Biomedical Sciences

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After completing her  PhD Dr Vanniasinkam  undertook a Postdoctoral research fellowship in an Immunology Laboratory at the Wistar Institute (University of Pennsylvania campus) in Philadelphia, USA. Research activities included DNA vaccine development based upon antigens derived from rabies virus and HIV-1, development of adenoviral vectors based upon a chimpanzee adenovirus. Research on the development of non-viral promotoers in vaccine vectors and the use of various adjuvants to enhance the immune response to DNA vaccines; development of adenoviral vector based vaccines to rabies and HIV; studies to investigate the immunogenicity and efficacy of these various vaccine candidates in the mouse model.

Dr Vanniasinkam's research experience also includes DNA vaccine development for Rhodococcus equi, development of diagnostic tests for Campylobacter spp. and Rhodococcus equi and epitope mapping of bacterial virulence proteins. Her current research involves vaccine development and development of diagnostic techniques for veterinary pathogens such as equine adenovirus, Campylobacter jejuni and Rhodococcus equi. .

Membership in professional organisations

• Committee member of the NSW branch of the Australian Society for Microbiology
• Fellow of the Australian Society for Microbiology
• Member of the Australasian Society for Immunology
• Member of the American Society for Microbiology
• Member of the Society for General Microbiology (UK)

Teaching

Current subjects taught

Immunology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Introductory Microbiology, Research Perspectives, Biomedical Research Methods, Virology, Mycology & Parasitilogy, Molecular Immunology.

Teaching citations

• Teaching Leader 2008 - 2010 (awarded by CSU Division of Learning and Teaching Services)
• Vice Chancellor's Award for Team Teaching - 2012
  

Current Research

Veterinary and medical microbiology, vaccine development and bacterial pathogenesis.

Current external grant funding:

• Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (Chicken Meat Program) Barton, M., and Vanniasinkam, T. development of a vaccine to control campylobacter in chickens ($516,000).
  
• Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation(Horses Program) Barton, M., Vanniasinkam, T., Heuzenroder, M. An adenoviral vector vaccine against Rhodococcus equi ($88,500).

Publications

Selected peer reviewed publications

• Cavanagh HM, Mahony TJ, Vanniasinkam T. 2012 Genetic characterization of equine adenovirus type 1. Veterinary Microbiology 155(1):33-7.
  
• Giles C, Cavanagh HM, Noble G, Vanniasinkam T. 2010. Prevalence of equine adenovirus antibodies in horses in New South Wales, Australia. Veterinary Microbiology. 143(2-4):401-404.
• Heuzenroeder MW, Barton MD, Vanniasinkam T. Phumoonna T. 2009. Linear B-cell epitope mapping using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for libraries of overlapping synthetic peptides. Methods in Molecular Biology. 524:137-144.
• Phumoonna, T., M. D.Barton, T. Vanniasinkam and M. W. Heuzenroeder 2008. Chimeric vapA/groEL2 DNA vaccines enhance clearance of Rhodococcus equi in aerosol challenged C3H/He mice.  Vaccine 12: 26(20):2457-2465.
  
• Vanniasinkam, T., H. Ertl, and Q. Tang, Q., 2006. Trichostatin-A enhances adaptive immune responses to DNA vaccination. Journal of Clinical Virology. 36: 292-297.
  
• Vanniasinkam, T, S. Reddy and H.C.J. Ertl. 2006. DNA vaccines driven by a non-viral promoter.  Virology. 344: 412-420.
• Vanniasinkam, T and H.C.J. Ertl. 2005. Adenoviral gene delivery for HIV-1 vaccination. Current Gene Therapy. 5: 203-212.
  
• Vanniasinkam, T, M D Barton and M. W. Heuzenroeder. 2004. The immunogenicity of Rhodococcus equi GroEL2-based vaccines in a murine model. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 98: 91-100.
• Vanniasinkam, T, M.D. Barton and M. W. Heuzenroeder. 2001. B-cell epitope mapping of the virulence-associated protein A (VapA) of Rhodococcus equi. : implications for early detection of R. equi disease in foals.  Journal of Clinical Microbiology.39:1633-1637.
  
  

Patents

• Vanniasinkam, T., M. W. Heuzenroeder and M. D. Barton .2001. Antigenic peptide fragments of VapA protein and uses thereof:
  Australian Patent: PQ7120
  International patent: PCT/AU01/00478
• Vanniasinkam, T., M. W. Heuzenroeder and M. D. Barton .2002.Chimeric vaccine for R. equi:
  Australian patent: 2002339236.
  International patent: PCT/AU/02/01460