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hepatic cytochrome p450 enzymes belonging to the cyp2c subfamily from an australian marsupial, the koala (phascolarctos cinereus).cytochromes p450 (cyps) are critically important in the oxidative metabolism of a diverse array of xenobiotics and endogenous substrates. we have previously reported that the obligate eucalyptus feeder koala (phascolarctos cinereus) exhibits a higher hepatic cyp2c activity as compared to non-eucalyptus feeders human or rat, with stimulation of cyp2c activity by cineole. in the present study, we examine cyp2c expression by immunohistochemistry and describe the identification and cloning of koala ...200818619561
identification and characterisation of coding tandem repeat variants in inca gene of chlamydophila pecorum.bacteria of the family chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular pathogens of human and animals. chlamydophila pecorum is associated with different pathological conditions in ruminants, swine and koala. to characterize a coding tandem repeat (ctr) identified at the 3' end of inca gene of c. pecorum, 51 strains of different chlamydial species were examined. the ctr were observed in 18 of 18 tested c. pecorum isolates including symptomatic and asymptomatic animals from diverse geographical origins. ...200818651990
preliminary phylogenetic identification of virulent chlamydophila pecorum strains.chlamydophila pecorum is an obligate intracellular bacterium associated with different pathological conditions in ruminants, swine and koala, which is also found in the intestine of asymptomatic animals. a multi-virulence locus sequence typing (mvlst) system was developed using 19 c. pecorum strains (8 pathogenic and 11 non-pathogenic intestinal strains) isolated from ruminants of different geographical origins. to evaluate the ability of mvlst to distinguish the pathogenic from the non-pathogen ...200818707024
relationships between the dynamics of iatrogenic dna damage and genomic design in mammalian spermatozoa from eleven species.the dynamic onset of dna fragmentation in mammalian sperm populations varies widely in different species when the spermatozoa are incubated in vitro at body temperature for several hours, and recent studies have shown that the dynamic rate of dna fragmentation within a species has considerable predictive value in terms of fertility. the reasons for such variation are unclear, but here we show that differences in protamine sequence and identity could be partially responsible. sets of 10 normal se ...201121919111
cloning and expression of koala (phascolarctos cinereus) liver cytochrome p450 reductase.the cloning, expression and characterization of hepatic nadph-cytochrome p450 reductase (cpr) from koala (phascolarctos cinereus) is described. two 2059 bp koala liver cpr cdnas, designated cpr1 and cpr2, were cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cdna ends. the koala cpr cdnas encode proteins of 678 amino acids and share 85% amino acid sequence identity to human cpr. transfection of the koala cpr cdnas into cos-7 cells resulted in the expression of ...200919444989
the interfacial viscoelastic properties and structures of human and animal meibomian lipids.as the interface between the aqueous layer of the tear film and air, the lipid layer plays a large role in maintaining tear film stability. meibomian lipids are the primary component of the lipid layer; therefore the physical properties of these materials may be particularly crucial to the functionality of the tear film. surface pressure versus area isotherms, interfacial shear and extensional rheology, and brewster angle microscopy (bam) were used to characterize the meibomian lipids from diffe ...201020156438
fads1 fads2 gene variants modify the association between fish intake and the docosahexaenoic acid proportions in human milk.the genes encoding delta(5)- and delta(6)-desaturases (fads1 fads2 gene cluster) were reported to be associated with n-3 (omega-3) and n-6 (omega-6) fatty acid proportions in human plasma, tissues, and milk. docosahexaenoic acid (dha) can be supplied especially by dietary fish or fish oil and synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid through a pathway involving these desaturases.201020335541
secretome of the coprophilous fungus doratomyces stemonitis c8, isolated from koala feces.coprophilous fungi inhabit herbivore feces, secreting enzymes to degrade the most recalcitrant parts of plant biomass that have resisted the digestive process. consequently, the secretomes of coprophilous fungi have high potential to contain novel and efficient plant cell wall degrading enzymes of biotechnological interest. we have used one-dimensional and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (maldi-tof/tof ms/ms ...201121498763
plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol after subcutaneous administration to koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) with chlamydiosis.govendir, m., hanger, j., loader, j. j., kimble, b., griffith, j. e., black, l. a., krockenberger, m. b., higgins, d. p. plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol after subcutaneous administration to koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) with chlamydiosis. j. vet. pharmacol. therap. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2885.2011.01307.x. nine mature koalas with chlamydiosis, typically keratoconjunctivitis and/or urogenital tract infection, were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of chloramphenicol at 60 mg/kg f ...201121569052
differential resistance of mammalian sperm chromatin to oxidative stress as assessed by a two-tailed comet assay.protamines of eutherian species are cysteine-rich molecules that become cross-linked by disulfide bonds during epididymal transit, whereas the protamines of most marsupial species lack cysteine residuals. the present study made use of the differences in protamine structure between eutherian and metatherian mammal spermatozoa to examine the comparative resistance of sperm dna to oxidative damage in three eutherian species (mus musculus, homo sapiens, sus domesticus) and three metatherian species ...201121635811
growth inhibition and chromosomal instability of cultured marsupial (opossum) cells after treatment with dna polymerase +¦ inhibitor.the dna replication mechanism has been well established for eutherian mammals (placental mammals such as humans, mice, and cattle), but not, to date, for metatherian mammals (marsupials such as kangaroos, koalas, and opossums). in this study, we found that dehydroaltenusin, a selective inhibitor of mammalian (eutherian) dna polymerase +¦, clearly suppressed the growth of metatherian (opossum and rat kangaroo) cultured cells. in cultured opossum (ok) cells, dehydroaltenusin also suppressed the pr ...201121737927
mhc class ii diversity of koala (phascolarctos cinereus) populations across their range.major histocompatibility complex class ii (mhcii) genes code for proteins that bind and present antigenic peptides and trigger the adaptive immune response. we present a broad geographical study of mhcii da β1 (dab) and db β1 (dbb) variants of the koala (phascolarctos cinereus; n=191) from 12 populations across eastern australia, with a total of 13 dab and 7 dbb variants found. we identified greater mhcii variation and, possibly, additional gene copies in koala populations in the north (queensla ...201424690756
