Correlation Between Cryptococcus Infection and the Nasal Mycobiota in a Population of Free-Ranging Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in New South Wales, Australia

Journal of Fungi, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 11(1), P. 64 - 64

Published: Jan. 15, 2025

Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease in humans and animals, caused by the Cryptococcus neoformans gattii species complexes. Clinical cryptococcosis primarily manifests as upper respiratory tract disease; however, dissemination to other organs, particularly brain, can occur. Nasal colonisation subclinical are common koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) due their shared environmental niche with Cryptococcus: Eucalyptus trees. However, for reasons that remain unclear, prevalence of clinical low koalas. Interactions between pathogens nasal mycobiome thought play role development progression numerous diseases. As such, this study aimed characterise vestibule without evidence cryptococcal via next-generation sequencing (NGS) ITS1 region internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene. Samples were collected from 47 population free-ranging Liverpool Plains, NSW, Australia, known history exposure colonisation. Of animals tested, 6.4% culture-positive only, 4.3% seropositive 2.1% culture- seropositive. C. was detected four samples NGS. not There no significant differences mycobiomes Cryptococcus-positive -negative animals; thus, we could establish definitive association infection outcomes. We identified number genera significantly more abundant but there apparent relationship these cryptococcosis. This represents first investigation mycobiota wild Further studies involving necessary determine

Language: Английский

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A high frequency of detection of koala retrovirus fragments in Victorian koalas suggests historic integration of KoRV

Journal of General Virology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 106(4)

Published: April 25, 2025

Recombinant koala retrovirus (recKoRV) is a recently discovered variant of (KoRV), which likely emerged due to recombination with another (such as Phascolarctos endogenous retrovirus). KoRV spread and endogenization in Australia were thought be ongoing north south direction given the low prevalence virus southern populations, based on molecular detection pol gene. However, recKoRV has highlighted that fragments region missing are present within koalas. In this study, new 5′-region-based PCR assay was developed, capable detecting both intact all known variants recKoRV. Using assay, 319 archived DNA samples from 287 Victorian koalas retested investigate endogenization. We found 98.3% (282/287) these positive for KoRV-5′ fragment, majority KoRV- negative (222/287) prior testing. Our findings demonstrate extensive integration into suggestive historic presence This finding makes biological sense relative translocation history koalas, compared paradigm prevalence, provides epidemiological practical management implications.

Language: Английский

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A novel multi-variate immunological approach, reveals immune variation associated with environmental conditions, and co-infection in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 27, 2024

Abstract External signs of disease are frequently used as indicators susceptibility. However, immune profiling can be a more effective indicator to understand how host responses infection may shaped by host, pathogen and environmental factors. To better inform wildlife health assessment research directions, we investigated the utility novel multivariate immunophenotyping approach examining innate adaptive in differing climatic, co-infection demographic contexts across two koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus) populations New South Wales: Liverpool Plains (LP), Southern Highlands South-west Sydney (SHSWS). Relative comparatively healthy SHSWS, LP had greater variable gene expression (IL-1β, IL-6), KoRV transcription. During extreme heat drought, koalas from displayed upregulation stress pathway reduced genes expression, haematocrit plasma protein, suggesting possibility impacts through multiple pathways. In those koalas, transcription status, Chlamydia pecorum loads, visible urogenital inflammation were not associated with variation, that markers sensitive real-time than observed outcomes.

Language: Английский

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KoRV-related retroviruses in diverse Australian and African rodent species

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 26, 2024

Abstract The koala retrovirus (KoRV) is a key contributor to the ongoing decline of Australia’s population. KoRV has only been found in koalas and its enigmatic origins, as well that close relative, gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV), have source enduring debate. Bats rodents are each proposed major reservoirs interspecies transmission with efforts identify additional animal hosts KoRV-related retroviruses. In this study we identified nine rodent species novel Included among these two African rodents, revealing first appearance clade beyond Australian Southeast Asian region. One Mastomys natalensis , carries an endogenous fully intact potentially still infectious. Our findings suggest carriers retroviruses, potential point origin Asia.

