RESEARCHERS have taken a major step in the search for a vaccine against the contagious cancer threatening the future of the Tasmanian devil. In a potentially ground breaking Menzies Institute study, five out of six devils injected with dead devil facial tumour disease cells produced an immune system reaction. DFTD has wiped out around 90 per cent of wild Tasmanian devils and prompted an unprecedented campaign to secure their future. Researcher Alex Kreiss said the study indicated that a vaccine against the disease was possible. "If we can immunise a group of Tasmanian devils in the wild against the disease, it means they can breed and raise their young and survive," Dr Kreiss said. "The next step is to increase the numbers [in a trial]. We need a much higher number of devils to tell what a good protocol is." Professor Greg Woods said a vaccination was a key part of the strategy to save the devils, alongside the establishment and maintenance of reserve populations. However, he said a vaccination could still be a long way off. "It could be years away, it could be around the corner, we just don't know," Professor Woods said. Environment Minister Matthew Groom said the priority was to re-establish healthy devil populations in the wild. Mr Groom will next month announce whether the devil will become the state's official animal emblem.
Dr Alex Kreiss, of the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, is hopeful a vaccine for the devil facial tumour disease will mean devils will be able to breed and raise their young.
RESEARCHERS have taken a major step in the search for a vaccine against the contagious cancer threatening the future of the Tasmanian devil.
In a potentially ground breaking Menzies Institute study, five out of six devils injected with dead devil facial tumour disease cells produced an immune system reaction.
DFTD has wiped out around 90 per cent of wild Tasmanian devils and prompted an unprecedented campaign to secure their future.
Researcher Alex Kreiss said the study indicated that a vaccine against the disease was possible.
"If we can immunise a group of Tasmanian devils in the wild against the disease, it means they can breed and raise their young and survive," Dr Kreiss said.
"The next step is to increase the numbers [in a trial]. We need a much higher number of devils to tell what a good protocol is."
Professor Greg Woods said a vaccination was a key part of the strategy to save the devils, alongside the establishment and maintenance of reserve populations.
However, he said a vaccination could still be a long way off.
"It could be years away, it could be around the corner, we just don't know," Professor Woods said.
Environment Minister Matthew Groom said the priority was to re-establish healthy devil populations in the wild.
Mr Groom will next month announce whether the devil will become the state's official animal emblem.
