so let me start by asking you a question can anyone here read that sign on the
can anyone here read that sign on the
can anyone here read that sign on the slide if you can’t I guess most of you
slide if you can’t I guess most of you
slide if you can’t I guess most of you probably think it has something to do
probably think it has something to do
probably think it has something to do with cows or his children so let me tell
with cows or his children so let me tell
with cows or his children so let me tell you story the story behind this sign so
you story the story behind this sign so
you story the story behind this sign so I’m that little boy in the middle and
I’m that little boy in the middle and
I’m that little boy in the middle and and I grew up in East Germany and when I
and I grew up in East Germany and when I
and I grew up in East Germany and when I grew up I walked past this sign almost
grew up I walked past this sign almost
grew up I walked past this sign almost every day because it was attached to a
every day because it was attached to a
every day because it was attached to a door on my family’s farm where we kept
door on my family’s farm where we kept
door on my family’s farm where we kept our cows it essentially translates to
our cows it essentially translates to
our cows it essentially translates to certified tuberculosis free cattle you
certified tuberculosis free cattle you
certified tuberculosis free cattle you know being a little boy I didn’t think
know being a little boy I didn’t think
know being a little boy I didn’t think much of all at all I only knew from my
much of all at all I only knew from my
much of all at all I only knew from my grandfather that tuberculosis is a
grandfather that tuberculosis is a
grandfather that tuberculosis is a disease that can make house very sick
disease that can make house very sick
disease that can make house very sick but apart from this you know as being a
but apart from this you know as being a
but apart from this you know as being a little boy I didn’t I didn’t care much
little boy I didn’t I didn’t care much
little boy I didn’t I didn’t care much about it
about it
about it so now fast-forward 30 odd years and I’m
so now fast-forward 30 odd years and I’m
so now fast-forward 30 odd years and I’m standing here giving a presentation
standing here giving a presentation
standing here giving a presentation about eradicating tuberculosis so why is
about eradicating tuberculosis so why is
about eradicating tuberculosis so why is that obviously you know a lot of things
that obviously you know a lot of things
that obviously you know a lot of things change in 30 years not just the way I
change in 30 years not just the way I
change in 30 years not just the way I dress but also I’m now a trained
dress but also I’m now a trained
dress but also I’m now a trained microbiologist and I specialize in
microbiologist and I specialize in
microbiologist and I specialize in infectious disease research and
infectious disease research and
infectious disease research and particularly on tuberculosis so
particularly on tuberculosis so
particularly on tuberculosis so obviously I now know a lot more and I
obviously I now know a lot more and I
obviously I now know a lot more and I know that TB how tuberculosis is also
know that TB how tuberculosis is also
know that TB how tuberculosis is also known doesn’t just affect cows it
known doesn’t just affect cows it
known doesn’t just affect cows it actually a major problem in the world so
actually a major problem in the world so
actually a major problem in the world so let me start by giving you some facts so
let me start by giving you some facts so
let me start by giving you some facts so TB as I said tuberculosis also known is
TB as I said tuberculosis also known is
TB as I said tuberculosis also known is the biggest killer amongst all
the biggest killer amongst all
the biggest killer amongst all infectious diseases on that planet over
infectious diseases on that planet over
infectious diseases on that planet over the last 200 years it is estimated that
the last 200 years it is estimated that
the last 200 years it is estimated that TB has killed about 1 billion people so
TB has killed about 1 billion people so
TB has killed about 1 billion people so this is more than malaria plague
this is more than malaria plague
this is more than malaria plague smallpox influenza HIV cholera combined
smallpox influenza HIV cholera combined
smallpox influenza HIV cholera combined that’s all diseases you may have heard
that’s all diseases you may have heard
that’s all diseases you may have heard about
about
about but what about closer to you know 2017
but what about closer to you know 2017
but what about closer to you know 2017 so the latest data we’ve got is from
so the latest data we’ve got is from
so the latest data we’ve got is from 2015 and even two years ago there was
2015 and even two years ago there was
2015 and even two years ago there was still one point eight million people
still one point eight million people
still one point eight million people dying from tuberculosis more than ten
dying from tuberculosis more than ten
dying from tuberculosis more than ten million cases and so why is this just to
million cases and so why is this just to
million cases and so why is this just to put into context the recent Ebola
put into context the recent Ebola
put into context the recent Ebola outbreak in western Africa killed about
outbreak in western Africa killed about
outbreak in western Africa killed about eleven to twelve thousand people this is
eleven to twelve thousand people this is
eleven to twelve thousand people this is about tuberculosis kills more in two
about tuberculosis kills more in two
about tuberculosis kills more in two days every day every year but not too
