Molecular characterisation and expression analysis of Interferon gamma in response to natural Chlamydia infection in the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus

M Mathew; A Pavasovic; P J Prentis; K W Beagley; Peter Timms; Adam Polkinghorne

doi:10.1016/j.gene.2013.06.019

Back

Molecular characterisation and expression analysis of Interferon gamma in response to natural Chlamydia infection in the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Molecular characterisation and expression analysis of Interferon gamma in response to natural Chlamydia infection in the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus

M Mathew, A Pavasovic, P J Prentis, K W Beagley, Peter Timms and Adam Polkinghorne

Gene, Vol.527(2), pp.570-577

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2013.06.019

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2013.06.019View

Published Version

Abstract

Chlamydia

evolution

immune system

Interferon gamma (IFNγ) is a key Th1 cytokine, with a principal role in the immune response against intracellular organisms such as Chlamydia. Along with being responsible for significant morbidity in human populations, Chlamydia is also responsible for wide spread infection and disease in many animal hosts, with reports that many Australian koala subpopulations are endemically infected. An understanding of the role played by IFNγ in koala chlamydial diseases is important for the establishment of better prophylactic and therapeutic approaches against chlamydial infection in this host. A limited number of IFNγ sequences have been published from marsupials and no immune reagents to measure expression have been developed. Through preliminary analysis of the koala transcriptome, we have identified the full coding sequence of the koala IFNγ gene. Transcripts were identified in spleen and lymph node tissue samples. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that koala IFNγ is closely related to other marsupial IFNγ sequences and more distantly related to eutherian mammals. To begin to characterise the role of this important cytokine in the koala's response to chlamydial infection, we developed a quantitative real time PCR assay and applied it to a small cohort of koalas with and without active chlamydial disease, revealing significant differences in expression patterns between the groups. Description of the IFNγ sequence from the koala will not only assist in understanding this species' response to its most important pathogen but will also provide further insight into the evolution of the marsupial immune system.

Details

Title: Molecular characterisation and expression analysis of Interferon gamma in response to natural Chlamydia infection in the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus
Authors: M Mathew (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
A Pavasovic (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
P J Prentis (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
K W Beagley (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Peter Timms (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Adam Polkinghorne (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Publication details: Gene, Vol.527(2), pp.570-577
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.06.019
ISSN: 0378-1119
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450185602621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

2 File views/ downloads

768 Record Views

27 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

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

Web Of Science research areas: Genetics & Heredity

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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

Source: InCites