A5003816845- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Polyomavirus and related diseases
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Full-Duplex Wireless Communications
- Antenna Design and Analysis
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Malaria Research and Control
- Parvovirus B19 Infection Studies
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
The University of Sydney
2018-2025
Westmead Hospital
2016-2025
Sydney Local Health District
2025
Taronga Conservation Society Australia
2020-2023
Infectious Diseases Institute
2023
Westmead Institute for Medical Research
2021-2023
National Centre for Infectious Diseases
2022
The George Institute for Global Health
2021
Westmead Institute
2020-2021
New South Wales Department of Health
2020
In January 2020, a novel betacoronavirus (family Coronaviridae), named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the etiological agent of cluster pneumonia cases occurring in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China1,2. The disease arising from SARS-CoV-2 infection, 2019 (COVID-19), subsequently spread rapidly causing worldwide pandemic. Here we examine added value near real-time genome sequencing subpopulation infected patients during first 10 weeks COVID-19...
The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has rapidly spread outside China with major outbreaks occurring in Italy, South Korea, and Iran. Phylogenetic analyses of whole-genome sequencing data identified a distinct clade linked to travellers returning from Iran Australia New Zealand. This study highlights potential viral diversity driving the Iran, underscores power rapid genome public sharing improve detection management emerging infectious diseases.
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody neutralization response and its evasion by emerging viral variants variant of concern (VOC) are unknown, but critical to understand reinfection risk breakthrough infection following vaccination. Antibody immunoreactivity against SARS-CoV-2 antigens Spike variants, inhibition Spike-driven virus–cell fusion, infectious were characterized in 807 serial samples from 233 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction...
Abstract An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection occurred among church attendees after an infectious chorister sang at multiple services. We detected 12 secondary case-patients. Video recordings the services showed that case-patients were seated in same section, up to 15 m from primary case-patient, without close physical contact, suggesting airborne transmission.
Abstract Co-infections with different variants of SARS-CoV-2 are a key precursor to recombination events that likely drive evolution. Rapid identification such co-infections is required determine their frequency in the community, particularly populations at-risk severe COVID-19, which have already been identified as incubators for punctuated evolutionary events. However, limited data and tools currently available detect characterise associated recognised concern. Here we describe...
Background Critical to the development of new drugs for treatment malaria is capacity safely evaluate their activity in human subjects. The approach that has been most commonly used testing subjects with natural infection, a methodology may expose symptomatic risk ineffective treatment. Here we describe and pilot system undertake experimental infection using blood stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites (BSP). objectives study were assess feasibility safety induced BSP as method assessment...
The polyomavirus family is rapidly expanding with twelve new human viruses identified since 2007. A significant number of the polyomaviruses (HPyV) has been found on skin. Whether these share biological properties and should be grouped together unknown. Here we investigated serological behavior cutaneous HPyVs in a general population. 799 sera from immunocompetent Australian individuals aged between 0–87 were analyzed Luminex xMAP technology-based immunoassay for presence VP1-directed IgG...
The accurate quantification of Plasmodium falciparum parasite numbers by PCR is an important tool for monitoring growth kinetics in subjects infected and subsequently treated with anti-malarial agents. A real-time quantitative (rt-qPCR) method using primers a hydrolysis probe that targets the 18S rRNA gene was adapted optimized to estimate load blood samples. Samples included laboratory prepared samples varying concentrations (6.4 × 105 6.4 parasites per 500 μl packed red cells (500pRBC))...
Background. Major impediments to development of vaccines and drugs for Plasmodium vivax malaria are the inability culture this species extreme difficulty in undertaking clinical research by experimental infection. Methods. A parasite bank was collected from a 49-year-old woman with P. infection, characterized, used an infection study. Results. The donor made full recovery after collection bank, which tested negative agents screened blood donations. DNA sequence analysis isolate indicated...
Background. Piperaquine, coformulated with dihydroartemisinin, is a component of widely used artemisinin combination therapy. There paucity data on its antimalarial activity as single agent. Such data, if available, would inform selection new coformulations. Methods. We undertook study in healthy subjects, using the induced blood stage malaria (IBSM) model to test doses piperaquine (960, 640, and 480 mg) 3 cohorts. In pilot third cohort, gametocyte clearance following administration 15 mg,...