days every day every year but not too
days every day every year but not too many people know about it why is this TB
many people know about it why is this TB
many people know about it why is this TB is a lung disease it’s caused by a
is a lung disease it’s caused by a
is a lung disease it’s caused by a bacterium called microbiome tuberculosis
bacterium called microbiome tuberculosis
bacterium called microbiome tuberculosis and it really affects mainly to poor
and it really affects mainly to poor
and it really affects mainly to poor people on the planet because it’s a
people on the planet because it’s a
people on the planet because it’s a disease of overcrowding and poor hygiene
disease of overcrowding and poor hygiene
disease of overcrowding and poor hygiene and it all starts when an infected
and it all starts when an infected
and it all starts when an infected patient that has active tuberculosis
patient that has active tuberculosis
patient that has active tuberculosis coughs up the bacteria and they can
coughs up the bacteria and they can
coughs up the bacteria and they can infect others around them and we know
infect others around them and we know
infect others around them and we know that about two billion people in other
that about two billion people in other
that about two billion people in other words about a third of the world’s
words about a third of the world’s
words about a third of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis
population is infected with tuberculosis
population is infected with tuberculosis luckily only 1.8 million people of those
luckily only 1.8 million people of those
luckily only 1.8 million people of those died but it’s still why too many so I
died but it’s still why too many so I
died but it’s still why too many so I said that TB is a disease of the poor
said that TB is a disease of the poor
said that TB is a disease of the poor people on the planet and you can see
people on the planet and you can see
people on the planet and you can see here on the world map that it really
here on the world map that it really
here on the world map that it really affects mainly developing countries in
affects mainly developing countries in
affects mainly developing countries in sub-saharan Africa Asia Eastern Europe
sub-saharan Africa Asia Eastern Europe
sub-saharan Africa Asia Eastern Europe and also South America and unfortunately
and also South America and unfortunately
and also South America and unfortunately these are the same regions of the world
these are the same regions of the world
these are the same regions of the world where other infectious diseases such as
where other infectious diseases such as
where other infectious diseases such as hiv/aids is very prevalent and we know
hiv/aids is very prevalent and we know
hiv/aids is very prevalent and we know that being infected was both disease at
that being infected was both disease at
that being infected was both disease at the same time is a major risk factor for
the same time is a major risk factor for
the same time is a major risk factor for actually dying when you infected with
actually dying when you infected with
actually dying when you infected with tuberculosis however probably the most
tuberculosis however probably the most
tuberculosis however probably the most the more relevant problem and also more
the more relevant problem and also more
the more relevant problem and also more relevant to people in in the Western
relevant to people in in the Western
relevant to people in in the Western world is that it becomes incredibly
world is that it becomes incredibly
world is that it becomes incredibly harder to treat tuberculosis
harder to treat tuberculosis
harder to treat tuberculosis tuberculosis is a treatable disease if
tuberculosis is a treatable disease if
tuberculosis is a treatable disease if you’ve got it you have to take drugs for
you’ve got it you have to take drugs for
you’ve got it you have to take drugs for about six months and then if you strain
about six months and then if you strain
about six months and then if you strain it in fact you as susceptible to those
it in fact you as susceptible to those
it in fact you as susceptible to those drugs you will be cured however over the
drugs you will be cured however over the
drugs you will be cured however over the last decade or so more and more of those
last decade or so more and more of those
last decade or so more and more of those bacteria have become resistant to the
bacteria have become resistant to the
bacteria have become resistant to the drugs that we use to treat TB and we
drugs that we use to treat TB and we
drugs that we use to treat TB and we call that multi drug-resistant
call that multi drug-resistant
call that multi drug-resistant tuberculosis or MDR TB the slide you can
tuberculosis or MDR TB the slide you can
tuberculosis or MDR TB the slide you can see here you know it’s not a solar
see here you know it’s not a solar
see here you know it’s not a solar system and I don’t really want you to
system and I don’t really want you to
system and I don’t really want you to look at all the details but it’s a very
look at all the details but it’s a very
look at all the details but it’s a very interesting slide from the World Health
interesting slide from the World Health
interesting slide from the World Health Organization that shows us how much it
Organization that shows us how much it
Organization that shows us how much it costs to treat one case of multi
costs to treat one case of multi
costs to treat one case of multi drug-resistant tuberculosis in different
drug-resistant tuberculosis in different
drug-resistant tuberculosis in different countries of the world and without
countries of the world and without
countries of the world and without looking at all the details it really
