Doherty Institute - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 263
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Refugee health update
    Schulz, TR ; Leder, K ; Maloof, T ; Biggs, BA (Medicine Today, 2012-03-01)
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Incidence and seroprevalence of dengue virus infections in Australian travellers to Asia
    Ratnam, I ; Black, J ; Leder, K ; Biggs, B-A ; Matchett, E ; Padiglione, A ; Woolley, I ; Panagiotidis, T ; Gherardin, T ; Pollissard, L ; Demont, C ; Luxemburger, C ; Torresi, J (SPRINGER, 2012-06)
    The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence density and prevalence of dengue virus infection in Australian travellers to Asia. We conducted a multi-centre prospective cohort study of Australian travellers over a 32-month period. We recruited 467 travellers (≥ 16 years of age) from three travel clinics who intended to travel Asia, and 387 (82.9%) of those travellers completed questionnaires and provide samples pre- and post-travel for serological testing for dengue virus infection. Demographic data, destination countries and history of vaccinations and flavivirus infections were obtained. Serological testing for dengue IgG and IgM by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (PanBio assay) was performed. Acute seroconversion for dengue infection was demonstrated in 1.0% of travellers, representing an incidence of 3.4 infections per 10,000 days of travel (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9-8.7). The seroprevalence of dengue infection was 4.4% and a greater number of prior trips to Asia was a predictor for dengue seroprevalence (p = 0.019). All travellers experienced subclinical dengue infections and had travelled to India (n = 3) and China (n = 1). This significant attack rate of dengue infection can be used to advise prospective travellers to dengue-endemic countries.
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Low Risk of Japanese Encephalitis in Short-Term Australian Travelers to Asia
    Ratnam, I ; Leder, K ; Black, J ; Biggs, B-A ; Matchett, E ; Padiglione, A ; Woolley, I ; Panagiotidis, T ; Gherardin, T ; Luxemburger, C ; Torresi, J (WILEY-BLACKWELL, 2013)
    The risk of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in travelers is unknown. In this prospective study, we investigated the incidence of JE in 387 short-term Australian travelers visiting Asia over a 32-month period from August 2007 to February 2010 by performing pre- and post-travel antibody testing. No travelers were infected with JE virus during travel, indicating a low risk of infection for short-term travelers.
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Improvements in patient care: videoconferencing to improve access to interpreters during clinical consultations for refugee and immigrant patients
    Schulz, TR ; Leder, K ; Akinci, I ; Biggs, B-A (CSIRO Publishing, 2015)
    OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the suitability of accessing interpreters via videoconference for medical consultations and to assess doctor and patient perceptions of this compared with either on-site or telephone interpreting. METHODS: We assessed the suitability and acceptability of accessing interpreters via videoconference during out-patient clinical consultations in two situations: (i) when the doctor and patient were in a consulting room at a central hospital and the interpreter sat remotely; and (ii) when the doctor, patient and interpreter were each at separate sites (during a telehealth consultation). The main outcome measures were patient and doctor satisfaction, number of problems recorded and acceptability compared with other methods for accessing an interpreter. RESULTS: Ninety-eight per cent of patients were satisfied overall with the use of an interpreter by video. When comparing videoconference interpreting with telephone interpreting, 82% of patients thought having an interpreter via video was better or much better, 15% thought it was the same and 3% considered it worse. Compared with on-site interpreting, 16% found videoconferencing better or much better, 58% considered it the same and 24% considered it worse or much worse. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has demonstrated that accessing an interpreter via videoconference is well accepted and preferred to telephone interpreting by both doctors and patients.