novel trypanosome trypanosoma gilletti sp. (euglenozoa: trypanosomatidae) and the extension of the host range of trypanosoma copemani to include the koala ( phascolarctos cinereus).trypanosoma irwini was previously described from koalas and we now report the finding of a second novel species, t. gilletti, as well as the extension of the host range of trypanosoma copemani to include koalas. phylogenetic analysis at the 18s rdna and ggapdh loci demonstrated that t. gilletti was genetically distinct with a genetic distance (± s.e.) at the 18s rdna locus of 2.7 ± 0.5% from t. copemani (wombat). at the ggapdh locus, the genetic distance (± s.e.) of t. gilletti was 8.7 ± 1.1% fr ...201120663248
snp marker discovery in koala tlr genes.toll-like receptors (tlrs) play a crucial role in the early defence against invading pathogens, yet our understanding of tlrs in marsupial immunity is limited. here, we describe the characterisation of nine tlrs from a koala immune tissue transcriptome and one tlr from a draft sequence of the koala genome and the subsequent development of an assay to study genetic diversity in these genes. we surveyed genetic diversity in 20 koalas from new south wales, australia and showed that one gene, tlr10 ...201525799012
the immune response and fertility of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) immunised with porcine zonae pellucidae or recombinant brushtail possum zp3 protein.to evaluate the potential contraceptive effect of immunisation with zona pellucida antigens, 50 free-ranging koalas were immunised with either porcine zonae pellucidae (pzp), recombinant brushtail possum zp3 (recbp-zp3) or buffer, in complete freund's adjuvant. a single booster immunisation in incomplete freund's adjuvant was administered 3-5 months later. where possible animals were recaptured, reproductive status was assessed and blood was collected at 1-3-month intervals for the next 33 month ...200919709753
diet of dingoes and other wild dogs in peri-urban areas of north-eastern australia.knowledge of the resource requirements of urban predators can improve our understanding of their ecology and assist town planners and wildlife management agencies in developing management approaches that alleviate human-wildlife conflicts. here we examine food and dietary items identified in scats of dingoes in peri-urban areas of north-eastern australia to better understand their resource requirements and the potential for dingoes to threaten locally fragmented populations of native fauna. our ...201626964762
histological structure and distribution of carbonic anhydrase isozymes (ca-i, ii, iii and vi) in major salivary glands in koalas.while the mandibular glands usually consist of only mucous acinar cells or a combination of mucous and serous cells in other species of mammals, those of koalas were serous glands. rabbit mono-specific polyclonal anti-canine ca-i, ii, iii or vi antiserum showed cross-reactivity against corresponding koala carbonic anhydrase (ca) isozymes. although immunohistochemical reactions to ca-i, ii and vi in ductal cells were moderate to strong in the tested salivary glands, no reaction or only slight rea ...200919793089
recombinant 35-kda inclusion membrane protein inca as a candidate antigen for serodiagnosis of chlamydophila pecorum.chlamydophila pecorum strains are commonly found in the intestine and vaginal mucus of asymptomatic ruminants and may therefore induce a positive serological response when the animals are tested for c. abortus. they have also been associated with different pathological diseases in ruminants, swine and koala. the aim of this study was to identify specific c. pecorum immunodominant antigens which could be used in elisa tests allowing to distinguish between animals infected with c. pecorum and thos ...201019969431
chlamydial infections in wildlife-conservation threats and/or reservoirs of 'spill-over' infections?members of the order chlamydiales are biphasic intracellular pathogens known to cause disease in both humans and animals. as we learn more about the genetic diversity of this group of pathogens, evidence is growing that these bacteria infect a broader range of animal hosts than previously thought. over 400 host species are now documented globally with the majority of these being wild animals. given the impact of chlamydial infections on humans and domesticated animals, the identification of memb ...201627939160
isolation of koala retroviruses from koalas in japan.koala retrovirus (korv) is considered to be associated with leukemia, lymphoma and immunodeficiency-like diseases in koalas. we therefore conducted a pilot study of korv infection in five queensland koalas in kobe municipal oji zoo. by polymerase chain reaction to detect partial env and pol genes of korv in genomic dna isolated from whole blood and feces, all five koalas were found to be positive for korv proviruses. we succeeded in culturing koala lymphocytes from less than 1 ml blood for over ...201120805639
pulmonary cytochrome p450 enzymes belonging to the cyp4b subfamily from an australian marsupial, the tammar wallaby (macropus eugenii).cytochromes p450 (cyps) are critically important in the oxidative metabolism of a diverse array of xenobiotics and endogenous substrates. we have previously reported the cloning and characterisation of the koala cyp4a15, the first reported member of the cyp4 family from marsupials, and have demonstrated important species differences in cyp4a activity and tissue expression. in the present study, the cloning of cyp4b1 in the wallaby (macropus eugenii) and their expression across marsupials is desc ...201120826229
intestinal lactobacilli and the dc-sign gene for their recognition by dendritic cells play a role in the aetiology of allergic manifestations.diminished exposure to harmless micro-organisms, such as lactobacilli, has been suggested to play a role in the increased prevalence of allergic disorders in westernized communities. the development of allergies depends on both environmental factors and genetic variations, including polymorphisms in genes encoding pattern recognition receptors. the present study examines the effects of both colonization with specific lactobacillus species and genetic variations in dc-sign, a pattern recognition ...201020829290
a multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine induces antibody and cell-mediated immunity in immunized koalas (phascolarctos cinereus): comparison of three different adjuvants.chlamydial infections represent a major threat to the survival of the koala. infections caused by chlamydia pecorum cause blindness, infertility, pneumonia and urinary tract infections and represent a threat to the survival of the species. little is known about the immune response in koalas, or the safety of commonly used adjuvants for induction of protective systemic and mucosal immunity.201020064144
candidatus bartonella antechini: a novel bartonella species detected in fleas and ticks from the yellow-footed antechinus (antechinus flavipes), an australian marsupial.bartonella are fastidious, gram-negative, aerobic bacilli belonging to the alphaproteobacteria group. in the last ten years, the discovery of new bartonella species from a variety of mammalian hosts, arthropod vectors and geographical areas has increased. more than 20 species of bartonella have been identified, of which approximately thirteen are associated with disease in humans and animals. recently, four novel species of bartonella were isolated from mammalian hosts in australia: bartonella a ...201021215534
cryptococcus yokohamensis sp. nov., a basidiomycetous yeast isolated from trees and queensland koala kept in a japanese zoological park.three strains were isolated from the nostrils of a koala and the surrounding environment in a japanese zoological park. sequence analysis of the nuclear rdna internal transcribed spacer (its) region and the large subunit rrna gene d1/d2 domains in addition to physiological and morphological studies indicated that they represent a single novel species belonging to the basidiomycetous genus cryptococcus (tremellales, tremellomycetes, agaricomycotina). phylogenetic analysis based on d1/d2 and its r ...201121257688