looking at all the details it really
looking at all the details it really tells us that in many countries it is
tells us that in many countries it is
tells us that in many countries it is more expensive to treat one case of
more expensive to treat one case of
more expensive to treat one case of multi drug-resistant tuberculosis than
multi drug-resistant tuberculosis than
multi drug-resistant tuberculosis than the GDP per capita in that country so
the GDP per capita in that country so
the GDP per capita in that country so it’s an enormous public health issue and
it’s an enormous public health issue and
it’s an enormous public health issue and it’s very very expensive and if you
it’s very very expensive and if you
it’s very very expensive and if you think that MDR TB is far away then think
think that MDR TB is far away then think
think that MDR TB is far away then think twice because here in Far North topical
twice because here in Far North topical
twice because here in Far North topical Queensland we’re only a short boat ride
Queensland we’re only a short boat ride
Queensland we’re only a short boat ride away from one of the most severe
away from one of the most severe
away from one of the most severe outbreaks of multi drug-resistant
outbreaks of multi drug-resistant
outbreaks of multi drug-resistant tuberculosis on the planet on some of
tuberculosis on the planet on some of
tuberculosis on the planet on some of those islands of the coast of Papua New
those islands of the coast of Papua New
those islands of the coast of Papua New Guinea we have such a high incidence of
Guinea we have such a high incidence of
Guinea we have such a high incidence of MDR TB that there is a major problem and
MDR TB that there is a major problem and
MDR TB that there is a major problem and you know that it’s only a short trip
you know that it’s only a short trip
you know that it’s only a short trip from one island to the next from Papua
from one island to the next from Papua
from one island to the next from Papua New Guinea to Australia and from one of
New Guinea to Australia and from one of
New Guinea to Australia and from one of those islands to the mainland and Bucs
those islands to the mainland and Bucs
those islands to the mainland and Bucs don’t respect borders once they’re on
don’t respect borders once they’re on
don’t respect borders once they’re on the mainland they can go anywhere so
the mainland they can go anywhere so
the mainland they can go anywhere so what can we do and this is really where
what can we do and this is really where
what can we do and this is really where scientists like myself come in because
scientists like myself come in because
scientists like myself come in because we know that instead of treating a
we know that instead of treating a
we know that instead of treating a disease we can also prevent it or we can
disease we can also prevent it or we can
disease we can also prevent it or we can even eliminate it and how can we do this
even eliminate it and how can we do this
even eliminate it and how can we do this we know that the only and the best way
we know that the only and the best way
we know that the only and the best way to read acade a disease is vaccination
to read acade a disease is vaccination
to read acade a disease is vaccination because we’ve done it before
because we’ve done it before
because we’ve done it before we have almost eradicated polio which
we have almost eradicated polio which
we have almost eradicated polio which you can see here and we have eradicated
you can see here and we have eradicated
you can see here and we have eradicated smallpox both of these diseases where
smallpox both of these diseases where
smallpox both of these diseases where all are almost eradicated because we
all are almost eradicated because we
all are almost eradicated because we have an effective vaccine that was
have an effective vaccine that was
have an effective vaccine that was rolled out worldwide by the World Health
rolled out worldwide by the World Health
rolled out worldwide by the World Health Organization the WHL Water Association
Organization the WHL Water Association
Organization the WHL Water Association has put out a very ambitious goal to
has put out a very ambitious goal to
has put out a very ambitious goal to eliminate TB by 2050 this is about 35
eliminate TB by 2050 this is about 35
eliminate TB by 2050 this is about 35 years from now the same timeframe utley
years from now the same timeframe utley
years from now the same timeframe utley can see here for polio so we know that
can see here for polio so we know that
can see here for polio so we know that if we will have an effective vaccine it
if we will have an effective vaccine it
if we will have an effective vaccine it is possible to eradicate tuberculosis
is possible to eradicate tuberculosis
is possible to eradicate tuberculosis some of you in the audience may think
some of you in the audience may think
some of you in the audience may think now oh well there’s a vaccine against TB
now oh well there’s a vaccine against TB
now oh well there’s a vaccine against TB I’ve probably got it when I was a child
I’ve probably got it when I was a child
I’ve probably got it when I was a child and yes that’s right there is a vaccine
and yes that’s right there is a vaccine
and yes that’s right there is a vaccine it’s called BCG it was introduced in
it’s called BCG it was introduced in
it’s called BCG it was introduced in 1921 and it’s been given to more than
1921 and it’s been given to more than
1921 and it’s been given to more than four billion people on the planet
four billion people on the planet
four billion people on the planet unfortunately TB doesn’t DCG does not
unfortunately TB doesn’t DCG does not
unfortunately TB doesn’t DCG does not prevent the real lung tuberculosis in
