In the past 30 years, Australia’s Tasmanian devil population has been facing a grave threat in the form of an infectious cancer known as devil facial tumor disease. This disease has pushed the species to near extinction as the animals are highly susceptible to this deadly cancer. The genomic interactions between the disease and the host devil species play a crucial role in determining how quickly a susceptible animal becomes infected after exposure to the pathogen. DNA sequencing of the animals and their tumors has enabled researchers like University of South Florida Assistant Professor Mark Margres and doctoral student Dylan Gallinson to track these interactions.
Margres and Gallinson’s research, published in a coauthored paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sheds light on the intergenomic signatures of coevolution between Tasmanian devils and the infectious cancer. Traditional methods of determining the genetic basis for disease involve genome studies and regression analysis that match genes with disease risk. However, there had previously been a lack of a technique to study the interactions between both genomes. Through their joint genome-wide association study, which involved assessing 960 genomes and 15 years of data on captured devils, Margres and Gallinson were able to track the co-evolution of the devils and the cancer.
Collaborating with researchers in Tasmania who have been monitoring the spread of the disease and collecting tissue samples, Margres and Gallinson sequenced the DNA of both the tumors and the devils to identify the mutation that contributes to the manifestation of the disease. Their findings have the potential to inform both epidemiological models that track infectious diseases and devil management strategies that aim to save the endangered species. By understanding the genetic basis of the disease and how it interacts with the host devil species, researchers can develop more effective strategies for managing the spread of the cancer and protecting the remaining Tasmanian devil population.
The research conducted by Margres and Gallinson highlights the importance of studying the genomics of infectious diseases and their impact on vulnerable species. By tracking the genomic interactions between the Tasmanian devils and the infectious cancer, researchers can gain valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the spread and manifestation of the disease. This knowledge can be used to inform conservation efforts and devil management strategies aimed at preserving the species and preventing further decline in the population. Understanding the genetic basis of disease susceptibility in vulnerable species like Tasmanian devils is crucial for developing targeted interventions that can help mitigate the threat posed by infectious diseases and ensure the long-term survival of these endangered animals.
The findings of Margres and Gallinson’s research have significant implications for both the field of biology and conservation. By identifying the mutations that contribute to the manifestation of devil facial tumor disease and studying the co-evolution of the devils and the cancer, researchers have gained important insights into the genetic factors that influence disease susceptibility in the Tasmanian devil population. This information can be used to develop more targeted and effective management strategies for protecting the species and preventing further decline in their numbers. By combining genomic data with epidemiological models, researchers can gain a better understanding of how infectious diseases spread and interact with their hosts, which can inform efforts to control and mitigate disease outbreaks in vulnerable species.
Overall, the research conducted by Margres and Gallinson represents a significant contribution to the field of genomics and conservation biology. By studying the intergenomic signatures of coevolution between Tasmanian devils and an infectious cancer, researchers have advanced our understanding of the genetic basis for disease susceptibility in vulnerable species. This knowledge can be used to inform future research on infectious diseases and their impact on wildlife populations, as well as to develop more effective strategies for managing and conserving endangered species like the Tasmanian devil. The findings of this study highlight the importance of studying the genomics of infectious diseases and their interactions with host species in order to develop targeted interventions that can help protect vulnerable populations and ensure their long-term survival.
