Enhancing Resilience Against Rheumatic Fever in Aotearoa
Rapua was established in 2022 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.
Mahi in the Community
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.
Participants have had three home visits (baseline, 6 months and 12 months), as well as additional visits if a sore throat was reported and 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.
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.
Mahi in the Laboratory
Genomic Sequencing for Strep A
We are expanding our capability in genomic sequencing to understand the Strep A strains that have caused infections in New Zealand communities and hospitals. This provides us with a molecular epidemiology informatics pipeline for enhanced national surveillance and will inform the selection and development of the best vaccine for New Zealand.
Mahi in the Clinic
Monitoring hospitalisations and preparing for clinical trials
In the hospital setting, our goal is to precisely determine the incidence of Strep A disease requiring hospitalisation within New Zealand. Analysing the Strep A strains from hospitalised patients is enabling us to identify the pathogenic drivers of severe Strep A infections. By establishing robust baseline data and infrastructure, we aim to position New Zealand at the forefront of early-stage clinical trials, ensuring readiness to support and contribute to vaccine innovation.
Mahi in the Clinic
RF Platform Trial
There is no proven treatment to prevent cardiac damage in acute rheumatic fever that leads to rheumatic heart disease. The last clinical trial was over 20 years ago, and the only effective treatment consists of painful monthly penicillin injections for around 10 years. Successful treatment of the inflammatory response to Strep A requires early diagnosis and intervention. We are establishing a world-first adaptive platform trial to test new treatments for acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Adaptive platform trials offer a flexible and efficient way of studying multiple interventions in a disease or condition.
The trial will be coordinated from New Zealand, at the University of Auckland, and aims to have global partner sites contributing. Centralised infrastructure will enable sites to participate and conduct setting-specific evaluations. The trial will also expand New Zealand’s clinical trial expertise ahead of future trials of the Group A Strep vaccines.
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
Contact Us
Get in touch to learn more about our research, patient resources, up-to-date clinical information, or community initiatives. Whether you’re interested in collaboration or supporting whānau, we’re here to help.