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2. Sarcoptic Mange in a Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii ) and Bennett’s Wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus ).

Author

Russell, Grace G., Wilkinson, Vicky, Pefanis, Stephen, Thompson, Andrew, Peck, Sarah, Dann, Alison, Pye, Ruth J., Carver, Scott, and Flies, Andrew S.

Abstract

Sarcoptes scabiei mites and skin lesions consistent with severe sarcoptic mange were identified in a Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) and Bennett's wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus) from Tasmania, Australia. The devil and wallaby both had severe hyperkeratotic skin lesions. All stages of mite development were identified in the devil, suggesting parasite reproduction on the host. The devil was also affected by devil facial tumor disease and several other parasites. This expands the global host range of species susceptible to this panzootic mange disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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4. Recurrent horizontal transfer identifies mitochondrial positive selection in a transmissible cancer

Author

Strakova, Andrea, Nicholls, Thomas J., Baez-Ortega, Adrian, Ní Leathlobhair, Máire, Sampson, Alexander T., Hughes, Katherine, Bolton, Isobelle A. G., Gori, Kevin, Wang, Jinhong, Airikkala-Otter, Ilona, Allen, Janice L., Allum, Karen M., Arnold, Clara L., Bansse-Issa, Leontine, Bhutia, Thinlay N., Bisson, Jocelyn L., Blank, Kelli, Briceño, Cristóbal, Castillo Domracheva, Artemio, Corrigan, Anne M., Cran, Hugh R., Crawford, Jane T., Cutter, Stephen M., Davis, Eric, de Castro, Karina F., De Nardi, Andrigo B., de Vos, Anna P., Delgadillo Keenan, Laura, Donelan, Edward M., Espinoza Huerta, Adela R., Faramade, Ibikunle A., Fazil, Mohammed, Fotopoulou, Eleni, Fruean, Skye N., Gallardo-Arrieta, Fanny, Glebova, Olga, Gouletsou, Pagona G., Häfelin Manrique, Rodrigo F., Henriques, Joaquim J. G. P., Horta, Rodrigo S., Ignatenko, Natalia, Kane, Yaghouba, King, Cathy, Koenig, Debbie, Krupa, Ada, Kruzeniski, Steven J., Lanza-Perea, Marta, Lazyan, Mihran, Lopez Quintana, Adriana M., Losfelt, Thibault, Marino, Gabriele, Martínez Castañeda, Simón, Martínez-López, Mayra F., Masuruli, Bedan M., Meyer, Michael, Migneco, Edward J., Nakanwagi, Berna, Neal, Karter B., Neunzig, Winifred, Nixon, Sally J., Ortega-Pacheco, Antonio, Pedraza-Ordoñez, Francisco, Peleteiro, Maria C., Polak, Katherine, Pye, Ruth J., Ramirez-Ante, Juan C., Reece, John F., Rojas Gutierrez, Jose, Sadia, Haleema, Schmeling, Sheila K., Shamanova, Olga, Sherlock, Alan G., Steenland-Smit, Audrey E., Svitich, Alla, Tapia Martínez, Lester J., Thoya Ngoka, Ismail, Torres, Cristian G., Tudor, Elizabeth M., van der Wel, Mirjam G., Vițălaru, Bogdan A., Vural, Sevil A., Walkinton, Oliver, Wehrle-Martinez, Alvaro S., Widdowson, Sophie A. E., Zvarich, Irina, Chinnery, Patrick F., Falkenberg, Maria, Gustafsson, Claes M., and Murchison, Elizabeth P.

Published
2020
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6. A second transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils

Author

Pye, Ruth J., Pemberton, David, Tovar, Cesar, Tubio, Jose M. C., Dun, Karen A., Fox, Samantha, Darby, Jocelyn, Hayes, Dane, Knowles, Graeme W., Kreiss, Alexandre, Siddle, Hannah V. T., Swift, Kate, Lyons, A. Bruce, Murchison, Elizabeth P., and Woods, Gregory M.

Published
2016

7. Automated Analysis of PD1 and PDL1 Expression in Lymph Nodes and the Microenvironment of Transmissible Tumors in Tasmanian Devils

Author

Russell, Grace G., Palmieri, Chiara, Darby, Jocelyn, Morris, Gary P., Fountain-Jones, Nicholas M., Pye, Ruth J., and Flies, Andrew S.

