Scientists Map the Genome to Help the Koalas

Genome mapping helps scientists develop viruses against chlamydia.

, SYDNEY - Scientists mapping on the Koala genome to help the Australian animal struggle against the epidemic of chlamydial bacterial diseases. Mapping the genome can help researchers develop better vaccines.

Researchers at the Koala Genome Consortium, a team of 54 Australian and international scientists, say they sequenced more than 3.4 billion base pairs and more than 26,000 genes in the koala genome. The genome is slightly larger than humans.

"We are in a good position now to develop better vaccines to treat them," said Katherine Belov, a professor of comparative genome at the University of Sydney. Belov and his colleagues published their research in the journal Nature Genetics on Monday (3/7).

If left untreated, chlamydia infection can cause blindness, severe bladder inflammation, infertility and death in koalas. Treatment with antibiotics often makes it difficult for koalas to digest eucalyptus leaves, which are the staple food.

"As time passes, we will really understand why some animals recover from chlamydia and why others do not, and that will help us develop therapy to treat koalas," Belov said.

The Australian Koala is categorized as a vulnerable species in a conservation measure by 2012

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