biology and evolution of the endogenous koala retrovirus.although endogenous retroviruses are ubiquitous features of all mammalian genomes, the process of initial germ line invasion and subsequent inactivation from a pathogenic element has not yet been observed in a wild species. koala retrovirus (korv) provides a unique opportunity to study this process of endogenisation in action as it still appears to be spreading through the koala population. ongoing expression of the endogenous sequence and consequent high levels of viraemia have been linked to n ...200818818870
ompa and antigenic diversity of bovine chlamydophila pecorum strains.infections with the intracellular bacterium chlamydophila (c.) pecorum are highly prevalent worldwide in cattle. these infections cause significant diseases such as polyarthritis, pneumonia, enteritis, genital infections and fertility disorders, and occasionally sporadic bovine encephalomyelitis. subclinical respiratory infections of calves with c. pecorum have been associated with airway obstruction, pulmonary inflammation, and reduced weight gains. this investigation examined four chlamydial s ...200918930605
early-life rotavirus and norovirus infections in relation to development of atopic manifestation in infants.the increase in incidence of atopic diseases (ads) in the developed world over the past decades has been associated with reduced exposure of childhood infections.200919032360
recent advances in the understanding of chlamydophila pecorum infections, sixteen years after it was named as the fourth species of the chlamydiaceae family.chlamydophila pecorum found in the intestine and vaginal mucus of asymptomatic ruminants has also been associated with different pathological conditions in ruminants, swine and koalas. some endangered species such as water buffalos and bandicoots have also been found to be infected by c. pecorum. the persistence of c. pecorum strains in the intestine and vaginal mucus of ruminants could cause long-term sub-clinical infection affecting the animal's health. c. pecorum strains present many genetic ...201019995513
trypanosoma irwini n. sp (sarcomastigophora: trypanosomatidae) from the koala ( phascolarctos cinereus).the morphology and genetic characterization of a new species of trypanosome infecting koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are described. morphological analysis of bloodstream forms and phylogenetic analysis at the 18s rdna and ggapdh loci demonstrated this trypanosome species to be genetically distinct and most similar to trypanosoma bennetti, an avian trypanosome with a genetic distance of 0.9% at the 18s rdna and 10.7% at the ggapdh locus. the trypanosome was detected by 18s rdna pcr in the blood ...200919570316
vaccination of healthy and diseased koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) with a chlamydia pecorum multi-subunit vaccine: evaluation of immunity and pathology.chlamydial infections represent a major threat to the long-term survival of the koala and a successful vaccine would provide a valuable management tool. vaccination however has the potential to enhance inflammatory disease in animals exposed to a natural infection prior to vaccination, a finding in early human and primate trials of whole cell vaccines to prevent trachoma. in the present study, we vaccinated both healthy koalas as well as clinically diseased koalas with a multi-subunit vaccine co ...201222230583
spontaneous lymphoid neoplasia in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus).thirteen cases of lymphoid neoplasia were examined in koalas from new south wales and queensland. haematological and biochemical data were collected from 2 cases while all were subjected to detailed necropsies. affected koalas were adults of both sexes and the disease had a variable time course. the 2 koalas examined haematologically were leukaemic. on a morphological basis, 5 cases were classified as multicentric, 7 cases as abdominal (but not necessarily with alimentary tract involvement) and ...20133597849
chronic peritonitis and pancreatitis in a koala (phascolarctos cinereus).the gross, light microscopic and ultrastructural appearance of a nodular peritonitis accompanied by pancreatic changes in a koala (phascolarctos cinereus) is described. its pathogenesis in relation to pancreatitis is discussed.20133734176
host adaptation of chlamydia pecorum towards low virulence evident in co-evolution of the ompa, inca, and orf663 loci.chlamydia (c.) pecorum, an obligate intracellular bacterium, may cause severe diseases in ruminants, swine and koalas, although asymptomatic infections are the norm. recently, we identified genetic polymorphisms in the ompa, inca and orf663 genes that potentially differentiate between high-virulence c. pecorum isolates from diseased animals and low-virulence isolates from asymptomatic animals. here, we expand these findings by including additional ruminant, swine, and koala strains. coding tande ...201425084532
the mammary gland-specific marsupial elp and eutherian cti share a common ancestral gene.the marsupial early lactation protein (elp) gene is expressed in the mammary gland and the protein is secreted into milk during early lactation (phase 2a). mature elp shares approximately 55.4% similarity with the colostrum-specific bovine colostrum trypsin inhibitor (cti) protein. although elp and cti both have a single bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (bpti)-kunitz domain and are secreted only during the early lactation phases, their evolutionary history is yet to be investigated.201222681678
novel sequence types of chlamydia pecorum infect free-ranging alpine ibex (capra ibex) and red deer (cervus elaphus) in switzerland.chlamydia pecorum, a recognized pathogen of domesticated ruminants and koalas (phascolarctos cinereus), has been recently reported in a broad range of other wildlife species including water buffalo (bubalus bubalis), ibex (capra ibex), chamois (rupicapra rupicapra), red deer (cervus elaphus), and birds. this identification raises questions as to whether cross-host transmission may be a factor in the epidemiology of infections in these species. to begin to address this question, we employed a c. ...201525647593
orchitis and epididymitis in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) infected with chlamydia pecorum.although chlamydia causes disease of the urethra and prostate of male koalas, its impact on the testis and epididymis has not been examined. this study describes chronic-active and granulomatous orchitis and epididymitis with interstitial fibrosis associated with infection by chlamydia pecorum in 2 of 18 adult male koalas being euthanized at a koala hospital, 8 of which also had chlamydial prostatitis. by immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy, chlamydial inclusions were demon ...201525637084
the prevalence and clinical significance of chlamydia infection in island and mainland populations of victorian koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).chlamydia infection is known to impact the health of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in new south wales (nsw) and queensland, but the clinical significance of chlamydia infections in victorian koalas is not well described. we examined the prevalence of chlamydia infection and assessed associated health parameters in two victorian koala populations known to be chlamydia positive. the same testing regimen was applied to a third victorian population in which chlamydia had not been detected. we exam ...201525588005
