News & Updates
Post-Covid-19 lockdown disease surge tied to waning antibody levels
A new New Zealand study suggests the post-COVID surge in Strep A and RSV was partly due to waning antibodies from reduced exposure during lockdowns – an unintended effect of pandemic measures.
Severe invasive Group A Strep disease now a ‘notifiable’ disease
Starting 1 October 2024, health professionals in New Zealand must report invasive group A streptococcal infections, a serious illness that often leads to hospitalisation, as it becomes a notifiable disease.
What NZ scientists just learned about nasty Strep A bug with ‘striking’ differences
A University of Auckland-led study reveals that Strep A immunity varies across strains, challenging current vaccine strategies and paving the way for more effective, multi-target approaches.
Strep A Study: NZ exposed to ‘worldwide population’ of nasty bacteria
New Zealand has been exposed to a “worldwide” population of the nasty strep A bacteria. Using genomic sequencing technology, researchers have discovered 65 different strains of the bacteria circulating in NZ. This information is crucial to selecting the most effective vaccine to target NZ-specific strains.
A call to make Invasive Group A Strep notifiable in New Zealand
Public Health experts say there’s an increase worldwide in severe infections involving group A streptococcus and they are calling for it to be made a notifiable condition in New Zealand. See the report, pressing for a NZ strategy to manage the influx.
University trio lead $10 million rheumatic fever project
Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia are the last high-income countries in the world with significant rheumatic fever. Three University researchers are leading a $10M project to stamp out the deadly disease.
Rheumatic Fever – Report from the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor
The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor has published a report on rheumatic fever. This Evidence Summary found preventing strep throat infection through vaccination could make a significant difference to the rates of infection and subsequent complications of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
NZ Government supports vaccine development to help prevent rheumatic fever
In 2021, the NZ Government announced a $10M investment to ensure new vaccines for Strep A are appropriate for the strains circulating in Aotearoa New Zealand. Funding will support activities such as enhanced surveillance of Group A streptococcus, more infrastructure for laboratory testing, and preparations to ensure Aotearoa New Zealand is ready to conduct clinical trials.
Publications
Mahi in the Community
Pandemic mitigations reveal an association between superficial group A streptococcal infections and acute rheumatic fever incidence in Auckland New Zealand.
Bennett J., Zhang J., Anderson A., Blakiston M., Baker M. G., Webb R., Moreland N. J. Pandemic mitigations reveal an association between superficial group A streptococcal infections and acute rheumatic fever incidence in Auckland New Zealand. Dec 2025 Emerg Microbes Infect, 14(1):2532687. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2025.2532687.
A worldwide population of Streptococcus pyogenes strains circulating among school-aged children in Auckland, New Zealand: A genomic epidemiology analysis.
Lacey J. A., Bennett J., James T. B., Hines B. S., Chen T., Lee D., Sika-Paotonu D., Anderson A., Harwood M., Tong S. Y. C., Baker M. G., Williamson D., Moreland N. J. (2024). A worldwide population of Streptococcus pyogenes strains circulating among school-aged children in Auckland, New Zealand: A genomic epidemiology analysis. Jan 2024 Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 42:100964. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100964
Mahi in the Laboratory
Capturing the complete clinical spectrum and incidence of severe acute Group A Streptococcus (GAS) disease: a population-based study in Auckland, New Zealand.
Fox-Lewis A., She K. W., She E. W., Sathiyaseelan A., Vesty A., Roberts S. A., Morpeth S. C., Taylor S., Anderson A., Bennett J., Moreland N. J., Webb R. Capturing the complete clinical spectrum and incidence of severe acute Group A Streptococcus (GAS) disease: a population-based study in Auckland, New Zealand. Jun 2025 Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 12;59:101600. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101600.
Development and characterization of a hemolysis inhibition assay to determine functionality of anti-Streptolysin O antibodies in human sera.
Carducci M., Whitcombe A., Rovetini L., Massai L., Keeley A. J., de Silva T. I., Bennett J., Berlanda Scorza F., Iturriza M., Moreland N. J., Moriel D. G., Rossi O. (2024). Development and characterization of a hemolysis inhibition assay to determine functionality of anti-Streptolysin O antibodies in human sera. Mar 2024, Journal of Immunological Methods, 526:113618. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2024.113618
An acute rheumatic fever immune signature comprising inflammatory markers, IgG3, and Streptococcus pyogenes-specific antibodies.
