Fighting Tasmanian devil facial tumours with a virus

The Tasmanian devil is an iconic Australian animal and the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial in the world. Devil populations have been devastated since the 1990s by a facial tumour that spreads between devils and is almost invariably fatal. This project is based on the unexpected discovery that a virus already in use as a vaccine can infect devil facial tumour cells, but not normal devil cells. The research will test whether this virus can be developed into an effective treatment that can kill or slow devil facial tumours and is safe in devils and the environment by studying the biology of the virus and the way it interacts with devil cells and the cells of other marsupials. A treatment that prolongs the life of devils with facial tumours would be a significant benefit for devil populations and therefore for Tasmanian ecosystems and the environment. Restoration of devil populations