A5081825477- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Livestock and Poultry Management
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Veterinary Oncology Research
- Microbial infections and disease research
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Gut microbiota and health
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Microbial Metabolism and Applications
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
University of Edinburgh
2017-2024
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
2007-2024
Clemson University
2024
Roslin Institute
2017-2024
Digital Research Alliance of Canada
2024
Bat Conservation International
2024
The University of Sydney
1980-2023
Concord Repatriation General Hospital
2022-2023
McGill University Health Centre
2020-2022
Vanderbilt University
2020
The koala, the only extant species of marsupial family Phascolarctidae, is classified as 'vulnerable' due to habitat loss and widespread disease. We sequenced koala genome, producing a complete contiguous reference including centromeres. reveal that koala's ability detoxify eucalypt foliage may be expansions within cytochrome P450 gene family, its smell, taste moderate ingestion plant secondary metabolites in vomeronasal receptors. characterized novel lactation proteins protect young pouch...
Abstract Assessing the scope and severity of threats is necessary for evaluating impacts on populations to inform conservation planning. Quantitative threat assessment often requires monitoring programs that provide reliable data over relevant spatial temporal scales, yet such can be difficult justify until there an apparent stressor. Leveraging efforts wildlife management agencies record winter counts hibernating bats, we collated 5 species from 200 sites across 27 U.S. states 2 Canadian...
Abstract Mammalian three-dimensional (3D) enteroids mirror in vivo intestinal organisation and are powerful tools to investigate cell biology host–pathogen interactions. We have developed complex multilobulated 3D chicken from embryonic villi adult crypts. These avian develop optimally suspension without the structural support required produce mammalian enteroids, resulting an inside-out enteroid conformation with media-facing apical brush borders. Histological transcriptional analyses show...
Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is a fatal, transmissible malignancy that threatens the world's largest marsupial carnivore, Tasmanian devil, with extinction. First recognised in 1996, DFTD has had catastrophic effect on wild devil numbers, and intense research efforts to understand contain have since demonstrated clonal cell line transmitted by allograft. We used chromosome painting gene mapping deconstruct karyotype determine rearrangements involved carcinogenesis. Chromosome three...
Glycosylation of plasma proteins was studied in diabetic and normal subjects by an adaptation a thiobarbituric acid method previously used for glycosylated hemoglobin. There highly significant correlation between the degree glycosylation vivo protein The process depended on time temperature not mediated enzymatically. Plasma all molecular sizes could be glycosylated. At 37°C, 4.6% 14C-glucose became attached to after 24 h incubation vitro; no difference demonstrated. After glycosylation,...
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is at risk of extinction owing to the emergence a contagious cancer known as facial tumour disease (DFTD). and spread DFTD has been linked low genetic diversity in major histocompatibility complex (MHC). We examined MHC historical ancient devils determine whether loss recent or predates European settlement Australia. Our results reveal no additional samples. Mainland had common modern variants plus six new that are highly similar existing alleles....
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) has undergone a recent, drastic population decline due to the highly contagious facial tumor disease. is one of only two naturally occurring transmissible cancers and almost inevitably fatal. In 2006 disease-free insurance was established ensure that protected from extinction. program dependent upon preserving as much wild genetic diversity possible maximize success subsequent reintroductions wild. Accurate genotypic data vital loss does not occur...
Abstract Background The Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica ) is a popular domestic poultry species and an increasingly significant model in avian developmental, behavioural disease research. Results We have produced high-quality genome sequence, spanning 0.93 Gb assigned to 33 chromosomes. In terms of contiguity, assembly statistics, gene content chromosomal organisation, the shows high similarity chicken genome. demonstrate utility this through three diverse applications. First, we identify...
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is currently under threat of extinction due to an unusual fatal contagious cancer called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). DFTD caused by a clonal tumour cell line that transmitted between unrelated individuals as allograft without triggering immune rejection low levels Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) diversity in devils.Here we report the characterization genomic regions encompassing MHC Class I and II genes devil. Four approximately 960...
Abstract Conservation breeding programmes have become widespread as natural habitats shrink, and been historically managed using pedigree data an assumption that population founders are unrelated. Molecular genotyping is able to determine founder relatedness, but rarely used. To empirically test the impact of assuming be unrelated, we utilized from 203 founding individuals 11 subsequent years records for Tasmanian devil ( Sarcophilus harrisii ) insurance population. We integrated molecular N...
Abstract The T asmanian devil ( S arcophilus harrisii ) is threatened with extinction due to the spread of facial tumour disease. Polymorphisms in immune genes can provide adaptive potential resist diseases. Previous studies diversity at loci wild species have almost exclusively focused on major histocompatibility complex MHC ); however, these only account for a fraction gene diversity. Devils lack functionally important immunity loci, including and Toll‐like receptor genes. Whether there...