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    SIRCLE: a randomized controlled cost comparison of self-administered short-course isoniazid and rifapentine for cost-effective latent tuberculosis eradication (vol 47, pg 1433, 2017)
    Denholm, JT ; McBryde, ES ; Eisen, D ; Street, A ; Matchett, E ; Chen, C ; Schulz, TR ; Biggs, B ; Leder, K (WILEY, 2018-04)
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Heterogeneity in HIV and cellular transcription profiles in cell line models of latent and productive infection: implications for HIV latency
    Telwatte, S ; Moron-Lopez, S ; Aran, D ; Kim, P ; Hsieh, C ; Joshi, S ; Montano, M ; Greene, WC ; Butte, AJ ; Wong, JK ; Yukl, SA (BMC, 2019-11-11)
    BACKGROUND: HIV-infected cell lines are widely used to study latent HIV infection, which is considered the main barrier to HIV cure. We hypothesized that these cell lines differ from each other and from cells from HIV-infected individuals in the mechanisms underlying latency. RESULTS: To quantify the degree to which HIV expression is inhibited by blocks at different stages of HIV transcription, we employed a recently-described panel of RT-ddPCR assays to measure levels of 7 HIV transcripts ("read-through," initiated, 5' elongated, mid-transcribed/unspliced [Pol], distal-transcribed [Nef], polyadenylated, and multiply-sliced [Tat-Rev]) in bulk populations of latently-infected (U1, ACH-2, J-Lat) and productively-infected (8E5, activated J-Lat) cell lines. To assess single-cell variation and investigate cellular genes associated with HIV transcriptional blocks, we developed a novel multiplex qPCR panel and quantified single cell levels of 7 HIV targets and 89 cellular transcripts in latently- and productively-infected cell lines. The bulk cell HIV transcription profile differed dramatically between cell lines and cells from ART-suppressed individuals. Compared to cells from ART-suppressed individuals, latent cell lines showed lower levels of HIV transcriptional initiation and higher levels of polyadenylation and splicing. ACH-2 and J-Lat cells showed different forms of transcriptional interference, while U1 cells showed a block to elongation. Single-cell studies revealed marked variation between/within cell lines in expression of HIV transcripts, T cell phenotypic markers, antiviral factors, and genes implicated in latency. Expression of multiply-spliced HIV Tat-Rev was associated with expression of cellular genes involved in activation, tissue retention, T cell transcription, and apoptosis/survival. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected cell lines differ from each other and from cells from ART-treated individuals in the mechanisms governing latent HIV infection. These differences in viral and cellular gene expression must be considered when gauging the suitability of a given cell line for future research on HIV. At the same time, some features were shared across cell lines, such as low expression of antiviral defense genes and a relationship between productive infection and genes involved in survival. These features may contribute to HIV latency or persistence in vivo, and deserve further study using novel single cell assays such as those described in this manuscript.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Exploring a proposed WHO method to determine thresholds for seasonal influenza surveillance.
    Tay, EL ; Grant, K ; Kirk, M ; Mounts, A ; Kelly, H ; Cook, AR (Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2013)
    INTRODUCTION: Health authorities find thresholds useful to gauge the start and severity of influenza seasons. We explored a method for deriving thresholds proposed in an influenza surveillance manual published by the World Health Organization (WHO). METHODS: For 2002-2011, we analysed two routine influenza-like-illness (ILI) datasets, general practice sentinel surveillance and a locum medical service sentinel surveillance, plus laboratory data and hospital admissions for influenza. For each sentinel dataset, we created two composite variables from the product of weekly ILI data and the relevant laboratory data, indicating the proportion of tested specimens that were positive. For all datasets, including the composite datasets, we aligned data on the median week of peak influenza or ILI activity and assigned three threshold levels: seasonal threshold, determined by inspection; and two intensity thresholds termed average and alert thresholds, determined by calculations of means, medians, confidence intervals (CI) and percentiles. From the thresholds, we compared the seasonal onset, end and intensity across all datasets from 2002-2011. Correlation between datasets was assessed using the mean correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The median week of peak activity was week 34 for all datasets, except hospital data (week 35). Means and medians were comparable and the 90% upper CIs were similar to the 95(th) percentiles. Comparison of thresholds revealed variations in defining the start of a season but good agreement in describing the end and intensity of influenza seasons, except in hospital admissions data after the pandemic year of 2009. The composite variables improved the agreements between the ILI and other datasets. Datasets were well correlated, with mean correlation coefficients of >0.75 for a range of combinations. CONCLUSIONS: Thresholds for influenza surveillance are easily derived from historical surveillance and laboratory data using the approach proposed by WHO. Use of composite variables is helpful for describing influenza season characteristics.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Delays in Patient Presentation and Diagnosis for Buruli Ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans Infection) in Victoria, Australia, 2011-2017.