Abstract

The wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population has suffered a devastating decline due to two clonal transmissible cancers. The first devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) was observed in 1996, followed by a second genetically distinct transmissible tumor, the devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2), in 2014. DFT1/2 frequently metastasize, with lymph nodes being common metastatic sites. MHC-I downregulation by DFT1 cells is a primary means of evading allograft immunity aimed at polymorphic MHC-I proteins. DFT2 cells constitutively express MHC-I, and MHC-I is upregulated on DFT1/2 cells by interferon gamma, suggesting other immune evasion mechanisms may contribute to overcoming allograft and anti-tumor immunity. Human clinical trials have demonstrated PD1/PDL1 blockade effectively treats patients showing increased expression of PD1 in tumor draining lymph nodes, and PDL1 on peritumoral immune cells and tumor cells. The effects of DFT1/2 on systemic immunity remain largely uncharacterized. This study applied the open-access software QuPath to develop a semiautomated pipeline for whole slide analysis of stained tissue sections to quantify PD1/PDL1 expression in devil lymph nodes. The QuPath protocol provided strong correlations to manual counting. PD-1 expression was approximately 10-fold higher than PD-L1 expression in lymph nodes and was primarily expressed in germinal centers, whereas PD-L1 expression was more widely distributed throughout the lymph nodes. The density of PD1 positive cells was increased in lymph nodes containing DFT2 metastases, compared to DFT1. This suggests PD1/PDL1 exploitation may contribute to the poorly immunogenic nature of transmissible tumors in some devils and could be targeted in therapeutic or prophylactic treatments. Abbreviations: PD1: programmed cell death protein 1; PDL1: programmed death ligand 1; DFT1: devil facial tumor 1; DFT2: devil facial tumor 2; DFTD: devil facial tumor disease; MCC: Matthew’s correlation coefficient; DAB: diaminobenzidine; ROI: region of interest

Published
2023
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9. Evaluation of oral baits and distribution methods for Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii)†.

Author

Dempsey, Sean, Pye, Ruth J., Gilbert, Amy T., Fountain-Jones, Nicholas M., Moffat, Jennifer M., Benson-Amram, Sarah, Smyser, Timothy J., and Flies, Andrew S.

Abstract

Context: Diseases are increasingly contributing to wildlife population declines. Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) populations have locally declined by 82%, largely owing to the morbidity and mortality associated with two independent transmissible devil facial tumours (DFT1 and DFT2). Toxic baits are often used as a management tool for controlling vertebrate pest populations in Australia, but in other areas of the world, oral baits are also used to deliver vaccines or pharmaceuticals to wildlife. Aim: Our goal was to evaluate the potential use of edible baits as vehicles for vaccine delivery to Tasmanian devils. Method: We first tested bait palatability with captive devils. Bait interactions were recorded, and consumption and bait interaction behaviours were quantified. We next trialled baits containing inert capsules as potential vaccine containers in captivity. After confirming bait palatability in captivity, ground baiting was trialled at six field sites and monitored using camera traps. Finally, an automated bait dispenser was trialled at field sites to attempt to limit bait consumption by non-target species. Key results: Captive devils consumed all types of placebo baits, but consumed a higher percentage of ruminant- and fish-based baits than cereal-based baits. Captive devils also consumed inert capsules inserted into placebo baits. Ground-baiting trials in the field showed that 53% of baits were removed from bait stations, with 76% of the removals occurring on the first night. Devils were suspected or confirmed to remove about 7% of baits compared with 93% by non-target species. We also evaluated an automated bait dispenser, which reduced bait removal by non-target species and resulted in over 50% of the baits being removed by devils. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that captive and wild devils will accept and consume placebo versions of commercial baits. Bait dispensers or modified baits or baiting strategies are needed to increase bait uptake by devils. Implications: Bait dispensers can be used at a regional scale to deliver baits to devils. These could potentially be used as vaccine-delivery vehicles to mitigate the impacts of disease on devil populations. This study aimed to test oral baits as potential vaccine-delivery vehicles for Tasmanian devils. Captive and wild devils consumed placebo versions of commercial baits used on mainland Australia. Abundant non-target species, such as brushtail possums, Tasmanian pademelons, and eastern quolls consumed most baits in the wild. Implementation of automated bait dispensers increased bait uptake by devils to over 50% at the same regional field sites. Photograph by Jennifer M. Moffat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2023
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11. Cathelicidin-3 Associated With Serum Extracellular Vesicles Enables Early Diagnosis of a Transmissible Cancer

