University of Waikato

 

Professor Arcus’s work focused on a multi-decade outbreak of the Rangipo tuberculosis strain in New Zealand, comparing TB replication and mutation rates in recently transmitted cases versus cases that developed after a long latency period. The study concluded that tuberculosis bacterium grew and changed much more slowly in humans than indicated by previous studies in macaques.

The study suggested that latent, non-symptomatic TB infections (which are present in one third of the world’s population and contribute to the persistence of the disease) could be eradicated with new or developing drugs targeting non- or slowly-replicating organisms. It also provided valuable new insights into common methods and tools used to study the patterns and control of disease.

Prof. Vic Arcus

University of Waikato

Waikato DHB Medical Science Award

Professor Arcus’s work focused on a multi-decade outbreak of the Rangipo tuberculosis strain in New Zealand, comparing TB replication and mutation rates in recently transmitted cases versus cases that developed after a long latency period. The study concluded that tuberculosis bacterium grew and changed much more slowly in humans than indicated by previous studies in macaques.

The study suggested that latent, non-symptomatic TB infections (which are present in one third of the world’s population and contribute to the persistence of the disease) could be eradicated with new or developing drugs targeting non- or slowly-replicating organisms. It also provided valuable new insights into common methods and tools used to study the patterns and control of disease.