comparison of subcutaneous versus intranasal immunization of male koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) for induction of mucosal and systemic immunity against chlamydia pecorum.chlamydia pecorum infections are debilitating in the koala, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality, with current antibiotic treatments having minimal success and adversely affecting gut microflora. this, combined with the sometimes-asymptomatic nature of the infection, suggests that an efficacious anti-chlamydial vaccine is required to control chlamydial infections in the koala. to date vaccination studies have focused primarily on female koalas, however, given the physiological d ...201525562793
evaluation of the relationship between chlamydia pecorum sequence types and disease using a species-specific multi-locus sequence typing scheme (mlst).chlamydia pecorum is globally associated with several ovine diseases including keratoconjunctivitis and polyarthritis. the exact relationship between the variety of c. pecorum strains reported and the diseases described in sheep remains unclear, challenging efforts to accurately diagnose and manage infected flocks. in the present study, we applied c. pecorum multi-locus sequence typing (mlst) to c. pecorum positive samples collected from sympatric flocks of australian sheep presenting with conju ...201425223647
comparative genomics of koala, cattle and sheep strains of chlamydia pecorum.chlamydia pecorum is an important pathogen of domesticated livestock including sheep, cattle and pigs. this pathogen is also a key factor in the decline of the koala in australia. we sequenced the genomes of three koala c. pecorum strains, isolated from the urogenital tracts and conjunctiva of diseased koalas. the genome of the c. pecorum vr629 (ipa) strain, isolated from a sheep with polyarthritis, was also sequenced.201425106440
detection of a novel gammaherpesvirus in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).a novel gammaherpesvirus was detected in wild koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) captured at different locations during 2010. sequence analysis of the dna polymerase gene revealed that the virus was genetically distinct from all known gammaherpesviruses. this is the first herpesvirus to be definitively identified in the vombatiforme suborder (koalas and wombats).201121719855
long-term surveillance and treatment of subclinical cryptococcosis and nasal colonization by cryptococcus neoformans and c. gattii species complex in captive koalas (phascolarctes cinereus).cryptococcosis is an important systemic mycosis caused by members of the cryptococcus neoformans species complex. this disease is potentially fatal in various animals, including koalas. we describe the long-term surveillance and treatment of subclinical cryptococcosis and nasal colonization of koalas by cryptococcus neoformans and c. gattii. of the 15 animals investigated through the use of samples obtained by nasal swabs, antigen titer measurements, and pathologic examination, c. neoformans was ...201121859391
expression profiles of the immune genes cd4, cd8β, ifnγ, il-4, il-6 and il-10 in mitogen-stimulated koala lymphocytes (phascolarctos cinereus) by qrt-pcr.investigation of the immune response of the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) is needed urgently, but has been limited by scarcity of species-specific reagents and methods for this unique and divergent marsupial. infectious disease is an important threat to wild populations of koalas; the most widespread and important of these is chlamydial disease, caused by chlamydia pecorum and chlamydia pneumoniae. in addition, koala retrovirus (korv), which is of 100% prevalence in northern australia, has been ...201424688858
discovery of a novel retrovirus sequence in an australian native rodent (melomys burtoni): a putative link between gibbon ape leukemia virus and koala retrovirus.gibbon ape leukaemia virus (galv) and koala retrovirus (korv) share a remarkably close sequence identity despite the fact that they occur in distantly related mammals on different continents. it has previously been suggested that infection of their respective hosts may have occurred as a result of a species jump from another, as yet unidentified vertebrate host. to investigate possible sources of these retroviruses in the australian context, dna samples were obtained from 42 vertebrate species a ...201425251014
using quantitative polymerase chain reaction to correlate chlamydia pecorum infectious load with ocular, urinary and reproductive tract disease in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus).complex interactions between chlamydia pecorum infection, the immune response and disease exist in the koala. we used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to investigate the relationship between c. pecorum infectious load and ocular and urogenital tract disease. chlamydia pecorum shedding was generally higher in animals with chronic, active disease than in animals with inactive disease. the absence of ocular disease was generally associated with low levels of shedding, but relatively high leve ...201121933169
within-population diversity of koala chlamydophila pecorum at ompa vd1-vd3 and the orf663 hypothetical gene.infection of koalas by chlamydophila pecorum is very common and causes significant morbidity, infertility and mortality. fundamental to management of the disease is an understanding of the importance of multi-serotype infection or pathogen virulence in pathogenesis; these may need consideration in plans involving koala movement, vaccination, or disease risk assessment. here we describe diversity of ompa vd1-3, and orf663 hypothetical gene tandem repeat regions, in a single population of koalas w ...201122118784
identification, characterisation and expression analysis of natural killer receptor genes in chlamydia pecorum infected koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).koalas (phascolarctos cinereus), an iconic australian marsupial, are being heavily impacted by the spread of chlamydia pecorum, an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. koalas vary in their response to this pathogen, with some showing no symptoms, while others suffer severe symptoms leading to infertility, blindness or death. little is known about the pathology of this disease and the immune response against it in this host. studies have demonstrated that natural killer (nk) cells, key comp ...201526471184
preliminary characterisation of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-10 responses to chlamydia pecorum infection in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus).debilitating infectious diseases caused by chlamydia are major contributors to the decline of australia's iconic native marsupial species, the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). an understanding of koala chlamydial disease pathogenesis and the development of effective strategies to control infections continue to be hindered by an almost complete lack of species-specific immunological reagents. the cell-mediated immune response has been shown to play an influential role in the response to chlamydial ...201323527290
recent advances in understanding the biology, epidemiology and control of chlamydial infections in koalas.the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) is recognised as a threatened wildlife species in various parts of australia. a major contributing factor to the decline and long-term viability of affected populations is disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacteria, chlamydia. two chlamydial species infect the koala, chlamydia pecorum and chlamydia pneumoniae, and have been reported in nearly all mainland koala populations. chlamydial infections of koalas are associated with ocular infections leading ...201323523170