Author

Espejo, Camila, primary, Wilson, Richard, additional, Pye, Ruth J., additional, Ratcliffe, Julian C., additional, Ruiz-Aravena, Manuel, additional, Willms, Eduard, additional, Wolfe, Barrett W., additional, Hamede, Rodrigo, additional, Hill, Andrew F., additional, Jones, Menna E., additional, Woods, Gregory M., additional, and Lyons, A. Bruce, additional

Published
2022
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12. Cathelicidin-3 associated with serum extracellular vesicles enables early diagnosis of a transmissible cancer

Author

Espejo, Camila, primary, Wilson, Richard, additional, Pye, Ruth J., additional, Ratcliffe, Julian C., additional, Ruiz-Aravena, Manuel, additional, Willms, Eduard, additional, Wolfe, Barrett W., additional, Hamede, Rodrigo, additional, Hill, Andrew F., additional, Jones, Menna E., additional, Woods, Gregory M., additional, and Lyons, A. Bruce, additional

Published
2021
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14. The Origins and Vulnerabilities of Two Transmissible Cancers in Tasmanian Devils

Author

Stammnitz, Maximilian R, Coorens, Tim HH, Gori, Kevin C, Hayes, Dane, Fu, Beiyuan, Wang, Jinhong, Martin-Herranz, Daniel E, Alexandrov, Ludmil B, Baez-Ortega, Adrian, Barthorpe, Syd, Beck, Alexandra, Giordano, Francesca, Knowles, Graeme W, Kwon, Young Mi, Hall, George, Price, Stacey, Pye, Ruth J, Tubio, Jose MC, Siddle, Hannah VT, Sohal, Sukhwinder Singh, Woods, Gregory M, McDermott, Ultan, Yang, Fengtang, Garnett, Mathew J, Ning, Zemin, Murchison, Elizabeth P, Stammnitz, Maximillian [0000-0002-1704-9199], Gori, Kevin [0000-0001-7975-4275], Wang, Jinhong [0000-0001-9773-1317], Murchison, Elizabeth [0000-0001-7462-8907], and Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository

Subjects
Gene Editing, Male, cancer genomics, contagious cancer, cancer evolution, conservation, Gene Dosage, Immunity, DFTD, Chromosomes, Mammalian, Article, Clone Cells, Marsupialia, Tasmanian devils, Cell Line, Tumor, Mutation, cancer, Animals, transmissible cancer, Female, Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor, drug screening, marsupials, Facial Neoplasms
Abstract

Summary Transmissible cancers are clonal lineages that spread through populations via contagious cancer cells. Although rare in nature, two facial tumor clones affect Tasmanian devils. Here we perform comparative genetic and functional characterization of these lineages. The two cancers have similar patterns of mutation and show no evidence of exposure to exogenous mutagens or viruses. Genes encoding PDGF receptors have copy number gains and are present on extrachromosomal double minutes. Drug screening indicates causative roles for receptor tyrosine kinases and sensitivity to inhibitors of DNA repair. Y chromosome loss from a male clone infecting a female host suggests immunoediting. These results imply that Tasmanian devils may have inherent susceptibility to transmissible cancers and present a suite of therapeutic compounds for use in conservation., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • Tasmanian devil transmissible cancers arose from similar tissues in two individuals • Similar mutation patterns and driver candidates imply common oncogenic processes • Losses at B2M and Y chromosome loci suggest selection to escape immune detection • Receptor tyrosine kinases and DNA repair factors implicated as therapeutic targets, Stammnitz et al. show that the two transmissible cancer clones that affect Tasmanian devils are very similar in their tissues-of-origin, mutational patterns and driver gene candidates. Importantly, these cancers are both highly sensitive to inhibitors of some receptor tyrosine kinases as well as to inhibitors of DNA repair.

