Article
Reproductive Biology
Lyndal Hulse, Kenneth Beagley, Rebecca Larkin, Vere Nicolson, Jaime Gosalvez, Stephen Johnston
Summary: The study found that severe clinical disease and the presence of C. pecorum in the semen were associated with significantly higher sperm DNA damage in wild male koalas. Conversely, wild koalas with severe clinical signs but negative for C. pecorum in semen had the highest percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. In vitro incubation with C. pecorum led to decreased sperm motility and viability over 24 hours.
Article
Developmental Biology
Lyndal Hulse, Kenneth W. Beagley, Rebecca Larkin, Stephen D. Johnston
Summary: This study investigated the transmission of Chlamydia pecorum infection through koala semen and found that venereal transmission is possible. Antimicrobial factors and innate immune function receptors associated with semen may inhibit chlamydial growth.
REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tamsyn Stephenson, Natasha Speight, Wai Yee Low, Lucy Woolford, Rick Tearle, Farhid Hemmatzadeh
Summary: Koala retrovirus (KoRV) poses a significant threat to koalas in Australia, with varying infection rates in northern and southern koala populations. This study in South Australia identified two distinct groups of koalas: KoRV positive and KoRV negative, with 41% of the population testing positive. The presence of central regions of the KoRV genome was used as a basis for positivity, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis for disease studies and potential clinical implications. Further research is needed to understand the complexities of KoRV infection in southern koala populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ravi Bandara Dissanayake, Mark Stevenson, Rachel Allavena, Joerg Henning
Summary: Developing koala distribution models involves collecting samples and correcting biases to improve predictive accuracy. Including environmental factors and search effort in the models can enhance accuracy and lead to more accurate estimates of koala distributions.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Fumie Tokonami, Benjamin Kimble, Merran Govendir
Summary: This study investigated the elimination rate of fentanyl in koalas and the dosage for pain control through intravenous injection and transdermal patch administration. Results show effectiveness of both methods, but initial co-administration with faster-acting analgesics is recommended for transdermal patches.
Article
Forestry
Dave L. Mitchell, Mariela Soto-Berelov, Simon D. Jones
Summary: Research in the eastern forests of Australia reveals that tree height variability is not just regional but also significant within subregions, within subregions, and even at local scales due to previous land-uses. Recognizing and incorporating this height variation is crucial for effective habitat management.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mohammad Enamul Hoque Kayesh, Md Abul Hashem, Kyoko Tsukiyama-Kohara
Summary: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are evolutionarily conserved pattern recognition receptors that play a crucial role in the innate immunity against microbial pathogens. This study investigated the expression profiles of TLRs in koalas infected with different subtypes of KoRV, revealing variations in TLR expression in koalas infected with exogenous subtypes compared to endogenous subtype, suggesting the importance of TLRs in KoRV infection and providing insights into the koala's immune response to the virus.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Flavia Santamaria, Christopher K. Barlow, Rolf Schlagloth, Ralf B. Schittenhelm, Rupert Palme, Joerg Henning
Summary: The koala is an arboreal folivorous marsupial endemic to Australia. Due to threats from anthropogenic activities and climate change, a non-invasive method was used in this study to objectively measure stress in koalas, revealing tetrahydrocortisol as the main faecal cortisol metabolite.
