The koala immunological toolkit: sequence identification and comparison of key markers of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) immune response
Katrina Morris A , Peter J. Prentis B , Denis O’Meally A , Ana Pavasovic C , Alyce Taylor Brown D , Peter Timms D E , Katherine Belov A and Adam Polkinghorne D E F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, RMC Gunn, B19, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
B School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.
C School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.
D Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Australia.
E Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Qld 4556, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: a.polkinghorne@qut.edu.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 62(3) 195-199 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO13105
Submitted: 6 December 2013 Accepted: 30 March 2014 Published: 28 April 2014
Abstract
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 to have a major role. Very few species-specific immunological reagents are available, severely hindering our ability to respond to the threat of infectious diseases in the koala. In this study, we utilise data from the sequencing of the koala transcriptome to identify key immunological markers of the koala adaptive immune response and cytokines known to be important in the host response to chlamydial infection in other species. This report describes the identification and preliminary sequence analysis of (1) T lymphocyte glycoprotein markers (CD4, CD8); (2) IL-4, a marker for the Th2 response; (3) cytokines such as IL-6, IL-12 and IL-1β, that have been shown to have a role in chlamydial clearance and pathology in other hosts; and (4) the sequences for the koala immunoglobulins, IgA, IgG, IgE and IgM. These sequences will enable the development of a range of immunological reagents for understanding the koala’s innate and adaptive immune responses, while also providing a resource that will enable continued investigations into the origin and evolution of the marsupial immune system.
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