In late November 2021, the World Health Organization declared SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.529 fifth variant of concern, Omicron. This has acquired over 30 mutations in spike protein (with 15 receptor-binding domain), raising concerns that Omicron could evade naturally and vaccine-derived immunity. We utilized an authentic virus, multicycle neutralisation assay to demonstrate sera collected one, three, six months post-two doses Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 had a limited ability neutralise...
Several different viruses have been proposed to play a role in breast carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was investigate the prevalence subset cancer tissue. We investigated 12 DNA viruses: EBV and CMV from Herpesviridae family SV40, BKV, JCV, MCV, WUV, KIV, LPV, HPyV6, HPyV7, TSV Polyomaviridae 54 fresh frozen tumour specimens. Relevant clinical data basic lifestyle were available for all patients. tissue samples extracted real-time PCR assays used viral detection. highest prevalence,...
Eight novel human polyomaviruses have been discovered since 2007. Prevalence rates and tissue tropism for the most recent members HPyV 6, 7, 9, TSPyV MWPyV are largely unknown. We used real-time PCR to determine presence of in feces (n = 263), urine 189), blood 161), respiratory swabs 1385) cerebrospinal fluid 171) from both healthy control children adults undergoing diagnostic testing. Whole genome sequencing was able be performed on 9 positive specimens. Novel were only detected feces,...
Multidrug- and colistin-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype 4,[5],12:i:- sequence type 34 is present in Europe Asia. Using genomic surveillance, we determined that this also endemic to Australia. Our findings highlight the public health benefits of genome sequencing-guided surveillance for monitoring spread multidrug-resistant mobile genes isolates.
ABSTRACT Community transmission of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is a major public health concern that remains difficult to assess. We present genomic survey from during first 10 weeks COVID-19 activity in New South Wales, Australia. Transmission events were monitored prospectively critical period implementation national control measures. genomes sequenced 209 patients diagnosed with infection between January and March 2020. Only quarter cases appeared be locally acquired genomic-based...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomic surveillance has been vital in understanding the spread of disease 2019 (COVID-19), emergence viral escape mutants, and variants concern. However, low loads clinical specimens affect variant calling for phylogenetic analyses detection low-frequency variants, important uncovering infection transmission chains. We systematically evaluated three widely adopted SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing methods their sensitivity,...
Abstract In response to the emergence of monkeypox virus (MPXV) in Australia May 2022, we developed and evaluated indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) for MPXV Vaccinia (VACV) IgG IgM antibodies using serum samples from patients with nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)‐confirmed mpox uninfected unvaccinated controls. Additionally, 47 healthcare workers receiving two doses third‐generation smallpox vaccine Modified Ankara‐Bavarian Nordic (MVA‐BN) undertook serial collection describe...
ABSTRACT Effective progression of candidate antimalarials is dependent on optimal dosing in clinical studies, which determined by a sound understanding pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD). Recently, two important translational models for have been developed: the NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ −/− (NSG) model, whereby mice are engrafted with noninfected Plasmodium falciparum -infected human erythrocytes, induced blood-stage malaria (IBSM) model volunteers. The antimalarial mefloquine was used to...
Abstract In late November 2021, the World Health Organization declared SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.529 fifth variant of concern, Omicron. This has acquired 15 mutations in receptor binding domain spike protein, raising concerns that Omicron could evade naturally and vaccine-derived immunity. We utilized an authentic virus, multicycle neutralisation assay to demonstrate sera collected one, three six months post-two doses Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 a limited ability neutralise SARS-CoV-2. However,...
<h3>Objectives</h3> To investigate the performance of fully automated cobas 4800 CT/NG test for detection <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> and <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i>. <h3>Methods</h3> The study was conducted using 900 clinical specimens (496 urine 404 swab specimens) <i>C testing, which 498 (318 180 were also tested <i>N results compared with those obtained from Roche COBAS AMPLICOR TaqMan CT assays. <i>N</i> gonorrhoeae-positive further in-house, real-time PCR A panel 223 <i>Neisseria</i>...
Pregnane X, encoded by the gene NR112, is a nuclear receptor whose primary role to promote detoxification and clearance of drugs other foreign compounds from body.The aim this study was analyze associations between NR1I2 polymorphisms, immunosuppressant drug exposure, clinical outcomes in adult kidney transplant recipients.Exposures tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid, total free prednisolone were estimated at month 1 posttransplant using validated multiple regression-derived limited sampling...