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Australia faced a large whooping cough outbreak in the first three months of 2024 with 2,799 cases. Complicating the fight against it, whooping cough strains are becoming more resistant to existing treatments.
"Despite existing vaccinations, whooping cough remains a formidable challenge particularly due to the bacteria's ability to evolve and evade current vaccines," explains Dr Laurence Luu from the UTS Faculty of Science and a UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellow.
He notes a double trend with the disease also becoming more resistant to antibiotics. "This dual challenge of vaccine and antibiotic resistance compels us to seek more robust solutions," he adds.
Dr Luu is seeking to revolutionise the approach to combating whooping cough by using mRNA technology – the vaccination platform that has gained traction following its success during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has been awarded funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Investigator grants scheme to explore the science that will underpin an effective mRNA vaccine.
"The beauty of mRNA technology lies in its precision and adaptability," Dr Luu says.
His team is pioneering efforts to map out every gene within the whooping cough bacterium, creating a comprehensive library to determine which genes are indispensable for the bacteria’s life cycle.
"By identifying and targeting these critical genes, we can develop vaccines that are far more effective in not just combating but also preventing the spread of this disease," he adds.
Laurence elaborates on the process.
"We’re trying to deactivate each gene in the genome and screen them under various conditions to see if the bacteria can still function. This approach helps us identify the genes that are essential for its survival and virulence," he says.
This innovative strategy promises not only to enhance vaccine effectiveness but also to significantly reduce the bacteria's capacity for resistance.
Once the gene mapping is completed, the team can them move into mRNA vaccine design in collaboration with the UTS Australian Institute of Microbiology and Infection. Ultimately, Dr Luu wants to develop vaccine candidates that are taken into clinical trials.
As he prepares to test these new vaccine candidates, Dr Luu remains focused on the ultimate goal.
"Our objective is to create a strong platform for vaccine development that can be rapidly adapted to various pathogens, providing a swift response to emerging infectious diseases,” he says.
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Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow School of Life Sciences