (eg, bronchiectasis) impaired function. Despite high burden long-term consequences severe ALRIs, clinical, evidence-based feasible interventions (other than vaccine programmes) that reduce...
Abstract Background: Breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are increasingly under consideration as biomarkers of respiratory disease. Although numerous studies have identified VOCs that distinguish patient groups, a lack standardisation among published has impeded translation into clinical diagnostics. Standardised breath collection protocols been proposed for adults and children aged >4 years, but optimal methods collecting from younger remain to be determined. &#xD;Aim: The aim...
Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a major respiratory pathogen that imposes substantial disease burden, globally. Further amplifying the burden of NTHi-associated infections rapidly expanding spectrum and prevalence antibiotic resistance, lack an effective vaccination strategy. In 2017, World Health Organization list “priority pathogens”, highlighted urgent need for new therapeutic agents against NTHi. Consequently, alternative preventative or treatment approaches do not rely on...
ABSTRACT Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi)-associated disease is a major health problem globally. Whole-genome sequence analysis identified the absence of hpd genes encoding protein D in 3 16 phylogenetically distinct NTHi isolates. This novel finding potential clinical significance, as and represent important vaccine antigen diagnostic targets, respectively.
Summary Background The presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in lower airway specimens from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is well established. To date, biofilm has not been demonstrated bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) people with non‐CF bronchiectasis. aim this study was to determine (i) if present BAL children and without bronchiectasis, (ii) detection differed between sequentially collected BAL. Methods Testing for two bronchiectasis done using BacLight™ live–dead staining lectin...
Otitis media is endemic in remote Indigenous communities of Australia's Northern Territory. Alloiococcus otitidis an outer ear commensal and putative middle pathogen that has not previously been described acute otitis (AOM) this population. The aims study were to determine the presence, antibiotic susceptibility bacterial load A. nasopharyngeal discharge swabs collected from Australian children with AOM perforation.Paired 27 perforation tested by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Positive cultured...
ABSTRACT Nonserotypeable pneumococci (NSP) are commonly carried by Australian Indigenous children in remote communities. The purpose of this study was to characterize carriage isolates NSP from vaccinated with the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and use these data guide decisions on reporting NSP. A total 182 were characterized BOX typing, antibiogram analysis, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) common types. positive for wzg capsule gene analyzed a multiplex PCR-based...