in vitro activity of chloramphenicol, florfenicol and enrofloxacin against chlamydia pecorum isolated from koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).to determine the in vitro susceptibilities of koala isolates of chlamydia pecorum to enrofloxacin and chloramphenicol, which are frequently used to treat koalas with chlamydiosis, and florfenicol, a derivative of chloramphenicol.201526412342
comparison of antigen detection and quantitative pcr in the detection of chlamydial infection in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).the gold standard method for detecting chlamydial infection in domestic and wild animals is pcr, but the technique is not suited to testing animals in the field when a rapid diagnosis is frequently required. the objective of this study was to compare the results of a commercially available enzyme immunoassay test for chlamydia against a quantitative chlamydia pecorum-specific pcr performed on swabs collected from the conjunctival sac, nasal cavity and urogenital sinuses of naturally infected koa ...201322944246
human chlamydia pneumoniae isolates demonstrate ability to recover infectivity following penicillin treatment whereas animal isolates do not.chlamydia pneumoniae strains have recently been demonstrated to have substantially different capacities to enter and recover from ifn-γ-induced persistence, depending on whether they are from human or animal host sources. here, we examined the ability of two human and two animal strains to enter and be rescued from penicillin-induced persistence. the ability to form inclusions after the addition of penicillin was much reduced in the two animal isolates (koala lpcoln, bandicoot b21) compared to t ...201525663156
multifarious activities of cellulose degrading bacteria from koala (phascolarctos cinereus) faeces.cellulose degrading bacteria from koala faeces were isolated using caboxymethylcellulose-congo red agar, screened in vitro for different hydrolytic enzyme activities and phylogenetically characterized using molecular tools. bacillus sp. and pseudomonas sp. were the most prominent bacteria from koala faeces. the isolates demonstrated good xylanase, amylase, lipase, protease, tannase and lignin peroxidase activities apart from endoglucanase activity. furthermore many isolates grew in the presence ...201526290743
potential animal and environmental sources of q fever infection for humans in queensland.q fever is a vaccine-preventable disease; despite this, high annual notification numbers are still recorded in australia. we have previously shown seroprevalence in queensland metropolitan regions is approaching that of rural areas. this study investigated the presence of nucleic acid from coxiella burnetii, the agent responsible for q fever, in a number of animal and environmental samples collected throughout queensland, to identify potential sources of human infection. samples were collected f ...201423663407
atypical presentation of cryptococcus neoformans in a koala (phascolarctos cinereus): a magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography study.cryptococcosis is a worldwide and potentially fatal mycosis documented in wild and captive koalas ( phascolarctos cinereus ) caused by cryptococcus neoformans . though mainly a subclinical disease, when the nasal cavity is affected, epistaxis, mucopurulent nasal discharge, dyspnea, and facial distortion may occur. this report describes a case of cryptococcosis in a koala where unilateral exophthalmos was the only evident clinical sign and magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findin ...201728363053
characterisation of the immune compounds in koala milk using a combined transcriptomic and proteomic approach.production of milk is a key characteristic of mammals, but the features of lactation vary greatly between monotreme, marsupial and eutherian mammals. marsupials have a short gestation followed by a long lactation period, and milk constituents vary greatly across lactation. marsupials are born immunologically naïve and rely on their mother's milk for immunological protection. koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are an iconic australian species that are increasingly threatened by disease. here we use ...201627713568
the intestinal microbiota composition and weight development in children: the koala birth cohort study.to investigate whether the intestinal microbiota composition in early infancy is associated with subsequent weight development in children.201525298274
novel chlamydiales genotypes identified in ticks from australian wildlife.members of the order chlamydiales are known for their potential as human and veterinary bacterial pathogens. despite this recognition, epidemiological factors such as routes of transmission are yet to be fully defined. ticks are well known vectors for many other infections with several reports recently describing the presence of bacteria in the order chlamydiales in these arthropods. australian wildlife are hosts to an extensive range of tick species. evidence is also growing that the marsupial ...201728122598
treatment of chlamydia-associated ocular disease via a recombinant protein based vaccine in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus).koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are affected by debilitating chlamydial disease that can lead to blindness, infertility, and death. the causative agent is the intracellular bacterium chlamydia pecorum. while antibiotics can be used to treat koala chlamydial infection, they are often ineffective or cause severe dysbiosis to the animal's unique gut flora. recent work has progressed on the development of a protective vaccine for chlamydia in the koala. this study demonstrates that the use of a vacc ...201627707559
transspecies transmission of gammaretroviruses and the origin of the gibbon ape leukaemia virus (galv) and the koala retrovirus (korv).transspecies transmission of retroviruses is a frequent event, and the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (hiv-1) is a well-known example. the gibbon ape leukaemia virus (galv) and koala retrovirus (korv), two gammaretroviruses, are also the result of a transspecies transmission, however from a still unknown host. related retroviruses have been found in southeast asian mice although the sequence similarity was limited. viruses with a higher sequence homology were isolated from melomys burtoni, the a ...201627999419
pneumonia due to chlamydia pecorum in a koala (phascolarctos cinereus).chlamydiosis is a common infectious disease of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus), but chlamydia spp. have not yet been demonstrated to cause pneumonia in these animals. a juvenile male koala died following an episode of respiratory disease. at necropsy examination, the lung tissue was consolidated. microscopical lesions in the lung included pyogranulomatous bronchopneumonia, proliferation of bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium and interstitial fibrosis. hyperplastic bronchiolar epithelial cells co ...201627567271
penicillin g-induced chlamydial stress response in a porcine strain of chlamydia pecorum.chlamydia pecorum causes asymptomatic infection and pathology in ruminants, pigs, and koalas. we characterized the antichlamydial effect of the beta lactam penicillin g on chlamydia pecorum strain 1710s (porcine abortion isolate). penicillin-exposed and mock-exposed infected host cells showed equivalent inclusions numbers. penicillin-exposed inclusions contained aberrant bacterial forms and exhibited reduced infectivity, while mock-exposed inclusions contained normal bacterial forms and exhibite ...201626997956