Article
Microbiology
Toby I. Maidment, Emily R. Bryan, Michael Pyne, Michele Barnes, Sarah Eccleston, Samantha Cunningham, Emma Whitlock, Kelsie Redman, Vere Nicolson, Kenneth W. Beagley, Elise Pelzer
Summary: This study provides the first cultivation-independent characterization of the koala pouch microbiota and its association with reproductive outcomes, highlighting the link between pathogenic bacterial overgrowth in the pouch and neonatal mortality in captive koalas.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Briony A. Joyce, Michaela D. J. Blyton, Stephen D. Johnston, William D. Meikle, Kimberly Vinette Herrin, Claire Madden, Paul R. Young, Keith J. Chappell
Summary: This study analyzed the genetic diversity and transmission of Koala retrovirus (KoRV) in captive koalas. The researchers found 93 unique KoRV sequences and the first detection of KoRV-E in Australian koala populations. They discovered that KoRV primarily spreads through exogenous transmission between mother and offspring, and there is a possibility of transmission occurring in utero. The prevalence and abundance of KoRV subtypes varied significantly between captive populations due to their different animal acquisition histories.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah J. Simpson, Damien P. Higgins, Peter Timms, Valentina S. A. Mella, Mathew S. Crowther, Cristina M. Fernandez, Clare Mcarthur, Samuel Phillips, Mark B. Krockenberger
Summary: This study investigated the effectiveness of a synthetic peptide vaccine against chlamydiosis in a heavily affected koala population over an 18-month period. The results showed that the vaccine did not effectively manage chlamydial infection and related diseases in a population with a high prevalence of the infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
M. Cooley, P. Whiteley, G. Thornton, M. Stevenson
Summary: Health surveillance of wildlife populations is crucial for conservation efforts. This retrospective study utilized geographic information systems and data analysis to describe the distribution of koala populations and their surveillance status, providing insights for future improvements.
AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Lyndal Hulse, Chiara Palmieri, Kenneth W. Beagley, Rebecca Larkin, Tamara Keeley, Jaime Gosalvez, Stephen D. Johnston
Summary: The study suggests that Chlamydia infection and inflammation may not be the predominant reason for disruption to spermatogenesis in wild koalas, with testicular degeneration and atrophy appearing to be the primary cause of decreased sperm concentration, regardless of Chlamydia infection.
Article
Microbiology
Rhys T. White, Alistair R. Legione, Alyce Taylor-Brown, Cristina M. Fernandez, Damien P. Higgins, Peter Timms, Martina Jelocnik
Summary: This study used whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics to analyze two complete C. pecorum genomes collected from diseased koalas, revealing biogeographical separation between strains from koalas and livestock hosts, as well as genetic diversity among different koala strains.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
R. O. Bowater, P. F. Horwood, J. Picard, I Huisman, L. Hayes, T. Mackie, J. D. Taylor
Summary: A novel alphaherpesvirus (PhaHV-3) was detected in a captive lactating female koala, showing signs of anorexia and severe respiratory disease. This virus is associated with pneumonia and other diseases in koalas. The findings of this study are important for further understanding and management of diseases in koala populations.
AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Lyndal Hulse, Kenneth W. Beagley, Rebecca Larkin, Stephen D. Johnston
Summary: This study investigated the transmission of Chlamydia pecorum infection through koala semen and found that venereal transmission is possible. Antimicrobial factors and innate immune function receptors associated with semen may inhibit chlamydial growth.
REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anu Chacko, Ali Delbaz, Heidi Walkden, Souptik Basu, Charles W. Armitage, Tanja Eindorf, Logan K. Trim, Edith Miller, Nicholas P. West, James A. St John, Kenneth W. Beagley, Jenny A. K. Ekberg
