Use of Genomic Information to Gain Insights into Immune Function in Marsupials: A Review of Divergent Immune Genes

Morris, Katrina M.; Wong, Emily S.; Belov, Katherine

doi:10.1007/978-90-481-9023-2_18

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…By using available sequence from non-koala marsupial genomes (common opossum Monodelphis domestica, tammar wallaby Macropus eugenii, Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii, common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula) (Morris et al, 2010) we have recently generated koala sequence and developed and validated a series of koala-specific qPCRs for immune genes CD4, CD8, IL-10, IL-4, IFNg, IL-6 and several reference genes (Maher et al, 2014). We are applying these to our collections of samples from KoRV positive and negative free-ranging koalas, and cells of captive koalas in in vitro studies to better describe normal and abnormal immune function in these koalas.…”

Section: Where To Now: Testing the Effects Of Korv On Koala Immune Fumentioning

confidence: 99%

Koala immunology and the koala retrovirus (KoRV)

Higgins¹,

Lau²,

Maher³

2014

Tech. Rep. Aust. Mus., Online

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Abstract. Although koala retrovirus (KoRV) is widely termed a pathogen, direct evidence for causation of disease impacts in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) remains elusive. Examination of the immune system of koalas could provide a sharper tool to investigate this but progress has been slow due to a paucity of immunological reagents in this species, and historical contradictions in research findings in this area. Our work using cross reactive antibodies to examine behaviour of resting and stimulated koala T cells (anti-human CD3); B cells (anti-human CD79b); MHCII (anti-human HLA-DP, DQ, DR) and interferon gamma (anti-bovine IFNg) by flow cytometry have revealed some features consistent with a skew to a Th2 (B cell) immune focus. Assessing the role of KoRV in immunomodulation in koalas clearly requires more in-depth research. We have used recent advances in genomics of other marsupials to develop tools necessary to assess KoRV's effects on koala immune function in free-ranging, captive and in-vitro systems.Higgins, Damien P., Quintin Lau, and Iona Maher. 2014. Koala immunology and the koala retrovirus (KoRV). In The Koala and its Retroviruses: Implications for Sustainability and Survival, ed.

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Section: Where To Now: Testing the Effects Of Korv On Koala Immune Fumentioning

confidence: 99%

Koala immunology and the koala retrovirus (KoRV)

Higgins¹,

Lau²,

Maher³

2014

Tech. Rep. Aust. Mus., Online

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“…Within the marsupials these families have been best characterised in the gray short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica ), for which a good quality genome assembly is available [ 17 ]. Some genes have also been characterised in additional marsupials including tammar wallaby ( Macropus eugenii ), brushtail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) and koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) [ 18 – 21 ]. Research into the marsupials thus far has demonstrated that the marsupial immunome is similar to that of eutherian species, although notable differences occur including marsupial specific expansions within chemokines [ 22 ], the absence of IgD [ 19 ] and the presence of a T cell receptor found only in marsupials and monotremes [ 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and analysis of divergent immune gene families within the Tasmanian devil genome

et al. 2015

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BackgroundThe Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is being threatened with extinction in the wild by a disease known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). In order to prevent the spread of this disease a thorough understanding of the Tasmanian devil immune system and its response to the disease is required. In 2011 and 2012 two genome sequencing projects of the Tasmania devil were released. This has provided us with the raw data required to begin to investigate the Tasmanian devil immunome in depth. In this study we characterise immune gene families of the Tasmanian devil. We focus on immunoglobulins, T cell receptors and cytokine families.ResultsWe identify and describe 119 cytokines including 40 interleukins, 39 chemokines, 8 interferons, 18 tumour necrosis family cytokines and 14 additional cytokines. Constant regions for immunoglobulins and T cell receptors were also identified. The repertoire of genes in these families was similar to the opossum, however devil specific duplications were seen and orthologs to eutherian genes not previously identified in any marsupial were also identified.ConclusionsBy using multiple data sources as well as targeted search methods, highly divergent genes across the Tasmanian devil immune system were identified and characterised. This understanding will allow for the development of devil specific assays and reagents and allow for future studies into the immune response of the Tasmanian devil immune system to DFTD.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2206-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…This historical reconstruction showed that these genes arose before the isolation of India and South America from Africa in a pan-Gondwanan land mass, and therefore originated from an ancestral gene in excess of 150 . In contrast to the peptides discussed above, which are produced by organisms of a single taxonomic order, defensins are AMPs that are produced by creatures across the eukaryotic kingdoms [ [129][130][131][132], marsupials [133], and mammals [134][135][136], including humans and other primates [137][138][139]. Although high divergence between the signal sequences of these three lineages was observed, there was evidence to suggest that the genes encoding AMPs in anurans had evolved convergently on at least three occasions in evolutionary time [113].…”

Section: Amps: Evolutionarily Ancient Moleculesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial Peptides: Their History, Evolution, and Functional Promiscuity

2013

Antimicrobial Peptides

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Use of Genomic Information to Gain Insights into Immune Function in Marsupials: A Review of Divergent Immune Genes

Cited by 5 publications

References 65 publications

Koala immunology and the koala retrovirus (KoRV)

Koala immunology and the koala retrovirus (KoRV)

Identification and analysis of divergent immune gene families within the Tasmanian devil genome

Antimicrobial Peptides: Their History, Evolution, and Functional Promiscuity

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