Enhancing Resilience Against Rheumatic Fever in Aotearoa
Rapua was established in 2021 to support strategic partnerships in vaccine development for Strep A. Our programme of work is designed to build capability and capacity in vaccine development in New Zealand, while strengthening the knowledge and understanding of the Māori and Pacific experience of Strep A in New Zealand.
Progress continues to be made across the laboratory, community and hospital workstreams of the Rapua programme.
Our Research
We combine community partnerships, cutting-edge lab research, and clinical insight to drive Strep A vaccine development for New Zealand.
Mahi in the Community
We strengthen community engagement in Step A vaccine development through Māori and Pacific partnerships, qualitative research and community-based studies to ensure the best vaccine for New Zealand.
Mahi in the Laboratory
We’ve expanded our capabilities to evaluate vaccine efficacy by developing immunoassays for early stage studies, and enhanced genomic analysis for Strep A surveillance in New Zealand.
Mahi in the Clinic
We’re creating a strong foundation of data and infrastructure to understand serious Strep A infections in hospitals, and support clinical trials in New Zealand.
Mahi in the Community
Understanding community perceptions
This workstream aims to strengthen community engagement and input into Strep A vaccine development. The qualitative research is focused on understanding community perceptions of Strep A vaccines, as well as how vaccines are developed. It looks holistically at vaccine development issues, working closely with Māori and Pacific whānau and healthcare providers.
iSOoth Study
The iSOoTH Study is an innovative community-based research programme investigating sore throats in school-aged children. It aims to understand the prevalence, causes and seasonal variations of Strep A infections to inform the development of a Strep A vaccine. The data uncovered through the iSOoTH study will have additional benefits in addressing more severe conditions like rheumatic heart disease.
During the study’s course, finger-prick blood samples and saliva specimens will be taken from participants at three intervals – baseline, six months, and twelve months. Additional samples will be gathered if a participant reports a sore throat and subsequently tests positive for Strep A.
Mahi in the Laboratory
Expanding laboratory infrastructure for evaluating vaccines
We have expanded the laboratory infrastructure and capabilities within our team for evaluating vaccine efficacy during clinical trials. We have developed assays to assess biological samples from early-stage vaccine studies with a focus on binding and functional antibody assays.
We use genomic sequencing to understand Strep A isolates that have caused infections in New Zealand communities and hospitals. This provides us with a molecular epidemiology informatics pipeline for enhanced national surveillance.
As a vaccine developer or researcher, consider partnering with us. Our team combines cutting-edge technical abilities with a proven track record in assay development.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss research into Strep A immunology, assay development or testing of samples from clinical trials of Strep A vaccines.
Mahi in the Clinic
Monitoring hospitalisations and preparing for clinical trials
The primary aims of this workstream are to accurately calculate the population incidence of hospitalised Strep A disease in New Zealand and prospectively characterise Strep A isolates associated with hospitalisations. Ensuring appropriate baseline data and infrastructure is in place will make New Zealand ready to support and participate in early-stage clinical trials. This includes establishing a national register for RF/RHD and contemporary assessments of Strep A infection frequency.
Mahi in the Clinic
RF Platform Trial
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Please contact us if you would like to discuss research into Strep A immunology, assay development or testing of samples to evaluate efficacy in clinical trials of Strep A vaccines.
Publications with short intro for each. Maybe via a button to open a publications page?
Our Collaborations
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.
Publications
Mahi in the Community
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
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
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