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) cause severe respiratory and systemic disease in chickens, commonly termed colibacillosis. Early immune responses after initial infection are highly important for the outcome of infection. In this study, early interactions between GFP-expressing APEC strains serotypes O1:K1:H7 O2:K1:H5 phagocytic cells lung CSF1R-reporter transgenic chickens were investigated. express fluorescent protein under control elements CSF1R promoter enhancer, such that...
Eimeria maxima is a common cause of coccidiosis in chickens, disease that has huge economic impact on poultry production. Knowledge immunity to E. and the specific mechanisms contribute differing levels resistance observed between chicken breeds congenic lines derived from single breed chickens required. This study aimed define differences kinetics immune response two inbred White Leghorn exhibit differential (line C.B12) or susceptibility 15I) infection by . Line C.B12 15I were infected...
The platypus is a venomous monotreme. Male platypuses possess spur on their hind legs that connected to glands in the pelvic region. They produce venom only during breeding season, presumably fight off conspecifics. We have taken advantage of this unique seasonal production compare transcriptomes in- and out-of-season glands, conjunction with proteomic analysis, identify previously undiscovered genes. Comparison revealed distinct gene expression profiles are consistent changes gland...
ABSTRACT The Tasmanian devil is under threat of extinction due to the transmissible facial tumor disease (DFTD). This fatal an allograft that does not induce immune response, raising questions about activity cells. T and B cell analysis has been limited by a lack antibodies, hence need produce such reagents. Amino acid sequence revealed CD4, CD8, IgM, IgG were closely related other marsupials. Monoclonal antibodies produced against generating bacterial fusion proteins. These, commercial CD1a...
Abstract Production of milk is a key characteristic mammals, but the features lactation vary greatly between monotreme, marsupial and eutherian mammals. Marsupials have short gestation followed by long period, constituents across lactation. are born immunologically naïve rely on their mother’s for immunological protection. Koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) an iconic Australian species that increasingly threatened disease. Here we use mammary transcriptome, two proteomes koala genome to...
Introduction Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses, such as H5N1, continue to pose a serious threat animal agriculture, wildlife and public health. Controlling mitigating this disease in domestic birds requires better understanding of what makes some species highly susceptible (such turkey chicken) while others are resistant pigeon goose). Susceptibility H5N1 varies both with strain; for example, that tolerant most strains, crows ducks, have shown high mortality emerging strains...
Abstract Enteroids are miniature self-organising three-dimensional (3D) tissue cultures which replicate much of the complexity intestinal epithelium. We recently developed an apical-out leukocyte-containing chicken enteroid model providing a novel physiologically relevant in vitro tool to explore host–pathogen interactions avian gut. However, consistency and culture stability have not yet been fully explored at transcript level. In addition, causes for inability passage enteroids were...
Abstract The world's rich diversity of bats supports healthy ecosystems and important ecosystem services. Maintaining biological systems requires prompt identification threats to biodiversity immediate action protect species, which for wide‐ranging bat species that span geopolitical boundaries warrants international coordination. Anthropogenic forces drive the throughout North America world. We conducted an expert elicitation assess status 153 in Canada, United States, Mexico. used...
The spleen is a major site for the immunological responses to blood-borne antigens that coordinated by cells of mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS). chicken populated with number different macrophages while presence conventional dendritic (cDC) has been described. However, detailed characterization phenotype and function macrophage subsets cDC in limited. Using CSF1R -reporter transgenic chickens ( -tg), which MPS express transgene under control elements , we carried out an in-depth these...
Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) pouch young, like other marsupials, are born underdeveloped and immunologically naïve, unable to mount an adaptive immune response. The mother's milk provides nutrients for growth development as well providing passive immunity. To better understand response in this endangered species, we set out characterise the genes involved immunity by sequencing annotating transcriptome of a sample collected during mid-lactation. At mid-lactation expect young have...
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an Australian marsupial that continues to experience significant population declines. Infectious diseases caused by pathogens such as Chlamydia are proposed have a major role. Very few species-specific immunological reagents available, severely hindering our ability respond the threat of infectious in koala. In this study, we utilise data from sequencing transcriptome identify key markers adaptive immune response and cytokines known be important host...
Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), an iconic Australian marsupial, are being heavily impacted by the spread of Chlamydia pecorum, obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. vary in their response to this pathogen, with some showing no symptoms, while others suffer severe symptoms leading infertility, blindness or death. Little is known about pathology disease and immune against it host. Studies have demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cells, key components innate system, involved chlamydial...