Biomedical Sciences

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After completing my PhD I 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. My 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. My current research involves vaccine development and development of diagnostic techniques for veterinary pathogens such as equine adenovirus, Campylobacter jejuni and Rhodococcus equi. The long-term goals of my research are to develop novel vaccines and diagnostic tests for veterinary pathogens.

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 Microbiolog
• 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 (awarded by CSU Division of Learning and Teaching Services)
• Teaching Leader 2009 (awarded by CSU Division of Learning and Teaching Services)

Current Research

Veterinary and medical microbiology, vaccine development and bacterial pathogenesis.

Current external grant funding:

• Pork CRC. Smits, R., McKenzie, P., Luxford, B., Barton, M., Vanniasinkam, T. Improving health of neonatal piglets and weaners by injecting immunoglobulins. ($264, 000; 2009-2011)
• rural industries research corporation (chicken meat) barton, m., and vanniasinkam, t. development of a vaccine to control campylobacter in chickens ($516,000; 2010-2013)
• RIRDC (Horses) Barton, M., Vanniasinkam, T., Heuzenroder, M. An adenoviral vector vaccine against Rhodococcus equi ($88,500; 2010-2013)

Publications

Selected peer reviewed publications (last 5 years)

• 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.
• Crampton, A and T. Vanniasinkam. 2007. Parasite vaccines: the new generation. Infection genetics and Evolution 7:664-673.
• M. W. Heuzenroeder, M. D. Barton, T.Vanniasinkam and T. Phumoonna. 2009. Book chapter on Epitope Mapping protocols in Methods in Molecular Biology laboratory protocol series (Humana Press. 2nd Ed. Editors: U. Reineke and M. Schutkowski).
• 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. 2005. Immune response to vaccines based upon the VapA protein of the horse pathogen, Rhodococcus equi, in a murine model. International Journal of Medical Microbiology. 294: 437-445.
• Vanniasinkam, T and H.C.J. Ertl. 2004. Rabies vaccines: The 3rd generation. Letters in Drug Design and Discovery. 1: 35-44. (review)
• 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.

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