Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

4 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Immunology and Infection

Investigating the Effects of Probiotics on Pneumococcal Colonization Using an In Vitro Adherence Assay

Eileen M. Dunne¹, Zheng Q. Toh², Mary John³, Jayne Manning^1,4, Catherine Satzke^*1,4, Paul Licciardi^*2

¹Pneumococcal Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, ²Allergy & Immune Disorders, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, ³Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Melbourne, ⁴Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, The University of Melbourne

In vitro adherence assays can be used to study the attachment of Streptococcus pneumoniae to epithelial cell monolayers and to investigate potential interventions such as the use of probiotics for inhibiting pneumococcal colonization.

Immunology and Infection

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae Using the Quellung Reaction

Maha Habib¹, Barbara D. Porter¹, Catherine Satzke^1,2

¹Pneumococcal Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, ²Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Melbourne

The Quellung reaction is the gold standard technique for serotyping Streptococcus pneumoniae. This technique utilizes a microscope and specific pneumococcal antisera and is commonly used in reference and research laboratories worldwide.

Immunology and Infection

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination

Barbara D. Porter¹, Belinda D. Ortika¹, Catherine Satzke^1,2

¹Pneumococcal Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, ²Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne

Latex agglutination testing is a simple, rapid and inexpensive method for serotyping Streptococcus pneumoniae, and has also been widely applied in diagnostic microbiology. This manuscript describes the in-house production of latex agglutination reagents, quality control procedures and the application of this technique to pneumococcal serotyping.

Genetics

Candidate Gene Testing in Clinical Cohort Studies with Multiplexed Genotyping and Mass Spectrometry

Sarah E. Ashley^1,2, Braydon A. Meyer^2,3, Justine A. Ellis^2,3,4, David J. Martino^2,3,5

¹Molecular Genetics of Chronic Inflammation and Allergic Disease, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, ²Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, ³Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, ⁴Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, ⁵Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia

Identification of genetic variants contributing to complex human disease allows us to identify novel mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate a multiplex genotyping approach to candidate genes or gene pathway analysis that maximizes the coverage at low cost and is amenable to cohort-based studies.