    Coutts, SP ; Lau, CL ; Field, EJ ; Loftus, MJ ; Tay, EL (MDPI AG, 2019-07-04)
    Uncertainty regarding transmission pathways and control measures makes prompt presentation and diagnosis for Buruli ulcer critical. To examine presentation and diagnosis delays in Victoria, Australia, we conducted a retrospective study of 703 cases notified between 2011 and 2017, classified as residing in an endemic (Mornington Peninsula; Bellarine Peninsula; South-east Bayside and Frankston) or non-endemic area. Overall median presentation delay was 30 days (IQR 14-60 days), with no significant change over the study period (p = 0.11). There were significant differences in median presentation delay between areas of residence (p = 0.02), but no significant change over the study period within any area. Overall median diagnosis delay was 10 days (IQR 0-40 days), with no significant change over the study period (p = 0.13). There were significant differences in median diagnosis delay between areas (p < 0.001), but a significant decrease over time only on the Mornington Peninsula (p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, being aged <15 or >65 years; having non-ulcerative disease; and residing in the Bellarine Peninsula or South-East Bayside (compared to non-endemic areas) were significantly associated with shorter presentation delay. Residing in the Bellarine or Mornington Peninsula and being notified later in the study period were significantly associated with shorter diagnosis delay. To reduce presentation and diagnosis delays, awareness of Buruli ulcer must be raised with the public and medical professionals, particularly those based outside established endemic areas.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Potential for the Australian and New Zealand paediatric intensive care registry to enhance acute flaccid paralysis surveillance in Australia: a data-linkage study
    Hobday, LK ; Thorley, BR ; Alexander, J ; Aitken, T ; Massey, PD ; Cretikos, M ; Slater, A ; Durrheim, DN (BMC, 2013-08-21)
    BACKGROUND: Australia uses acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance to monitor its polio-free status. The World Health Organization criterion for a sensitive AFP surveillance system is the annual detection of at least one non-polio AFP case per 100,000 children aged less than 15 years, a target Australia has not consistently achieved. Children exhibiting AFP are likely to be hospitalised and may be admitted to an intensive care unit. This provides a potential opportunity for active AFP surveillance. METHODS: A data-linkage study for the period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008 compared 165 non-polio AFP cases classified by the Polio Expert Panel with 880 acute neurological presentations potentially compatible with AFP documented in the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Intensive Care (ANZPIC) Registry. RESULTS: Forty-two (25%) AFP cases classified by the Polio Expert Panel were matched to case records in the ANZPIC Registry. Of these, nineteen (45%) cases were classified as Guillain-Barré syndrome on both registries. Ten additional Guillain-Barré syndrome cases recorded in the ANZPIC Registry were not notified to the national AFP surveillance system. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of a further ten AFP cases supports inclusion of intensive care units in national AFP surveillance, particularly specialist paediatric intensive care units, to identify AFP cases that may not otherwise be reported to the national surveillance system.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 1 and Outbreak Response - Papua New Guinea, 2018
    Bauri, M ; Wilkinson, AL ; Ropa, B ; Feldon, K ; Snider, CJ ; Anand, A ; Tallis, G ; Boualam, L ; Grabovac, V ; Avagyan, T ; Reza, MS ; Mekonnen, D ; Zhang, Z ; Thorley, BR ; Shimizu, H ; Apostol, LNG ; Takashima, Y (CENTERS DISEASE CONTROL, 2019-02-08)