Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit

Overview of current projects

The research currently underway at the clinical/vaccinology division of the Unit based at CHB hospital includes studies on:

• The molecular and clinical epidemiology of newly discovered respiratory viruses such as new echoviruses, coronaviruses, the human bocavirus and new rhinoviruses. Additionally, the role of pneumococcal coinfections in severe episodes of such viral infections is being probed.

Medical Technologist Mr Metsekae Madimabe performing multiplex
immunoassays on the BioPlex 200 system

• The effect of HIV exposure and treatment with anti retroviral drugs on the quantitative and qualitative antibody responses to conjugate bacterial vaccines aimed at preventing respiratory tract infections.
• Affordable and implementable interventions to reduce neonatal sepsis, a large proportion of which is attributed to respiratory disease due to Streptococcus agalactiae.

Medical Technologist, Mrs Morongwe Likoti, aliquoting serum
samples from clinical studies conducted at RMRPU

• The epidemiology of pneumococcal pneumonia in adults and the role of newer diagnostic modalities to improve pathogen specific diagnosis in adults with suspected pneumococcal pneumonia.
• Prevention of tuberculosis in HIV exposed-infected and non-infected children by way of primary prophylaxis with isoniazid between 3 and 24 months of age.

Dr Michelle Groome examining a study participant as part
of the multivalent vaccine trials conducted at RMPRU

• The molecular and clinical epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus infections;
• Defining the correlates of protection against nasopharyngeal colonization by pneumococci and the mechanism of protection induced by conjugate pneumococcal vaccines.

Medical Technologist Mr Johannes Masilo, performing
colonization studies for pneumococcal vaccine studies

• Determining the potential of a repertoire of 15-20 “common” pneumococcal protein antigens in being developed as future vaccine candidates against pneumococcal disease.

The research currently underway at the surveillance division of the Unit based at the NICD includes studies on:

• The phenotypic and genotypic characterization of meningococcal, pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae strains causing invasive disease in South Africa. All 3 pathogens are vaccine-preventable, and data on serogroups/serotypes causing disease in our country are vital for vaccine introduction;

Dr Anne von Gottberg, Senior Pathologist

• The evaluation of Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) routine infant vaccination on a national level. Data on vaccination history of cases are being sought, and the role of HIV-coinfection and lack of the booster dose in the schedule are being investigated;
• The changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease and the genotypic evaluation of meningococcal isolates against novel vaccine antigens currently under development;

Medical Scientists Kedi Mothibeli and Chivonne Moodley (back),
Mignon du Plessis and Azola Fali (front)

• Risk factor analysis for antimicrobial resistant pneumococcal disease and the evaluation of risk factors for death related to invasive disease;
• The effects of sub-MIC of macrolides on the synthesis of pneumolysin, as well as the impact on pneumococcal growth, in an experimental in vitro model;

Medical Technologist Lenny Lengwati

• The investigation of doctors’ perceptions of the utility of blood cultures in the diagnosis of respiratory tract infections and how that impacts on our documented burden of disease by province through the laboratory-based surveillance system.

Medical Technologists Happy Skosana and Linda de Gouveia (left);
Olga Hattingh and Ruth Mpembe (right)