Summary: Chlamydia pneumoniae can infect the central nervous system (CNS) and may contribute to late-onset dementia. This study reveals that the olfactory and trigeminal nerves, as well as the olfactory bulb and brain, serve as invasion paths for C. pneumoniae to rapidly infect the CNS. Additionally, C. pneumoniae infection leads to dysregulation of key pathways associated with Alzheimer's disease, and amyloid beta accumulations are detected in close proximity to the C. pneumoniae inclusions in the olfactory system.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Damian A. Oyong, Jessica R. Loughland, Megan S. F. Soon, Jo-Anne Chan, Dean Andrew, Bruce D. Wines, P. Mark Hogarth, Stuart D. Olver, Alika D. Collinge, Antiopi Varelias, James G. Beeson, Enny Kenangalem, Ric N. Price, Nicholas M. Anstey, Gabriela Minigo, Michelle J. Boyle
Summary: The study found that during acute malaria, adults had higher levels of cTfh cell activation compared to children, with adults showing higher levels of parasite-specific cTfh cells and cTfh cells producing more Th2-Tfh associated cytokine IL-4. This higher Tfh cell activation in adults was associated with higher activation of B cells during infection and higher induction of antibodies after 7 and 28 days compared to children.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luke W. Silver, Yuanyuan Cheng, Bonnie L. Quigley, Amy Robbins, Peter Timms, Carolyn J. Hogg, Katherine Belov
Summary: This study investigates the differences in response to Chlamydia in koala populations, identifying genes associated with disease progression and resolution. The findings deepen our understanding of the role of genetics in disease spread in koalas, which can contribute to better vaccine design and population management in the future.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Lyndal Hulse, Chiara Palmieri, Kenneth W. Beagley, Rebecca Larkin, Tamara Keeley, Jaime Gosalvez, Stephen D. Johnston
Summary: The study suggests that Chlamydia infection and inflammation may not be the predominant reason for disruption to spermatogenesis in wild koalas, with testicular degeneration and atrophy appearing to be the primary cause of decreased sperm concentration, regardless of Chlamydia infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jo-Anne Chan, Jessica R. Loughland, Lauren de la Parte, Satomi Okano, Isaac Ssewanyana, Mayimuna Nalubega, Felistas Nankya, Kenneth Musinguzi, John Rek, Emmanuel Arinaitwe, Peta Tipping, Peter Bourke, Dean Andrew, Nicholas Dooley, Arya SheelaNair, Bruce D. Wines, P. Mark Hogarth, James G. Beeson, Bryan Greenhouse, Grant Dorsey, Moses Kamya, Gunter Hartel, Gabriela Minigo, Margaret Feeney, Prasanna Jagannathan, Michelle J. Boyle
Summary: This study focuses on the host and parasite factors that influence the development of CD4 T-follicular helper cells and antibodies. The research reveals a complex relationship between the circulating Tfh compartment, antibody development, and protection from malaria.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Peter D. Nichols, Heidi R. Pethybridge, Bowen Zhang, Patti Virtue, Lauren Meyer, Zahirah Dhurmeea, Lara Marcus, Jessica A. Ericson, Nicole Hellessey, Sharon Every, Kathryn Wheatley, Christopher C. Parrish, Pascale Eisenmann, Alastair M. M. Baylis, Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Stacy L. Bierwagen, Jock W. Young, Lydie I. E. Couturier, Christoph A. Rohner, Jasmin Gross, Courtney Waugh, Charles F. Phleger, Christine Jackson, George Jackson, Charlie Huveneers, Susan Bengtson Nash, Mina Brock, Peter Mansour
Summary: Lipid and fatty acid datasets are widely used in assessing nutritional composition, trophic ecology, and ecosystem dynamics. This dataset includes a large number of records from various marine species in different regions, providing a solid foundation for comparative studies and a broad understanding of the distribution of marine lipids globally.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Sara Pagliarani, Stephen D. Johnston, Kenneth W. Beagley, Lyndal Hulse, Chiara Palmieri
Summary: Chlamydia infection causes cystic dilation of the ovarian bursa in female koalas, resulting in structural changes and altered expression of epithelial cell markers and cellular junctions. These changes may impair fertility and indicate the molecular basis of the pathological accumulation of bursal fluid.
