On May 8, 2024, a fascinating online lecture was hosted by our OH-BOOST team, where Anjana C Karawita Senior Research Scientist and a veterinary pathologist at CSIRO, Australia's National Science Agency shared interesting findings from his recent study on the genome and transcriptome of the Australian black swan.
Anjana began his speech by expressing gratitude to the indigenous people of the island and paying respect to the invaluable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. He also extended his appreciation to his community, fellow colleagues at CSIRO, and collaborators from various institutes and universities.
Anjana Karawita and his colleagues research, published in Genome Biology, provides insights into why this iconic bird is uniquely susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and what genetic factors contribute to its distinctive black plumage.
This guest lecture is not recoded. For more detailed information, you can read the full article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36683094/
Anjana's research highlights a stark contrast between the black swan and its relatives, such as the mute swan and mallard ducks in terms of immune response. Unlike these other waterfowl, the black swan has a limited immune gene repertoire, making it highly vulnerable to diseases like HPAI. Key findings of his research include:
Limited Immune Genes: The black swan lacks an expanded set of immune genes found in other birds.
Missing Key Receptor: There is an absence of a critical viral pattern-recognition receptor in the endothelial cells of black swans.
These factors combined, and other that are fully mentioned in the article suggest that any introduction of avian viral infections into the black swan's native habitat could have devastating effects on the species.
