Head, Strep A & ARF Therapeutics
BSc, MBChB, DTM&H, FRACP, PhD
Associate Professor Laurens Manning is an infectious diseases physician and clinical researcher working at Fiona Stanley Hospital, the University of Western Australia, and at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at Telethon Kids Institute.
Laurens completed his medical training in New Zealand and his PhD at UWA on the impact of malaria on severe illness and mortality in Papua New Guinean children. Since then, his interests have expanded creating a diverse research portfolio that includes, but not limited to, antimicrobial pharmacology, malaria, diabetic foot disease, C. difficile infection and peri-prosthetic joint infections.
However, in his role at Telethon Kids, Laurens is passionate about research looking at providing choice around secondary prophylaxis and alternate treatment regimens for ARF and RHD. Treatment which has not changed for 70 years and thereby empowering and supporting those living with ARF and RHD. Hence, through Australian wide and international collaborations Laurens is leading research at Telethon Kids on reformulation of long-acting penicillins and other preparations.
Furthermore, Laurens has a strong global track record including input into PNG Standard Adult Treatment Guidelines and collaborative projects in New Zealand.
Laurens has been invited to take part in distilling and interpreting the literature for Therapeutic Guidelines Expert Writing Groups, appointed to the ASID Clinical Research Network steering group to facilitate collaborative studies in infectious diseases across Australia and New Zealand, the TGA advisory committee for biologicals, and the steering committee of Diabetes Feet Australia. Invited to international consensus meeting for prosthetic joint infections.
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Publications
September 2023
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination for protection against recurrent herpes labialis: a nested randomised controlled trial
Recurrences of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in the orofacial region (herpes labialis or cold sores) impact quality-of-life. We aimed to study whether the bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine can attenuate cold sore recurrences through off-target immunomodulatory effects.
Published research Immunisation Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Vaccine Trials Group Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesJun 2023Development of a sustained release implant of benzathine penicillin G for secondary prophylaxis of rheumatic heart disease
Regular intramuscular (i.m.) benzathine penicillin G (BPG) injections have been the cornerstone of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) secondary prophylaxis since the 1950s. Patient adherence to IM BPG is poor, largely due to pain, the need for regular injections every 3-4 weeks and health sector delivery challenges in resource-limited settings. There is an urgent need for new approaches for secondary prophylaxis, such as an implant which could provide sustained penicillin concentrations for more than 6 months.
Published research Immunisation Rheumatic Heart Disease Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Subsite: END RHD Strep A & ARF TherapeuticsJun 2023Short-course, high-dose primaquine regimens for the treatment of liver-stage vivax malaria in children
To assess the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of two high-dose, short-course primaquine (PQ) regimens compared with standard care in children with Plasmodium vivax infections.
Published research Immunisation Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Malaria Immune systemApril 2023Factors influencing scar formation following Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination
The prevalence of scar formation following Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination varies globally. The beneficial off-target effects of BCG are proposed to be stronger amongst children who develop a BCG scar. Within an international randomised trial ('BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare workers'; BRACE Trial), this nested prospective cohort study assessed the prevalence of and factors influencing scar formation, as well as participant perception of BCG scarring 12 months following vaccination.
Published research Immunisation Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Strep A & ARF TherapeuticsApril 2023Qualitative assessment of healthy volunteer experience receiving subcutaneous infusions of high-dose benzathine penicillin G (SCIP) provides insights into design of late phase clinical studies
Secondary prophylaxis to prevent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) progression, in the form of four-weekly intramuscular benzathine benzylpenicillin G (BPG) injections, has remained unchanged since 1955. Qualitative investigations into patient preference have highlighted the need for long-acting penicillins to be delivered less frequently, ideally with reduced pain.
Published research Rheumatic Heart Disease Subsite: END RHD Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention Strep A & ARF TherapeuticsMay 2023Ultra-short course, high-dose primaquine to prevent Plasmodium vivax infection following uncomplicated pediatric malaria: A randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial of early versus delayed treatment
We aimed to assess safety, tolerability, and Plasmodium vivax relapse rates of ultra-short course (3.5 days) high-dose (1 mg/kg twice daily) primaquine (PQ) for uncomplicated malaria because of any Plasmodium species in children randomized to early- or delayed treatment.
Published research Infectious Diseases Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Malaria Strep A & ARF TherapeuticsNovember 2022Invasive Infections Caused by Lancefield Groups C/G and A Streptococcus, Western Australia, Australia, 2000–2018
Epidemiologic data on invasive group C/G Streptococcus (iGCGS) infections are sparse internationally. Linked population-level hospital, pathology, and death data were used to describe the disease burden in Western Australia, Australia, during 2000-2018 compared with that of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes) infections.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Group A Streptococcal & Rheumatic Heart Disease Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Subsite: END RHD Invasive Streptococcus A DiseaseSeptember 2022Standardization of Epidemiological Surveillance of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections
Invasive group A streptococcal (Strep A) infections occur when Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as beta-hemolytic group A Streptococcus, invades a normally sterile site in the body. This article provides guidelines for establishing surveillance for invasive Strep A infections. The primary objective of invasive Strep A surveillance is to monitor trends in rates of infection and determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with laboratory-confirmed invasive Strep A infection, the age- and sex-specific incidence in the population of a defined geographic area, trends in risk factors, and the mortality rates and rates of nonfatal sequelae caused by invasive Strep A infections.
Published research Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Invasive Streptococcus A Disease Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention Strep A Pathogenesis and Diagnostics Strep A & ARF Therapeutics Implementation, Epidemiology & New HorizonsSeptember 2022Standardization of Epidemiological Surveillance of Group A Streptococcal Impetigo
Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the superficial layer of skin. Impetigo is caused by group A Streptococcus (Strep A) and Staphylococcus aureus, alone or in combination, with the former predominating in many tropical climates. Strep A impetigo occurs mainly in early childhood, and the burden varies worldwide. It is an acute, self-limited disease, but many children experience frequent recurrences that make it a chronic illness in some endemic settings.
Published research Skin Infections Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Subsite: END RHD Invasive Streptococcus A Disease Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention Strep A Pathogenesis and Diagnostics Strep A & ARF TherapeuticsApril 2022Off-target effects of bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination on immune responses to SARS-CoV-2: implications for protection against severe COVID-19
Because of its beneficial off-target effects against non-mycobacterial infectious diseases, bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination might be an accessible early intervention to boost protection against novel pathogens. Multiple epidemiological studies and randomised controlled trials are investigating the protective effect of BCG against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Published research Immunisation Human Development and Community Wellbeing Systems Immunology Infectious Disease Implementation Research Vaccine Trials Group Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases COVID-19 Immune system Strep A & ARF Therapeutics -
Education and Qualifications
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Awards/Honours
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Active Collaborations