Article
Immunology
Peter B. M. Mulvey, Logan K. Trim, John G. Aaskov, Emily R. Bryan, Emma L. Sweeney, Avinash Kollipara, Mark B. Plenderleith, Frank E. Aldwell, Kenneth W. Beagley
Summary: This study investigated the potential of oral immunization with a novel lipid adjuvant followed by local vaginal application of inflammatory agents to protect against primary HSV-2 infections. The results showed that this vaccination strategy provided complete protection against wild-type HSV-2 and prevented viral dissemination to the spinal cords.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Maureen Ty, Shenghuan Sun, Perri C. Callaway, John Rek, Kathleen D. Press, Kattria van der Ploeg, Jason Nideffer, Zicheng Hu, Sandy Klemm, William Greenleaf, Michele Donato, Stephen Tukwasibwe, Emmanuel Arinaitwe, Felistas Nankya, Kenneth Musinguzi, Dean Andrew, Lauren de la Parte, Diego Martinez Mori, Savannah N. Lewis, Saki Takahashi, Isabel Rodriguez-Barraquer, Bryan Greenhouse, Catherine Blish, P. J. Utz, Purvesh Khatri, Grant Dorsey, Moses Kamya, Michelle Boyle, Margaret Feeney, Isaac Ssewanyana, Prasanna Jagannathan
Summary: Repeated malaria exposure leads to expansion of atypical CD56neg NK cells in Ugandan children, characterized by transcriptional, epigenetic, and phenotypic differences from CD56dim NK cells. CD56neg NK cells display enhanced functionality and greater antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Higher frequencies of CD56neg NK cells are associated with protection against symptomatic malaria. Continuous exposure to Plasmodium falciparum is necessary to maintain this modified, adaptive-like NK cell subset, as frequencies rapidly decline after reductions in malaria transmission.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Virology
Vasilli Kasimov, Michelle Wille, Subir Sarker, Yalun Dong, Renfu Shao, Clancy Hall, Dominique Potvin, Gabriel Conroy, Ludovica Valenza, Amber Gillett, Peter Timms, Martina Jelocnik
Summary: Birds in Australia can harbor a variety of pathogens, including Chlamydiaceae, beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), avipoxviruses, Columbid alphaherpesvirus 1 (CoAHV1), and Psittacid alphaherpesvirus 1 (PsAHV1), which pose a significant biosecurity concern. Through screening wild Australian birds, PsAHV1 was detected for the first time (37/486; 7.61%), along with BFDV (163/468; 33.54%), Chlamydiaceae (98/468; 20.16%), avipoxviruses (46/486; 9.47%), and CoAHV1 (43/486; 8.85%). These findings highlight the high pathogen diversity, ecology, and potential spillover of these pathogens into novel host species, causing disease.
Article
Remote Sensing
Helena Costa, Andrew Rogan, Christopher Zadra, Oddbjorn Larsen, Audun H. Rikardsen, Courtney Waugh
Summary: Analysis of cetacean blow can assess their health without invasive methods, and the use of consumer drones has made sample collection more accessible. However, expensive waterproof drones and challenging weather conditions limit their widespread use.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Emily R. Bryan, Logan K. Trim, Pawel Sadowski, Selvam Paramasivan, Jay J. Kim, Kyle Gough, Sophia Worley, Toby Maidment, Alison J. Carey, Bettina Mihalas, Eileen A. McLaughlin, Kenneth W. Beagley
Summary: In this study, the long-term effects of vaccination with chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP) and ISCOMATRIX (IMX) on male mice were investigated. The results showed that vaccination reduced and cleared chlamydial infection in the prostate, epididymis, and testes, protected sperm health and fertility, and altered immune responses in the spleen and testicular tissue. The study also demonstrated the presence of specific plasma cells in the testes, indicating the importance of vaccination in maintaining testicular function and protecting male fertility.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Charles W. Armitage, Alison J. Carey, Emily R. Bryan, Avinash Kollipara, Logan K. Trim, Kenneth W. Beagley
Summary: Urogenital chlamydial infections are increasing annually, affecting over 127 million people, leading to significant economic and public health pressures. The role of lipid antigens in immunity during these infections remains unclear. However, the study suggests that non-invariant NKT cells play an immunopathogenic role in urogenital chlamydial infections, facilitated by lipid presentation via CD1d on infected antigen-presenting cells.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Toby I. Maidment, Emily R. Bryan, Michael Pyne, Michele Barnes, Sarah Eccleston, Samantha Cunningham, Emma Whitlock, Kelsie Redman, Vere Nicolson, Kenneth W. Beagley, Elise Pelzer
Summary: This study provides the first cultivation-independent characterization of the koala pouch microbiota and its association with reproductive outcomes, highlighting the link between pathogenic bacterial overgrowth in the pouch and neonatal mortality in captive koalas.