Published
2018

15. Two of a kind: transmissible Schwann cell cancers in the endangered Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)

Author

Patchett, Amanda L., primary, Coorens, Tim H. H., additional, Darby, Jocelyn, additional, Wilson, Richard, additional, McKay, Matthew J., additional, Kamath, Karthik S., additional, Rubin, Alan, additional, Wakefield, Matthew, additional, Mcintosh, Lachlan, additional, Mangiola, Stefano, additional, Pye, Ruth J., additional, Flies, Andrew S., additional, Corcoran, Lynn M., additional, Lyons, A. Bruce, additional, Woods, Gregory M., additional, Murchison, Elizabeth P., additional, Papenfuss, Anthony T., additional, and Tovar, Cesar, additional

Published
2019
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16. Somatic evolution and global expansion of an ancient transmissible cancer lineage

Author

Baez-Ortega, Adrian, primary, Gori, Kevin, additional, Strakova, Andrea, additional, Allen, Janice L., additional, Allum, Karen M., additional, Bansse-Issa, Leontine, additional, Bhutia, Thinlay N., additional, Bisson, Jocelyn L., additional, Briceño, Cristóbal, additional, Castillo Domracheva, Artemio, additional, Corrigan, Anne M., additional, Cran, Hugh R., additional, Crawford, Jane T., additional, Davis, Eric, additional, de Castro, Karina F., additional, B. de Nardi, Andrigo, additional, de Vos, Anna P., additional, Delgadillo Keenan, Laura, additional, Donelan, Edward M., additional, Espinoza Huerta, Adela R., additional, Faramade, Ibikunle A., additional, Fazil, Mohammed, additional, Fotopoulou, Eleni, additional, Fruean, Skye N., additional, Gallardo-Arrieta, Fanny, additional, Glebova, Olga, additional, Gouletsou, Pagona G., additional, Häfelin Manrique, Rodrigo F., additional, Henriques, Joaquim J. G. P., additional, Horta, Rodrigo S., additional, Ignatenko, Natalia, additional, Kane, Yaghouba, additional, King, Cathy, additional, Koenig, Debbie, additional, Krupa, Ada, additional, Kruzeniski, Steven J., additional, Kwon, Young-Mi, additional, Lanza-Perea, Marta, additional, Lazyan, Mihran, additional, Lopez Quintana, Adriana M., additional, Losfelt, Thibault, additional, Marino, Gabriele, additional, Martínez Castañeda, Simón, additional, Martínez-López, Mayra F., additional, Meyer, Michael, additional, Migneco, Edward J., additional, Nakanwagi, Berna, additional, Neal, Karter B., additional, Neunzig, Winifred, additional, Ní Leathlobhair, Máire, additional, Nixon, Sally J., additional, Ortega-Pacheco, Antonio, additional, Pedraza-Ordoñez, Francisco, additional, Peleteiro, Maria C., additional, Polak, Katherine, additional, Pye, Ruth J., additional, Reece, John F., additional, Rojas Gutierrez, Jose, additional, Sadia, Haleema, additional, Schmeling, Sheila K., additional, Shamanova, Olga, additional, Sherlock, Alan G., additional, Stammnitz, Maximilian, additional, Steenland-Smit, Audrey E., additional, Svitich, Alla, additional, Tapia Martínez, Lester J., additional, Thoya Ngoka, Ismail, additional, Torres, Cristian G., additional, Tudor, Elizabeth M., additional, van der Wel, Mirjam G., additional, Viţălaru, Bogdan A., additional, Vural, Sevil A., additional, Walkinton, Oliver, additional, Wang, Jinhong, additional, Wehrle-Martinez, Alvaro S., additional, Widdowson, Sophie A. E., additional, Stratton, Michael R., additional, Alexandrov, Ludmil B., additional, Martincorena, Iñigo, additional, and Murchison, Elizabeth P., additional

Published
2019
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17. Tasman-PCR: a genetic diagnostic assay for Tasmanian devil facial tumour diseases

Author

Kwon, Young Mi, primary, Stammnitz, Maximilian R., additional, Wang, Jinhong, additional, Swift, Kate, additional, Knowles, Graeme W., additional, Pye, Ruth J., additional, Kreiss, Alexandre, additional, Peck, Sarah, additional, Fox, Samantha, additional, Pemberton, David, additional, Jones, Menna E., additional, Hamede, Rodrigo, additional, and Murchison, Elizabeth P., additional

Published
2018
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18. The Origins and Vulnerabilities of Two Transmissible Cancers in Tasmanian Devils