prevent the real lung tuberculosis in
prevent the real lung tuberculosis in adults it has prevented several millions
adults it has prevented several millions
adults it has prevented several millions of kids from dying from childhood
of kids from dying from childhood
of kids from dying from childhood versions of tuberculosis but it will
versions of tuberculosis but it will
versions of tuberculosis but it will never stop the transmission cycle and
never stop the transmission cycle and
never stop the transmission cycle and therefore help us to eliminate a disease
therefore help us to eliminate a disease
therefore help us to eliminate a disease and again this is the point where
and again this is the point where
and again this is the point where scientists like myself and others can
scientists like myself and others can
scientists like myself and others can make a difference
make a difference
make a difference there are about several dozen different
there are about several dozen different
there are about several dozen different research groups on the planet currently
research groups on the planet currently
research groups on the planet currently working to make a better TB vaccine I’m
working to make a better TB vaccine I’m
working to make a better TB vaccine I’m one of them and although this slide may
one of them and although this slide may
one of them and although this slide may look like a bit of a race it is really a
look like a bit of a race it is really a
look like a bit of a race it is really a global effort where we all come together
global effort where we all come together
global effort where we all come together and try to make a difference to come up
and try to make a difference to come up
and try to make a difference to come up with a effective vaccine that works to
with a effective vaccine that works to
with a effective vaccine that works to develop a vaccine is very expensive and
develop a vaccine is very expensive and
develop a vaccine is very expensive and long process it takes at least 20 years
long process it takes at least 20 years
long process it takes at least 20 years to move a vaccine from the preclinical
to move a vaccine from the preclinical
to move a vaccine from the preclinical studies all the way through to a
studies all the way through to a
studies all the way through to a licensed product
licensed product
licensed product you can see here illustrated by those
you can see here illustrated by those
you can see here illustrated by those blue bars that some of those vaccine
blue bars that some of those vaccine
blue bars that some of those vaccine candidates how we call them have already
candidates how we call them have already
candidates how we call them have already progressed to different parts of these
progressed to different parts of these
progressed to different parts of these clinical pipeline some are very close to
clinical pipeline some are very close to
clinical pipeline some are very close to being licensed but unfortunately in very
being licensed but unfortunately in very
being licensed but unfortunately in very recent years it has become apparent that
recent years it has become apparent that
recent years it has become apparent that many of those vaccines are not better
many of those vaccines are not better
many of those vaccines are not better than BCG so there may be an option an
than BCG so there may be an option an
than BCG so there may be an option an alternative to BCG but they’ve warmed
alternative to BCG but they’ve warmed
alternative to BCG but they’ve warmed help us eliminate the disease and that
help us eliminate the disease and that
help us eliminate the disease and that is why we can’t be complacent that we
is why we can’t be complacent that we
is why we can’t be complacent that we have to continue to work on new concepts
have to continue to work on new concepts
have to continue to work on new concepts new methods and new strategies to
new methods and new strategies to
new methods and new strategies to develop a vaccine that actually works
develop a vaccine that actually works
develop a vaccine that actually works the little red arrow on the bottom
the little red arrow on the bottom
the little red arrow on the bottom that’s me my vaccine is still in the
that’s me my vaccine is still in the
that’s me my vaccine is still in the preclinical stages but I’m trying to
preclinical stages but I’m trying to
preclinical stages but I’m trying to work on new concepts that are currently
work on new concepts that are currently
work on new concepts that are currently not used by those Iraq vaccines and this
not used by those Iraq vaccines and this
not used by those Iraq vaccines and this is where the science comes in so I’m
is where the science comes in so I’m
is where the science comes in so I’m trying to keep it as simple as possible
trying to keep it as simple as possible
trying to keep it as simple as possible but there was me so most vaccines target
but there was me so most vaccines target
but there was me so most vaccines target immune cells in your body depicted here
immune cells in your body depicted here
immune cells in your body depicted here by those purple cell when a vaccine is
by those purple cell when a vaccine is
by those purple cell when a vaccine is introduced shown here in red it has
introduced shown here in red it has
introduced shown here in red it has taken up by those cells and then
taken up by those cells and then
taken up by those cells and then presented on the surface of these cells
presented on the surface of these cells
presented on the surface of these cells that’s how we call this and this leads
that’s how we call this and this leads
that’s how we call this and this leads to the attraction of other immune cells
to the attraction of other immune cells
