Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Development Of A Chlamydia Vaccine For Koalas

5^th International conference on Vaccines, Vaccination and Immunization

August 21-22, 2024 | webinar

Peter Timms

University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Abstract:

Wild koala populations continue to experience serious declines as a result of several threatening factors including, (i) loss of habitat, (ii) motor vehicle trauma; (iii) dog attacks; (iv) infectious diseases, primarily Chlamydia, but also the newly discoverd koala retrovirus. Chlamydial infections are associated with diseases ranging from ocular disease leading to blindness, as well as urinary and genital tract disease, leading to female infertility. Modeling shows that targeting chlamydial disease would have a major impact on stabilising population decline. Our studies have demonstrated that koalas can be safely immunized with a vaccine containing a mixture of chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP) antigens combined with a single dose subcutaneous regime. We have recently conducted several wild koala field trials and observed strong, specific and long-lasting immune responses in the vaccinated koalas; high titre antibody responses (as measured by ELISA and also in vitro neutralisation) as well as Chlamydia-specific cytokine responses (interferon- gamma and IL-17 in particular). For animals which were Chlamydia PCR positive at the time of vaccination, we observed a significant reduction in their infection PCR load. We also observed protection from progression to clinical disease in the vaccinated animals. We also conducted a small trial to vaccinate animals which already have clinical signs of ocular disease. Instead of the normal practice of administering antibiotics (chloramphenicol, daily for 28 days, which severely disrupts the animal’s gut microbiome) we vaccinated animals with a single dose, 3-MOMP vaccine. For allvaccinated animals, their Chlamydia PCR load decreased, and for 6 of the 7 animals, ocular disease regressed and the animals could be released back into the wild without further treatment. Most recently we have also begun to develop a vaccine against the koala retrovirus, with promising results.

Biography :

Professor Timms is Professor of Microbiology at the University of Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. He is a nationally and internationally renowned microbiologist with specific expertise in the area of Chlamydia and koala retrovirus. His laboratory is acknowledged as the leading Australian laboratory and one of the leading groups internationally working on all aspects of chlamydial infections. His research group is developing vaccines and new diagnostics for chlamydial diseases in humans and animals as well as an improved understanding of chlamydial genomics, cell biology and pathogenicity. He has published over 280 papers, reviews and book chapters in peer-reviewed international scientific journals.