identification of diverse groups of endogenous gammaretroviruses in mega- and microbats.a previous phylogenetic study suggested that mammalian gammaretroviruses may have originated in bats. here we report the discovery of rna transcripts from two putative endogenous gammaretroviruses in frugivorous (rousettus leschenaultii retrovirus, rlrv) and insectivorous (megaderma lyra retrovirus, mlrv) bat species. both genomes possess a large deletion in pol, indicating that they are defective retroviruses. phylogenetic analysis places rlrv and mlrv within the diversity of mammalian gammaret ...201222694899
chlamydia pecorum infection in free-ranging koalas ( phascolarctos cinereus ) on french island, victoria, australia.we detected chlamydia pecorum in two koalas ( phascolarctos cinereus ) from a closed island population in victoria, australia, previously free of chlamydia infection. the ompa and multilocus sequence type were most closely related to published isolates of livestock rather than koala origin, suggesting potential cross-species transmission of c. pecorum .201626981690
the potential impact of native australian trypanosome infections on the health of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).whole blood collected from koalas admitted to the australian zoo wildlife hospital (azwh), beerwah, qld, australia, during late 2006-2009 was tested using trypanosome species-specific 18s rdna pcrs designed to amplify dna from trypanosoma irwini, t. gilletti and t. copemani. clinical records for each koala sampled were reviewed and age, sex, blood packed cell volume (pcv), body condition, signs of illness, blood loss, trauma, chlamydiosis, bone marrow disease, koala aids and hospital admission o ...201121524321
a comparative study of the corneal endothelium in vertebrates.introduction: in vertebrates, a corneal endothelium is essential for the maintenance of corneal transparency in a variety of environments, including aerial, terrestrial and aquatic. knowledge of the surface structure of the corneal endothelium may assist our understanding of this unique tissue and its evolutionary development. except for humans and some mammals, there have been few studies of other vertebrates, particularly the unique australian species. methods: the field emission scanning elec ...200212482312
the corneal surface of aquatic vertebrates: microstructures with optical and nutritional function?the anterior surface of the mammalian cornea plays an important role in maintaining a smooth optical interface and consequently a sharp retinal image. the smooth surface is produced by a tear film, which adheres to a variety of microprojections, which increase the cell surface area, improve the absorbance of oxygen and nutrients and aid in the movement of metabolic products across the outer cell membrane. however, little is known of the structural adaptations and tear film support provided in ot ...200011079392
prevalence and pathologic features of chlamydia pecorum infections in south australian koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).chlamydia pecorum infection is highly prevalent in many koala ( phascolarctos cinereus ) populations in the eastern states of australia, causing ocular and urogenital tract disease. in contrast, the current prevalence of chlamydiosis in south australian (sa) koalas is largely unknown, with few reports of clinical cases. we examined 65 sa rescued wild koalas at necropsy and collected ocular and urogenital swabs for the detection of c. pecorum by pcr. we detected c. pecorum in ocular or urogenital ...201626967132
ovulation-inducing factor in seminal plasma: a review.ovulation in mammals involves pulsatile release of gnrh from the hypothalamus into the hypophyseal portal system with subsequent release of lh from the anterior pituitary into systemic circulation. elevated circulating concentrations of lh induce a cascade of events within the mature follicle, culminating in follicle rupture and evacuation. the broad classification of species as either spontaneous or induced ovulators is based on the type of stimulus responsible for eliciting gnrh release from t ...201323141951
identification of unusual chlamydia pecorum genotypes in victorian koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) and clinical variables associated with infection.chlamydia pecorum infection is a threat to the health of free-ranging koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in australia. utilizing an extensive sample archive we determined the prevalence of c. pecorum in koalas within six regions of victoria, australia. the ompa genotypes of the detected c. pecorum were characterized to better understand the epidemiology of this pathogen in victorian koalas. despite many studies in northern australia (i.e. queensland and new south wales), prior chlamydia studies in ...201626932792
characterisation of cd4 t cells in healthy and diseased koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) using cell-type-specific monoclonal antibodies.the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial that is an australian icon. koalas in many parts of australia are under multiple threats including habitat destruction, dog attacks, vehicular accidents, and infectious diseases such as chlamydia spp. and the koala retrovirus (korv), which may contribute to the incidence of lymphoma and leukaemia in this species. due to a lack of koala-specific immune reagents and assays there is currently no way to adequately analyse the im ...201626905635
in vitro hepatic microsomal metabolism of meloxicam in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus), brushtail possums (trichosurus vulpecula), ringtail possums (pseudocheirus peregrinus), rats (rattus norvegicus) and dogs (canis lupus familiaris).quantitative and qualitative aspects of in vitro metabolism of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam, mediated via hepatic microsomes of specialized foliage (eucalyptus) eating marsupials (koalas and ringtail possums), a generalized foliage eating marsupial (brushtail possum), rats, and dogs, are described. using a substrate depletion method, intrinsic hepatic clearance (in vitro clint) was determined. significantly, rates of oxidative transformation of meloxicam, likely mediated vi ...201424345479
molecular characterisation of the chlamydia pecorum plasmid from porcine, ovine, bovine, and koala strains indicates plasmid-strain co-evolution.background. highly stable, evolutionarily conserved, small, non-integrative plasmids are commonly found in members of the chlamydiaceae and, in some species, these plasmids have been strongly linked to virulence. to date, evidence for such a plasmid in chlamydia pecorum has been ambiguous. in a recent comparative genomic study of porcine, ovine, bovine, and koala c. pecorum isolates, we identified plasmids (pcpec) in a pig and three koala strains, respectively. screening of further porcine, ovin ...201626870613
a prototype recombinant-protein based chlamydia pecorum vaccine results in reduced chlamydial burden and less clinical disease in free-ranging koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).diseases associated with chlamydia pecorum infection are a major cause of decline in koala populations in australia. while koalas in care can generally be treated, a vaccine is considered the only option to effectively reduce the threat of infection and disease at the population level. in the current study, we vaccinated 30 free-ranging koalas with a prototype chlamydia pecorum vaccine consisting of a recombinant chlamydial momp adjuvanted with an immune stimulating complex. an additional cohort ...201626756624