to the attraction of other immune cells and they then lead to protection against
and they then lead to protection against
and they then lead to protection against the disease this is quite common for
the disease this is quite common for
the disease this is quite common for most diseases and most vaccines
most diseases and most vaccines
most diseases and most vaccines unfortunately for the vaccines being
unfortunately for the vaccines being
unfortunately for the vaccines being developed for tuberculosis many of the
developed for tuberculosis many of the
developed for tuberculosis many of the ones that are currently going through
ones that are currently going through
ones that are currently going through this clinical pipeline targeted cell
this clinical pipeline targeted cell
this clinical pipeline targeted cell type that is destroyed by HIV and I’ve
type that is destroyed by HIV and I’ve
type that is destroyed by HIV and I’ve told you earlier that HIV is a major
told you earlier that HIV is a major
told you earlier that HIV is a major risk factor for reactivation of
risk factor for reactivation of
risk factor for reactivation of tuberculosis
tuberculosis
tuberculosis so these vaccines will not work in
so these vaccines will not work in
so these vaccines will not work in particular in the context of HIV in
particular in the context of HIV in
particular in the context of HIV in these countries so I had a different
these countries so I had a different
these countries so I had a different idea I am a microbiologist so I can work
idea I am a microbiologist so I can work
idea I am a microbiologist so I can work on genetically engineered bacteria and
on genetically engineered bacteria and
on genetically engineered bacteria and immunology so what I did
immunology so what I did
immunology so what I did we still introduced a vaccine we still
we still introduced a vaccine we still
we still introduced a vaccine we still target these particular immune cells
target these particular immune cells
target these particular immune cells well what we did is we made a vaccine
well what we did is we made a vaccine
well what we did is we made a vaccine that remains inside the cell and what
that remains inside the cell and what
that remains inside the cell and what that does it leads to the secretion of
that does it leads to the secretion of
that does it leads to the secretion of messenger molecules how we call them and
messenger molecules how we call them and
messenger molecules how we call them and these messenger molecules target
these messenger molecules target
these messenger molecules target particular cell types that can also be
particular cell types that can also be
particular cell types that can also be protective but they do not get destroyed
protective but they do not get destroyed
protective but they do not get destroyed by HIV infection and secondly we are
by HIV infection and secondly we are
by HIV infection and secondly we are also trying to work on a new approach to
also trying to work on a new approach to
also trying to work on a new approach to deliver the vaccine because currently
deliver the vaccine because currently
deliver the vaccine because currently BCG is given as a needle injection and
BCG is given as a needle injection and
BCG is given as a needle injection and believe me not many children will look
believe me not many children will look
believe me not many children will look like this and have just been given so
like this and have just been given so
like this and have just been given so but we also know that a needle based
but we also know that a needle based
but we also know that a needle based vaccination only generates immune cells
vaccination only generates immune cells
vaccination only generates immune cells that are kind of circulating through the
that are kind of circulating through the
that are kind of circulating through the body but not really go to the lung where
body but not really go to the lung where
body but not really go to the lung where they’re needed when a tuberculosis
they’re needed when a tuberculosis
they’re needed when a tuberculosis infection occurs so in our approach
infection occurs so in our approach
infection occurs so in our approach we’re also trying to develop a vaccine
we’re also trying to develop a vaccine
we’re also trying to develop a vaccine that can be administered directly into
that can be administered directly into
that can be administered directly into the lung was a puffer and we know that
the lung was a puffer and we know that
the lung was a puffer and we know that this approach generates a particular
this approach generates a particular
this approach generates a particular type of immune cell that remains in the
type of immune cell that remains in the
type of immune cell that remains in the lung and can act directly when
lung and can act directly when
lung and can act directly when tuberculosis infection occurs and if
tuberculosis infection occurs and if
tuberculosis infection occurs and if this approach will be successful this
this approach will be successful this
this approach will be successful this global effort comes to a conclusion then
global effort comes to a conclusion then
global effort comes to a conclusion then I hope by 2050 when I would be a
I hope by 2050 when I would be a
I hope by 2050 when I would be a grandfather I will be able to tell my
grandfather I will be able to tell my
grandfather I will be able to tell my grandchildren that TB has been
grandchildren that TB has been
grandchildren that TB has been eradicated not just from cows in East
eradicated not just from cows in East
eradicated not just from cows in East Germany but from everyone in the whole
Germany but from everyone in the whole
Germany but from everyone in the whole world thank you
”
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