PROJECT
Pathogenesis determinants in hyper-virulent Neisseria meningitidis
Understanding meningococcal disease for better prevention
Neisseria meningitidis, the causative agent of epidemic meningitis, is a significant global public health burden, with 1.2 million cases each year and an estimated fatality rate of 10 per cent. The disease is prevalent in Africa and Asia due to cyclical pandemics occurring on these continents every eight to 10 years. The disease is most common in the less than four years old and 15-29 age brackets, with very low incidences in other age brackets.
Early stages of the disease mimic viral infections such as influenza, making it difficult to quickly identify those who have been infected. Because of this, vaccination is currently the most effective option for the control of the disease.
A recent outbreak of meningococcal disease, with serogroup W strains, led to six deaths in two years in Western Australia. The genomic epidemiology of these outbreaks in our state has indicated these isolates are resistant to penicillin and have the genetic fingerprints of a new hyper-virulent clade.
The aim of this study is to examine the characteristics of these isolates to determine what changes in virulence has occurred to result in this new clade. Our overall goal is to understand the development of hyper-virulence in Neisseria meningitidis.
The research team lead for this project is Head of the Infection and Immunity Division at UWA’s School of Biomedical Sciences, Associate Professor Charlene Kahler.
Stopping the spread of invasive meningococcal disease
PhD opportunities
Research projects on this topic are available in the areas of bacterial pathogenesis and immunity.
PhD students require a bachelor’s in microbiology and immunology and an honours degree in microbiology or related disciplines, such as molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry or genetics.
Students who have completed a master’s degree should have completed the degree within related discipline areas such as pharmacy, biotechnology or infectious diseases.
Readings
For more information on our research, see the below readings:
- S. N. Bartley, Yih-Ling Tzeng, K. Heel, C. W. Lee, S. Mowlaboccus, T. Seemann, W. Lu, Y-H. Lin, C. S. Ryan, C. Peacock, D. S. Stephens, J. K. Davies, and C. M. Kahler (2013) Attachment and Invasion of Neisseria meningitidis to Host Cells Is Related to Surface Hydrophobicity, Bacterial Cell Size and Capsule. PLoS ONE 8(2): e55798.
- S. Mowlaboccus, T.T. Perkins, H. Smith, T. Sloots, S. Tozer, L.J. Prempeh, C.Y. Tay, F. Peters, D. Speers, A.D. Keil, and C.M. Kahler. (2016) Temporal Changes in BEXSERO® Antigen Sequence Type Associated with Genetic Lineages of Neisseria meningitidis over a 15-Year Period in Western Australia. PLoS One. 2016 Jun 29;11(6):e0158315.
- Bartley, SN., Stubbs, K, Mowlaboccus S., Maiden, MCJ, Harrison, OB, Perkins, TT, and Kahler CM (2017) Acquisition of the capsule locus by horizontal gene transfer in Neisseria meningitidis is accompanied by the loss of UDP-GalNAc synthesis. Scientific Reports Vol. 7:44442.
- • Mowlaboccus, S., Jolley, KA, Bray, JE., Pang, S, Thin Lee, Y.T., Bew, J.D., Speers, D.J., Keil, AD., Coombs, GW and CM Kahler. (2017) Emergence and clonal expansion of a new penicillin-resistant clade of serogroup W, clonal complex 11 Neisseria meningitidis in Western Australia 2016. Emerging Infectious Disease. 23(8): 1364–1367.
- • Mowlaboccus, S, Mullally, CA, Richmond, PC, Howden, BP, Stevens, K., Speers, DJ, Keil, AD, Perkins, TT, CM Kahler. (2017) “Differences in the population structure of Neisseria meningitidis in two Australian states: Victoria and Western Australia”. PloS One 12(10):e0186839
Microbiology Award for Charlene Kahler
The Marshall Centre's Deputy Director Associate Professor Charlene Kahler has been awarded the Australian Society of Microbiology Distinguished Service Award.
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