Team leader, Neonatal Infection and Immunity
MD, PhD, FRACP
Clinical Professor Tobias Strunk is a Consultant Neonatologist with a clinical research focus on infection and inflammation in newborn infants. His research examines the mechanisms underlying preterm infants’ heightened risk of severe infections and explores new ways to prevent and treat infections in newborns more effectively.
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Projects
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Publications
June 2021
Plasma secretory phospholipase A2 as an early marker for late-onset sepsis in preterm infants—a pilot study
Preterm infants are particularly susceptible to bacterial late-onset sepsis (LOS). Diagnosis by blood culture and inflammatory markers have sub-optimal sensitivity and specificity and prolonged reporting times. There is an urgent need for more rapid, accurate adjunctive diagnostics in LOS to improve management and minimise antibiotic exposure.
Vaccine Trials Group Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group Neonatal Infection and ImmunityJanuary 2021Impaired Cytokine Responses to Live Staphylococcus epidermidis in Preterm Infants Precede Gram-positive, Late-onset Sepsis
Late-onset sepsis (LOS) with Staphylococcus epidermidis is common in preterm infants, but the immunological mechanisms underlying heightened susceptibility are poorly understood. Our aim is to characterize the ontogeny of cytokine responses to live S. epidermidis in preterm infants with and without subsequent Gram-positive LOS.
Published research Infectious Diseases Vaccine Trials Group Neonatal Gut Health, Nutrition and Development Neonatal Infection and ImmunityAugust 2020Lactoferrin Expression Is Not Associated with Late-Onset Sepsis in Very Preterm Infants
Preterm infants are at a high risk of developing late-onset sepsis (LOS). Lactoferrin is one of the most abundant endogenous antimicrobial proteins expressed in breast milk, stools, and blood, and a candidate for preventive intervention. Large clinical trials have recently investigated whether enteral supplementation with bovine lactoferrin reduces LOS.
Published research Breastfeeding Vaccine Trials GroupOctober 2020RSV prophylaxis use in high-risk infants in Western Australia, 2002-2013: a record linkage cohort study
The monoclonal antibody, palivizumab is licensed for use in high-risk infants to prevent severe illness caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The level of its use and compliance with current jurisdictional guidelines which were amended in 2010, is unknown.
Published research Allergy & Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Vaccine Trials GroupJune 2020Whole blood transcriptional responses of very preterm infants during late-onset sepsis
Blood responses in very preterm infants with LOS are characterised by altered host immune responses that appear to reflect unbalanced immuno-metabolic homeostasis
Published research Infectious Diseases Neonatal Infection and ImmunityMay 2020Plasma cytokine profiles in very preterm infants with late-onset sepsis
Very preterm infants have a marked innate inflammatory response at the time of late-onset sepsis
Vaccine Trials Group Neonatal Gut Health, Nutrition and Development Neonatal Infection and ImmunityNovember 2019Effectiveness of Palivizumab against Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Cohort and Case Series Analysis
Palivizumab appeared effective for reducing virologically confirmed respiratory syncytial virus in this high-risk cohort
Published research Infectious Diseases Infectious Disease Implementation Research Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Vaccine Trials Group Neonatal Infection and Immunity -
Education and Qualifications
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Awards and Honours
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Other Collaborations