Author

Stammnitz, Maximilian R., primary, Coorens, Tim H.H., additional, Gori, Kevin C., additional, Hayes, Dane, additional, Fu, Beiyuan, additional, Wang, Jinhong, additional, Martin-Herranz, Daniel E., additional, Alexandrov, Ludmil B., additional, Baez-Ortega, Adrian, additional, Barthorpe, Syd, additional, Beck, Alexandra, additional, Giordano, Francesca, additional, Knowles, Graeme W., additional, Kwon, Young Mi, additional, Hall, George, additional, Price, Stacey, additional, Pye, Ruth J., additional, Tubio, Jose M.C., additional, Siddle, Hannah V.T., additional, Sohal, Sukhwinder Singh, additional, Woods, Gregory M., additional, McDermott, Ultan, additional, Yang, Fengtang, additional, Garnett, Mathew J., additional, Ning, Zemin, additional, and Murchison, Elizabeth P., additional

Published
2018
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19. Regression of devil facial tumour disease following immunotherapy in immunised Tasmanian devils

Author

Tovar, Cesar, primary, Pye, Ruth J., additional, Kreiss, Alexandre, additional, Cheng, Yuanyuan, additional, Brown, Gabriella K., additional, Darby, Jocelyn, additional, Malley, Roslyn C., additional, Siddle, Hannah V. T., additional, Skjødt, Karsten, additional, Kaufman, Jim, additional, Silva, Anabel, additional, Baz Morelli, Adriana, additional, Papenfuss, Anthony T., additional, Corcoran, Lynn M., additional, Murphy, James M., additional, Pearse, Martin J., additional, Belov, Katherine, additional, Lyons, A. Bruce, additional, and Woods, Gregory M., additional

Published
2017
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20. Mitochondrial genetic diversity, selection and recombination in a canine transmissible cancer

Author

Strakova, Andrea, primary, Ní Leathlobhair, Máire, additional, Wang, Guo-Dong, additional, Yin, Ting-Ting, additional, Airikkala-Otter, Ilona, additional, Allen, Janice L, additional, Allum, Karen M, additional, Bansse-Issa, Leontine, additional, Bisson, Jocelyn L, additional, Castillo Domracheva, Artemio, additional, de Castro, Karina F, additional, Corrigan, Anne M, additional, Cran, Hugh R, additional, Crawford, Jane T, additional, Cutter, Stephen M, additional, Delgadillo Keenan, Laura, additional, Donelan, Edward M, additional, Faramade, Ibikunle A, additional, Flores Reynoso, Erika, additional, Fotopoulou, Eleni, additional, Fruean, Skye N, additional, Gallardo-Arrieta, Fanny, additional, Glebova, Olga, additional, Häfelin Manrique, Rodrigo F, additional, Henriques, Joaquim JGP, additional, Ignatenko, Natalia, additional, Koenig, Debbie, additional, Lanza-Perea, Marta, additional, Lobetti, Remo, additional, Lopez Quintana, Adriana M, additional, Losfelt, Thibault, additional, Marino, Gabriele, additional, Martincorena, Inigo, additional, Martínez Castañeda, Simón, additional, Martínez-López, Mayra F, additional, Meyer, Michael, additional, Nakanwagi, Berna, additional, De Nardi, Andrigo B, additional, Neunzig, Winifred, additional, Nixon, Sally J, additional, Onsare, Marsden M, additional, Ortega-Pacheco, Antonio, additional, Peleteiro, Maria C, additional, Pye, Ruth J, additional, Reece, John F, additional, Rojas Gutierrez, Jose, additional, Sadia, Haleema, additional, Schmeling, Sheila K, additional, Shamanova, Olga, additional, Ssuna, Richard K, additional, Steenland-Smit, Audrey E, additional, Svitich, Alla, additional, Thoya Ngoka, Ismail, additional, Vițălaru, Bogdan A, additional, de Vos, Anna P, additional, de Vos, Johan P, additional, Walkinton, Oliver, additional, Wedge, David C, additional, Wehrle-Martinez, Alvaro S, additional, van der Wel, Mirjam G, additional, Widdowson, Sophie AE, additional, and Murchison, Elizabeth P, additional

Published
2016
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21. Author response: Mitochondrial genetic diversity, selection and recombination in a canine transmissible cancer

