UNSW Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) researchers have developed a genomic test to identify specific whooping cough strains (Bordetella pertussis) as cases surge.
This new tool has shed light on past whooping cough epidemics in Australia and abroad, with findings published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
Led by UNSW's Prof Ruiting Lan, and UTS Chancellor's Research Fellow Dr Laurence Luu, the team aimed to use this test to pinpoint the strain behind Australia's current whooping cough outbreak.
"This study paves the way for real-time surveillance of whooping cough strains, overcoming current testing limitations," said Dr Luu.
"Our results provide important baseline data to understand how whooping cough has changed in Australia and could be used to help guide us through the current outbreak," he said.
To learn more about the new research, CLICK HERE.
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