Epidemiology of Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant Western Australian women and characterisation of bacteriophage activity

Lucy Furfaro

doi:10.26182/5cd28171b6884

Epidemiology of Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant Western Australian women and characterisation of bacteriophage activity

Lucy Furfaro

UWA Medical School

Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis

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Abstract

Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is a prominent global perinatal pathogen. Women in Western Australia are screened for GBS during pregnancy and receive prophylactic antibiotics at delivery if colonised. This study was the first to characterise GBS in this population and provided detailed clinical and epidemiological data. This resulted in the development of a novel diagnostic assay and elucidated prevalent serotypes and risk factors; crucial data which will inform selection of future GBS vaccine candidates. The project also resulted in the discovery of novel GBS bacteriophages with anti-bacterial activity against -70% of clinical GBS isolates, presenting a promising alternative to antibiotic prophylaxis.

Original language	English
Qualification	Doctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution	The University of Western Australia
Thesis sponsors	Australian Government Research Training Program
Award date	30 Mar 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.26182/5cd28171b6884
Publication status	Unpublished - 2019

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Furfaro, L. (2019). Epidemiology of Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant Western Australian women and characterisation of bacteriophage activity. https://doi.org/10.26182/5cd28171b6884

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abstract = "Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is a prominent global perinatal pathogen. Women in Western Australia are screened for GBS during pregnancy and receive prophylactic antibiotics at delivery if colonised. This study was the first to characterise GBS in this population and provided detailed clinical and epidemiological data. This resulted in the development of a novel diagnostic assay and elucidated prevalent serotypes and risk factors; crucial data which will inform selection of future GBS vaccine candidates. The project also resulted in the discovery of novel GBS bacteriophages with anti-bacterial activity against -70{\%} of clinical GBS isolates, presenting a promising alternative to antibiotic prophylaxis.",

keywords = "Group B Streptococcus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Bacteriophage/phage, Pregnancy, Screening, Epidemiology, Serotype, Therapeutic",

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school = "The University of Western Australia",

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AB - Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is a prominent global perinatal pathogen. Women in Western Australia are screened for GBS during pregnancy and receive prophylactic antibiotics at delivery if colonised. This study was the first to characterise GBS in this population and provided detailed clinical and epidemiological data. This resulted in the development of a novel diagnostic assay and elucidated prevalent serotypes and risk factors; crucial data which will inform selection of future GBS vaccine candidates. The project also resulted in the discovery of novel GBS bacteriophages with anti-bacterial activity against -70% of clinical GBS isolates, presenting a promising alternative to antibiotic prophylaxis.

KW - Group B Streptococcus

KW - Streptococcus agalactiae

KW - Bacteriophage/phage

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Screening

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Serotype

KW - Therapeutic

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M3 - Doctoral Thesis

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Access to Document

10.26182/5cd28171b6884

THESIS - DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - FURFARO Lucy Lee - 2019
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