Language: Английский

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Defining putative koala retrovirus-associated disease in koalas. In Proceedings of the Second Koala Retrovirus Workshop, ed. D. E. Alquezar-Planas, D. P. Higgins, C. L. Singleton, and A. D. Greenwood

Technical Reports of the Australian Museum online, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38, P. 23 - 29

Published: June 20, 2023

Koalas suffer from a wide range of diseases and illness, some which are well understood, others that observed but have unclear aetiologies. A largely undescribed poorly defined area in koala health is presumed to be associated with retrovirus (KoRV) infection. Disease conditions putatively linked KoRV infection here as “putative KoRV-associated diseases” (PKAD). These include neoplasia, severe dermatological oral conditions, life-threatening fungal opportunistic infections, haematological disorders, chronic ill-thrift or poor body condition undefined cause other suggestive immune dysfunction. Multiple usually present at once koalas invariably die despite treatment. The multifactorial nature PKAD the lack clarity around KoRV’s role many means developing standard case definition encompassing all presentations difficult. As such, presenting been dysplastic/neoplastic versus those dysfunction (putative disorders—PIDDS).

Language: Английский

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Wildlife endogenous retroviruses: colonization, consequences, and cooption

Trends in Genetics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 40(2), P. 149 - 159

Published: Nov. 19, 2023

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are inherited genomic remains of past germline retroviral infections. Research on human ERVs has focused medical implications their dysregulation various diseases. However, recent studies incorporating wildlife yielding remarkable perspectives long-term retrovirus–host interactions. These initial forays into broader taxonomic analysis, including sequencing multiple individuals per species, show the incredible plasticity and variation within among species. This demonstrates that stochastic processes govern much vertebrate genome. In this review, we elaborate discoveries pertaining to ERV origins evolution, genome colonization, consequences for host biology.

Language: Английский

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Diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus: a case study in three captive koala populations

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Sept. 22, 2022

Koala retrovirus is a recently endogenized associated with the onset of neoplasia and infectious disease in koalas. There are currently twelve described KoRV subtypes (KoRV-A to I, K-M), most which were identified through implemented deep sequencing methods reveal an animals' overall profile. This approach has primarily been carried out on wild koala populations around Australia, few investigations into whole-population profile captive colonies date. study conducted 64 koalas known pedigree, housed three institutions from New South Wales South-East Queensland, provide detailed analysis genetic diversity transmission. The final dataset included 93 unique sequences first detection KoRV-E within Australian populations. Our suggests that exogenous transmission KoRV-A, B, D, I K occurs between dam joey. Detection KoRV-D neonate sample raises possibility this occurring utero. Overall, prevalence abundance was found vary considerably populations, likely due their different histories animal acquisition. Together these findings highlight importance profiling for koalas, particular females, who play primary role

Language: Английский

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Koala retrovirus and neoplasia: correlation and underlying mechanisms

Current Opinion in Virology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 67, P. 101427 - 101427

Published: July 23, 2024

The koala retrovirus, KoRV, is one of the few models for understanding health consequences retroviral colonization germline. Such events transition exogenous infectious retroviruses to Mendelian traits or endogenous (ERVs). KoRV currently in a transitional state from retrovirus ERV, which koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) has been associated with strongly elevated levels neoplasia. In this review, we describe what known about associations and underlying mechanisms KoRV-induced

Language: Английский

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GALV-KoRV-related retroviruses in diverse Australian and African rodent species

Virus Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

The enigmatic origins and transmission events of the gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) its close relative koala retrovirus (KoRV) have been a source enduring debate. Bats rodents are each proposed as major reservoirs interspecies transmission, with ongoing efforts to identify additional animal hosts GALV-KoRV-related retroviruses. In this study, we identified nine rodent species novel Included among these two African rodents, revealing first appearance clade beyond Australian Southeast Asian region. One Mastomys natalensis, carries an endogenous that is fully intact potentially still infectious. Our findings support hypothesis carriers

Language: Английский

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A preliminary study of gene expression changes in Koalas Infected with Koala Retrovirus (KoRV) and identification of potential biomarkers for KoRV pathogenesis

BMC Veterinary Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 20(1)

Published: Oct. 30, 2024

Language: Английский

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