Author

Strakova, Andrea, primary, Ní Leathlobhair, Máire, additional, Wang, Guo-Dong, additional, Yin, Ting-Ting, additional, Airikkala-Otter, Ilona, additional, Allen, Janice L, additional, Allum, Karen M, additional, Bansse-Issa, Leontine, additional, Bisson, Jocelyn L, additional, Castillo Domracheva, Artemio, additional, de Castro, Karina F, additional, Corrigan, Anne M, additional, Cran, Hugh R, additional, Crawford, Jane T, additional, Cutter, Stephen M, additional, Delgadillo Keenan, Laura, additional, Donelan, Edward M, additional, Faramade, Ibikunle A, additional, Flores Reynoso, Erika, additional, Fotopoulou, Eleni, additional, Fruean, Skye N, additional, Gallardo-Arrieta, Fanny, additional, Glebova, Olga, additional, Häfelin Manrique, Rodrigo F, additional, Henriques, Joaquim JGP, additional, Ignatenko, Natalia, additional, Koenig, Debbie, additional, Lanza-Perea, Marta, additional, Lobetti, Remo, additional, Lopez Quintana, Adriana M, additional, Losfelt, Thibault, additional, Marino, Gabriele, additional, Martincorena, Inigo, additional, Martínez Castañeda, Simón, additional, Martínez-López, Mayra F, additional, Meyer, Michael, additional, Nakanwagi, Berna, additional, De Nardi, Andrigo B, additional, Neunzig, Winifred, additional, Nixon, Sally J, additional, Onsare, Marsden M, additional, Ortega-Pacheco, Antonio, additional, Peleteiro, Maria C, additional, Pye, Ruth J, additional, Reece, John F, additional, Rojas Gutierrez, Jose, additional, Sadia, Haleema, additional, Schmeling, Sheila K, additional, Shamanova, Olga, additional, Ssuna, Richard K, additional, Steenland-Smit, Audrey E, additional, Svitich, Alla, additional, Thoya Ngoka, Ismail, additional, Vițălaru, Bogdan A, additional, de Vos, Anna P, additional, de Vos, Johan P, additional, Walkinton, Oliver, additional, Wedge, David C, additional, Wehrle-Martinez, Alvaro S, additional, van der Wel, Mirjam G, additional, Widdowson, Sophie AE, additional, and Murchison, Elizabeth P, additional

Published
2016
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22. A second transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils

Author

Pye, Ruth J., primary, Pemberton, David, additional, Tovar, Cesar, additional, Tubio, Jose M. C., additional, Dun, Karen A., additional, Fox, Samantha, additional, Darby, Jocelyn, additional, Hayes, Dane, additional, Knowles, Graeme W., additional, Kreiss, Alexandre, additional, Siddle, Hannah V. T., additional, Swift, Kate, additional, Lyons, A. Bruce, additional, Murchison, Elizabeth P., additional, and Woods, Gregory M., additional

Published
2015
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23. Tasman-PCR: a genetic diagnostic assay for Tasmanian devil facial tumour diseases

Author

Kwon, Young Mi, Stammnitz, Maximilian R, Wang, Jinhong, Swift, Kate, Knowles, Graeme W, Pye, Ruth J, Kreiss, Alexandre, Peck, Sarah, Fox, Samantha, Pemberton, David, Jones, Menna E, Hamede, Rodrigo, and Murchison, Elizabeth P

Subjects
diagnostic test, transmissible cancer, Tasmanian devil, devil facial tumour disease, 3. Good health
Abstract

Tasmanian devils have spawned two transmissible cancer clones, known as devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1) and devil facial tumour 2 (DFT2). DFT1 and DFT2 are transmitted between animals by the transfer of allogeneic contagious cancer cells by biting, and both cause facial tumours. DFT1 and DFT2 tumours are grossly indistinguishable, but can be differentiated using histopathology, cytogenetics or genotyping of polymorphic markers. However, standard diagnostic methods require specialist skills and equipment and entail long processing times. Here, we describe Tasman-PCR: a simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assay that identifies and distinguishes DFT1 and DFT2 by amplification of DNA spanning tumour-specific interchromosomal translocations. We demonstrate the high sensitivity and specificity of this assay by testing DNA from 546 tumours and 804 normal devils. A temporal-spatial screen confirmed the reported geographic ranges of DFT1 and DFT2 and did not provide evidence of additional DFT clones. DFT2 affects disproportionately more males than females, and devils can be co-infected with DFT1 and DFT2. Overall, we present a PCR-based assay that delivers rapid, accurate and high-throughput diagnosis of DFT1 and DFT2. This tool provides an additional resource for devil disease management and may assist with ongoing conservation efforts.

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