Lorenz N., McGregor R., Whitcombe A. L., Sharma P., Ramiah C., Middleton F., Baker M. G., Martin W. J., Wilson N. J., Chung A. W., Moreland N. J. An acute rheumatic fever immune signature comprising inflammatory markers, IgG3, and Streptococcus pyogenes-specific antibodies. Aug 2024, iScience, 27(8):110558. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.110558
Characterization of an IL-8 cleavage inhibition assay to determine the functionality of anti-SpyCEP antibodies in human sera.
Massai L., Carducci M., Rovetini L., Paterson A., Whitcombe A., McGregor R., Lorenz N., Keeley A. J., de Silva T. I., Bennett J., Berlanda Scorza F., Iturriza M., Moreland N. J., Moriel D.G., Rossi O. Characterization of an IL-8 cleavage inhibition assay to determine the functionality of anti-SpyCEP antibodies in human sera. Jan 2025, Journal of Immunological Methods, 536:113786. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2024.113786
An eight-plex immunoassay for Group A streptococcus serology and vaccine development.
Whitcombe A. L. Han F., McAlister S. M., Kirkham L-A. S., Young P.G., Ritchie S. R., Carr P. A., Proft T., Moreland N. J. An eight-plex immunoassay for Group A streptococcus serology and vaccine development. Jan 2022, Journal of Immunological Methods 500:113194. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2021.113194
Increased Breadth of Group A Streptococcus Antibody Responses in Children With Acute Rheumatic Fever Compared to Precursor Pharyngitis and Skin Infections.
Whitcombe A. L., McGregor R., Bennett J., Gurney J. K., Williamson D. A., Baker M. G., Moreland N. J.. Increased Breadth of Group A Streptococcus Antibody Responses in Children With Acute Rheumatic Fever Compared to Precursor Pharyngitis and Skin Infections. Feb 2022, The Journal of Infectious Diseases 226: 167–176 (2022) .doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac043
Naturally acquired functional antibody responses to group A Streptococcus differ between major strain types.
McGregor R., Paterson A., Sharma P., Chen T., Lovell J. R., Carlton L. H., Steer A. C., Osowicki J., Loh J. M. S., Moreland N. J. Naturally acquired functional antibody responses to group A Streptococcus differ between major strain types. Sep 2023, mSphere 8:e00179-23. doi:10.1128/msphere.00179-23
Decline of Antibodies to Major Viral and Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Lorenz N., James A., Rooyen T. V., Paterson A., Ramiah C., Carlton L. H., Sharma P., Baker M. G., Charlewood R., McGregor R., Moreland N. J. Decline of Antibodies to Major Viral and Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Dec 2024, The Journal of Infectious Diseases 231(1):e77-e81. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiae611
Mahi in the Clinic
The emergence and impact of the M1UK lineage on invasive Group A Streptococcus disease in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Vesty A., Ren X., Sharma P, Lorenz N., Proft T., Hardaker, A., Straub, C., Morgan, J., Tiong, A., Anderson, A., Webb, R. H., Bennett, J., Carter, P., Moreland, N. J. The emergence and impact of the M1UK lineage on invasive Group A Streptococcus disease in Aotearoa New Zealand. Aug 2024, Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 11,(8):ofae457. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofae457
Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, diagnosis and treatment in children.
Taylor A., Webb R. Fifteen-minute consultation: Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, diagnosis and treatment in children. Mar 2024, Archives of Disease in Childhood – Education and practice edition, 109:210-221. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2023-325755
The roles of immuno-modulator treatment and echocardiographic screening in rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease control: Research from Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Wilson N., Anderson A., Baker M. G., Bennett J., Dennison A., McGregor R., Middleton F. Moreland N. J., Webb R. The roles of immuno-modulator treatment and echocardiographic screening in rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease control: Research from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Jan 2024, Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 55(2):241-266. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2024.2306981
Reduction in Acute Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis Incidence in Counties Manukau, New Zealand, after the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Taylor A., Neutze J., Moreland N. J., Webb R. Reduction in Acute Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis Incidence in Counties Manukau, New Zealand, after the COVID-19 Pandemic. Apr 2024, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene. 110(6):1214-1216. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0762
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