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SUMMARY:Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease - Hanna Bender\, Research Sc
 hool of Biological Sciences\, The Australian National University
DTSTART:20080402T153000Z
DTEND:20080402T163000Z
UID:TALK11142@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:9054
DESCRIPTION:The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)\, is the world’s 
 largest remaining marsupial carnivore and is endemic to the island state o
 f Tasmania\, Australia.  Wild populations are at risk of extinction since 
 the recent emergence of a terrifying transmissible cancer\, Devil Facial T
 umour Disease (DFTD). DFTD is characterised by the appearance of large\, l
 ocally invasive tumours on the face\, neck and mouth of affected animals. 
 Metastasis to abdominal and thoracic viscera is common and mean survival t
 ime after the appearance of initial lesions is less than six months. Morta
 lity rates are 100% and no disease resistance has been reported.\n  \nRema
 rkably\, all tumours share an identical\, highly rearranged karyotype\, re
 gardless of the sex of the animal or progression of the tumour.  Several c
 hromosomes\, including both sex chromosomes are apparently lost\, presumab
 ly rearranged in four unidentified marker chromosomes. This suggests that\
 , rather than arising spontaneously in affected animals\, DFTD is a clonal
  cell line transmitted between animals by biting.\n \nWe are investigating
  the extent of the chromosome rearrangements in the tumour using chromosom
 e painting. By identifying breakage and fusion points we hope to determine
  which genes may have been disrupted to give DFTD its extraordinary malign
 ant characteristics. We are complementing cytogenetic studies with molecul
 ar approaches including cDNA and miRNA sequencing with the aim of identify
 ing tumour pathways and biomarkers for early diagnosis\, therapy or vaccin
 ation. \n\n
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 1\, Department of Veterinary Medicine
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