humoral immune responses in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) either naturally infected with chlamydia pecorum or following administration of a recombinant chlamydial major outer membrane protein vaccine.the development of a vaccine is a key strategy to combat the widespread and debilitating effects of chlamydial infection in koalas. one such vaccine in development uses recombinant chlamydial major outer membrane protein (rmomp) as an antigen and has shown promising results in several koala trials. previous chlamydial vaccine studies, primarily in the mouse model, suggest that both cell-mediated and antibody responses will be required for adequate protection. recently, the important protective r ...201626747718
genetic diversity in the plasticity zone and the presence of the chlamydial plasmid differentiates chlamydia pecorum strains from pigs, sheep, cattle, and koalas.chlamydia pecorum is a globally recognised pathogen of livestock and koalas. to date, comparative genomics of c. pecorum strains from sheep, cattle and koalas has revealed that only single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) and a limited number of pseudogenes appear to contribute to the genetic diversity of this pathogen. no chlamydial plasmid has been detected in these strains despite its ubiquitous presence in almost all other chlamydial species. genomic analyses have not previously included c. p ...201526531162
pharmacokinetics of fluconazole following intravenous and oral administration to koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).clinically normal koalas (n = 12) received a single dose of 10 mg/kg fluconazole orally (p.o.; n = 6) or intravenously (i.v.; n = 6). serial plasma samples were collected over 24 h, and fluconazole concentrations were determined using a validated hplc assay. a noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed. following i.v. administration, median (range) plasma clearance (cl) and steady-state volume of distribution (vss ) were 0.31 (0.11-0.55) l/h/kg and 0.92 (0.38-1.40) l/kg, respectivel ...201423889092
preshipment testing success: resolution of a nasal sinus granuloma in a captive koala (phascolarctos cinereus) caused by cryptococcus gattii.a 3-yr-old female koala (phascolarctos cinereus) was diagnosed with a nasal sinus granuloma caused by cryptococcus gattii after a pre-shipment examination revealed a latex cryptococcal agglutination titer of 1:512. successful medical and surgical treatment of the granuloma was monitored using serial latex cryptococcal agglutination titers, serum levels of antifungal drugs, and advanced imaging.201223272367
antigenic specificity of a monovalent versus polyvalent momp based chlamydia pecorum vaccine in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).chlamydia continues to be a major pathogen of koalas. the bacterium is associated with ocular, respiratory and urogenital tract infections and a vaccine is considered the best option to limit the decline of mainland koala populations. over the last 20 years, efforts to develop a chlamydial vaccine in humans have focussed on the use of the chlamydial major outer membrane protein (momp). potential problems with the use of momp-based vaccines relate to the wide range of genetic diversity in its fou ...201323306372
japanese monkeys (macaca fuscata) quickly detect snakes but not spiders: evolutionary origins of fear-relevant animals.humans quickly detect the presence of evolutionary threats through visual perception. many theorists have considered humans to be predisposed to respond to both snakes and spiders as evolutionarily fear-relevant stimuli. evidence supports that human adults, children, and snake-naive monkeys all detect pictures of snakes among pictures of flowers more quickly than vice versa, but recent neurophysiological and behavioral studies suggest that spiders may, in fact, be processed similarly to nonthrea ...201627078076
evidence for horizontal gene transfer between chlamydophila pneumoniae and chlamydia phage.chlamydia-infecting bacteriophages, members of the microviridae family, specifically the gokushovirinae subfamily, are small (4.5-5 kb) single-stranded circles with 8-10 open-reading frames similar to e. coli phage ϕx174. using sequence information found in genbank, we examined related genes in chlamydophila pneumoniae and chlamydia-infecting bacteriophages. the 5 completely sequenced c. pneumoniae strains contain a gene orthologous to a phage gene annotated as the putative replication initiatio ...201726713222
prevalence and clinical significance of herpesvirus infection in populations of australian marsupials.herpesviruses have been reported in several marsupial species, but molecular classification has been limited to four herpesviruses in macropodids, a gammaherpesvirus in two antechinus species (antechinus flavipes and antechinus agilis), a gammaherpesvirus in a potoroid, the eastern bettong (bettongia gaimardi) and two gammaherpesviruses in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). in this study we examined a range of australian marsupials for the presence of herpesviruses using molecular and serological ...201526222660
cryptococcus lacticolor sp. nov. and rhodotorula oligophaga sp. nov., novel yeasts isolated from the nasal smear microbiota of queensland koalas kept in japanese zoological parks.a total of 515 yeast strains were isolated from the nasal smears of queensland koalas and their breeding environments in japanese zoological parks between 2005 and 2012. the most frequent species in the basidiomycetous yeast biota isolated from koala nasal passages was cryptococcus neoformans, followed by rhodotorula minuta. r. minuta was the most frequent species in the breeding environments, while c. neoformans was rare. seven strains representing two novel yeast species were identified. analy ...201323653119
assessment of florfenicol as a possible treatment for chlamydiosis in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus).because of limited availability of chloramphenicol to veterinary suppliers, a preliminary study was performed to predict whether an analogue, florfenicol, is an efficacious treatment for chlamydiosis in koalas.201728845567
culture-independent genome sequencing of clinical samples reveals an unexpected heterogeneity of infections by chlamydia pecorum.chlamydia pecorum is an important global pathogen of livestock, and it is also a significant threat to the long-term survival of australia's koala populations. this study employed a culture-independent dna capture approach to sequence c. pecorum genomes directly from clinical swab samples collected from koalas with chlamydial disease as well as from sheep with arthritis and conjunctivitis. investigations into single-nucleotide polymorphisms within each of the swab samples revealed that a portion ...201525740768
conjunctivitis associated with chlamydia pecorum in three koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in the mount lofty ranges, south australia.chlamydiosis is a significant factor contributing to the decline of koala (phascolarctos cinereus) populations in australia but has not previously been reported in south australia. we describe conjunctivitis in three wild koalas from south australia, with chlamydia pecorum identified by quantitative pcr.201324502744
the first case of onychomycosis in a koala (phascolarctos cinereus) due to atypical isolates of microsporum gypseum, a diagnostic challenge.superficial mycotic infections have been only poorly described in koalas and there are no reliable mycologically confirmed data regarding clinical isolation of dermatophytes in this animal. we report an 11-year-old female koala, kept in a zoo in tokyo, japan, and presenting with hyperkeratotic lesions and scaly plaques on forepaw claws and pads reminiscent of fungal infection.201628681020
