Are you still with me? We've gotten to Hobart, met with the Director of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, and visited Maria Island. Now I'll get into the nitty-gritty about the DFTD plague.
Very interesting, Dorothy. I was intrigued by the notion of calculating what would be a good way to get the immune system to recognize those cancer cells as "other." Am I right to think that the vaccine essentially tags the intruder in some fashion?
Good question, Jon! I don't know the latest info on the vaccine--can't seem to track it down--but when I was there Greg Woods said that the vaccine was being made by somehow awakening the genes in the tumor cells that code for the surface molecules that say "other", then using an injection of these tumor cells with the genes turned back on to produce a sort of vaccine that will stimulate the devils' bodies to create antibodies to attack the foreign cells. Does that make sense? I'll keep trying to get update info and share it! Meanwhile, a large reserve has been set up on mainland Australia where disease-free devils have been released, along with some other native species that are endangered. I'll say something about this in a later post.
This information is fascinating. I hope the vaccine can be prepared & distributed in time! I'm also wondering if there are other cancers that are infectious.
Thanks, Wendy. I wish I knew more about the plan to use the new vaccine. It can be put into food, so maybe they will put out baits; the up-to-date info out there is kind of scarce.
Very interesting, Dorothy. I was intrigued by the notion of calculating what would be a good way to get the immune system to recognize those cancer cells as "other." Am I right to think that the vaccine essentially tags the intruder in some fashion?
Jon
Good question, Jon! I don't know the latest info on the vaccine--can't seem to track it down--but when I was there Greg Woods said that the vaccine was being made by somehow awakening the genes in the tumor cells that code for the surface molecules that say "other", then using an injection of these tumor cells with the genes turned back on to produce a sort of vaccine that will stimulate the devils' bodies to create antibodies to attack the foreign cells. Does that make sense? I'll keep trying to get update info and share it! Meanwhile, a large reserve has been set up on mainland Australia where disease-free devils have been released, along with some other native species that are endangered. I'll say something about this in a later post.
This information is fascinating. I hope the vaccine can be prepared & distributed in time! I'm also wondering if there are other cancers that are infectious.
Thanks, Wendy. I wish I knew more about the plan to use the new vaccine. It can be put into food, so maybe they will put out baits; the up-to-date info out there is kind of scarce.