Interleukin 17A is an immune marker for chlamydial disease severity and pathogenesis in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Marina Mathew; Courtney Waugh; Kenneth W Beagley; Peter Timms; Adam Polkinghorne

doi:10.1016/j.dci.2014.05.015

Back

Interleukin 17A is an immune marker for chlamydial disease severity and pathogenesis in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Interleukin 17A is an immune marker for chlamydial disease severity and pathogenesis in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Marina Mathew, Courtney Waugh, Kenneth W Beagley, Peter Timms and Adam Polkinghorne

Development and Comparative Immunology, Vol.46(2), pp.423-429

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2014.05.015

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2014.05.015View

Published Version

Abstract

koala

chlamydia

TNFα

IFNγ

IL10

IL17A

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 koalas, we used koala-specific Quantitative Real Time PCR (qrtPCR) assays to profile the cytokine responses of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) collected from 41 koalas with different stages of chlamydial disease. Target cytokines included the principal Th1 (Interferon gamma; IFNγ), Th2 (Interleukin 10; IL10), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha; TNFα). A novel koala-specific IL17A qrtPCR assay was also developed as part of this study to quantitate the gene expression of this Th17 cytokine in koalas. A statistically significant higher IL17A gene expression was observed in animals with current chlamydial disease compared to animals with asymptomatic chlamydial infection. A modest up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNFα and IFNγ, was also observed in these animals with signs of current chlamydial disease. IL10 gene expression was not evident in the majority of animals from both groups. Future longitudinal studies are now required to confirm the role played by cytokines in pathology and/or protection against C. pecorum infection in the koala.

Details

Title: Interleukin 17A is an immune marker for chlamydial disease severity and pathogenesis in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Authors: Marina Mathew (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Courtney Waugh (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Kenneth W Beagley (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Peter Timms (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Adam Polkinghorne (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Development and Comparative Immunology, Vol.46(2), pp.423-429
Publisher: Pergamon
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.05.015
ISSN: 0145-305X
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448938702621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

18 File views/ downloads

667 Record Views

30 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries; Immunology; Veterinary Sciences; Zoology

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites