Objectives:     

• To determine target populations for a new Hia vaccine based on collection of seroepidemiological data.
• To determine Hia colonization rates in communities at high vs low risk of invasive Hia disease, nasopharyngeal swabs will be collected from children using a non-invasive approach, and characterized in the National Microbiology Laboratory using microbiological and molecular-biological methods.
• To determine serological benchmarks for protection against Hia studies of naturally acquired antibody and their functional activity in populations with high vs low risk of invasive Hia disease will be conducted using immunological methods. Epidemiological data to be collected via retrospective chart review of cases of invasive Hia disease with regards to risk factors associated with this disease, and unfavorable disease outcomes.

Project Lead:
Dr. Marina Ulanova