vaccination of koalas with a recombinant chlamydia pecorum major outer membrane protein induces antibodies of different specificity compared to those following a natural live infection.chlamydial infection in koalas is common across the east coast of australia and causes significant morbidity, infertility and mortality. an effective vaccine to prevent the adverse consequences of chlamydial infections in koalas (particularly blindness and infertility in females) would provide an important management tool to prevent further population decline of this species. an important step towards developing a vaccine in koalas is to understand the host immune response to chlamydial infectio ...201324086379
genetic diversity of chlamydia pecorum strains in wild koala locations across australia and the implications for a recombinant c. pecorum major outer membrane protein based vaccine.the long term survival of the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) is at risk due to a range of threatening processes. a major contributing factor is disease caused by infection with chlamydia pecorum, which has been detected in most mainland koala populations and is associated with ocular and genital tract infections. a critical aspect for the development of vaccines against koala chlamydial infections is a thorough understanding of the prevalence and strain diversity of c. pecorum infections across ...201324012135
multilocus sequence analysis provides insights into molecular epidemiology of chlamydia pecorum infections in australian sheep, cattle, and koalas.chlamydia pecorum is a significant pathogen of domestic livestock and wildlife. we have developed a c. pecorum-specific multilocus sequence analysis (mlsa) scheme to examine the genetic diversity of and relationships between australian sheep, cattle, and koala isolates. an mlsa of seven concatenated housekeeping gene fragments was performed using 35 isolates, including 18 livestock isolates (11 australian sheep, one australian cow, and six u.s. livestock isolates) and 17 australian koala isolate ...201323740730
interleukin 17a is an immune marker for chlamydial disease severity and pathogenesis in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus).the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) is an iconic australian marsupial species that is facing many threats to its survival. chlamydia pecorum infections are a significant contributor to this ongoing decline. a major limiting factor in our ability to manage and control chlamydial disease in koalas is a limited understanding of the koala's cell-mediated immune response to infections by this bacterial pathogen. to identify immunological markers associated with chlamydial infection and disease in koal ...201424915607
chlamydiaceae and chlamydia-like organisms in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus)--organ distribution and histopathological findings.chlamydial infections in koalas can cause life-threatening diseases leading to blindness and sterility. however, little is known about the systemic spread of chlamydiae in the inner organs of the koala, and data concerning related pathological organ lesions are limited. the aim of this study was to perform a thorough investigation of organs from 23 koalas and to correlate their histopathological lesions to molecular chlamydial detection. to reach this goal, 246 formalin-fixed and paraffin embedd ...201424888862
immunising with the transmembrane envelope proteins of different retroviruses including hiv-1: a comparative study.the induction of neutralizing antibodies is a promising way to prevent retrovirus infections. neutralizing antibodies are mainly directed against the envelope proteins, which consist of two molecules, the surface envelope (su) protein and the transmembrane envelope (tm) protein. antibodies broadly neutralizing the human immunodeficiencvy virus-1 (hiv-1) and binding to the tm protein gp41 of the virus have been isolated from infected individuals. their epitopes are located in the membrane proxima ...201323249763
koala retroviruses: characterization and impact on the life of koalas.koala retroviruses (korv) have been isolated from wild and captive koalas in australia as well as from koala populations held in zoos in other countries. they are members of the genus gammaretrovirus, are most closely related to gibbon ape leukemia virus (galv), feline leukemia virus (felv) and porcine endogenous retrovirus (perv) and are likely the result of a relatively recent trans-species transmission from rodents or bats. the first korv to be isolated, korv-a, is widely distributed in the k ...201324148555
a new look at the origins of gibbon ape leukemia virus.is the origin of gibbon ape leukemia virus (galv) human after all? when galv was discovered and found to cause neoplastic disease in gibbons, it stimulated a great deal of research including investigations into the origins of this virus. a number of publications have suggested that the galv progenitor was a retrovirus present in one of several species of south east asian rodents that had close contact with captive gibbons. however, there are no published retroviral sequences from any south east ...201728220345
bioaugmentation of the anaerobic digestion of food waste by dungs of herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore zoo animals.the potential improvement of biomethanation of food waste (fw) by adding dung of herbivore (giraffe, llama, koala), carnivore (tiger), and omnivore (sloth bear) animals to anaerobic sludge (ans) was investigated. adding 30% giraffe, sloth bear or koala dung to the ans inoculum yielded, respectively, a 11.17 (±4.51), 10.10 (±1.23), and 1.41 (±0.56)% higher biomethane production, as compared to the control (fw with solely ans). the highest biomethane production of 564.00 (±3.88) ml ch4/gvsadded ob ...201728274187
endogenous gibbon ape leukemia virus identified in a rodent (melomys burtoni subsp.) from wallacea (indonesia).gibbon ape leukemia virus (galv) and koala retrovirus (korv) most likely originated from a cross-species transmission of an ancestral retrovirus into koalas and gibbons via one or more intermediate as-yet-unknown hosts. a virus highly similar to galv has been identified in an australian native rodent (melomys burtoni) after extensive screening of australian wildlife. galv-like viruses have also been discovered in several southeast asian species, although screening has not been extensive and viru ...201627384662
episodic diversifying selection shaped the genomes of gibbon ape leukemia virus and related gammaretroviruses.gibbon ape leukemia viruses (galvs) are part of a larger group of pathogenic gammaretroviruses present across phylogenetically diverse host species of australasian mammals. despite the biomedical utility of galvs as viral vectors and in cancer gene therapy, full genome sequences have not been determined for all of the five identified galv strains, nor has a comprehensive evolutionary analysis been performed. we therefore generated complete genomic sequences for each galv strain using hybridizati ...201526637454
human and murine apobec3s restrict replication of koala retrovirus by different mechanisms.koala retrovirus (korv) is an endogenous and exogenous retrovirus of koalas that may cause lymphoma. as for many other gammaretroviruses, the korv genome can potentially encode an alternate form of gag protein, glyco-gag.201526253512
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