Conference presentation
Towards a therapeutic vaccine for Chlamydia in the koala: an important conversation tool for an iconic species
USC Research Conference, 2014 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 14-Jul-2014–18-Jul-2014)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2014
Abstract
The koala, the last remaining member of the Phascolarctidae family, is iconic on an international scale and listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. Key persistent threats that attack the long-term survivability of the koala include habitat loss and fragmentation, trauma, and disease. Modelling has indicated that if populations in decline due to disease do not undergo intervention then localised extinction events will occur. The most prevalent and devastating disease in the koala is chlamydial disease. Yet despite the severity of this disease on koala morbidity and mortality an effective treatment eludes us. Antibiotics have had some success, yet not for severe disease, and can have an adverse effect on the koala gut microflora, while asymptomatic cases go untreated. Our aim is thus to address the issue of Chlamydia in the koala by the development of a protective and therapeutic vaccine, as an effective management and conservation tool for the species. Indeed initial efforts to develop a Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) based vaccine for the koala have been successful in inducing a protective immune response under captive conditions following subcutaneous (s.c.) vaccination. Our current study, the largest koala vaccine study to date, assesses the therapeutic, as well as protective, value a MOMP-based vaccine provides to a population of free-ranging koalas in south-east Queensland. We have thus far recruited 60 free-ranging koalas (30 vaccinated; 30 control/unvaccinated) from the Moreton Bay Region (QLD) into our current vaccine study. Each koala was captured, vaccinated (Day, 0, 30 and 60), and radio-collared and is currently undergoing comprehensive health assessments, to assess the vaccines effectiveness, at regular intervals for up to 12 months post vaccination. The koalas in the trial represent a variety of infection and disease states to assess the protective and therapeutic value of the vaccine. The study is currently ongoing, however, results up to the 6 month timepoint are thus far promising, and elucidate to not only a protective effect, but also indicate that our current MOMP-based vaccine has significant therapeutic value.
Details
- Title
- Towards a therapeutic vaccine for Chlamydia in the koala: an important conversation tool for an iconic species
- Authors
- Courtney Waugh (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Additional notes
- Winner of Best Early Career Research Presentation - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
- Conference details
- USC Research Conference, 2014 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 14-Jul-2014–18-Jul-2014)
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2014
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2014 The Author.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99448745002621
- Output Type
- Conference presentation
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