Could Vaccines Help Save Endangered Lemurs? | National Geographic

lemurs are the most critically

lemurs are the most critically endangered species of vertebrates on the

endangered species of vertebrates on the

endangered species of vertebrates on the planet it is likely that many species

planet it is likely that many species

planet it is likely that many species will go extinct within the next 100

will go extinct within the next 100

will go extinct within the next 100 years and so there is a very urgent need

years and so there is a very urgent need

years and so there is a very urgent need to develop advanced diagnostics advanced

to develop advanced diagnostics advanced

to develop advanced diagnostics advanced vaccines to be able to aid ongoing

vaccines to be able to aid ongoing

vaccines to be able to aid ongoing conservation efforts in Madagascar our

conservation efforts in Madagascar our

conservation efforts in Madagascar our research provides the groundwork for

research provides the groundwork for

research provides the groundwork for developing those advanced approaches

what we’re trying to understand more

what we’re trying to understand more about is how the lemur immune system

about is how the lemur immune system

about is how the lemur immune system responds to pathogens the sifaka lemurs

responds to pathogens the sifaka lemurs

responds to pathogens the sifaka lemurs every year there’s a seasonal outbreak

every year there’s a seasonal outbreak

every year there’s a seasonal outbreak of Cryptosporidium parvum

of Cryptosporidium parvum

of Cryptosporidium parvum crypto is a pathogen of concern not only

crypto is a pathogen of concern not only

crypto is a pathogen of concern not only at the Lemur center but also for human

at the Lemur center but also for human

at the Lemur center but also for human populations worldwide Cryptosporidium is

populations worldwide Cryptosporidium is

populations worldwide Cryptosporidium is a pathogenic protozoan that causes

a pathogenic protozoan that causes

a pathogenic protozoan that causes extreme dysentery the individuals that

extreme dysentery the individuals that

extreme dysentery the individuals that acquire crypto infection die likely

acquire crypto infection die likely

acquire crypto infection die likely because of dehydration if you identify

because of dehydration if you identify

because of dehydration if you identify the infection soon enough there’s steps

the infection soon enough there’s steps

the infection soon enough there’s steps that we can take to help prevent death

that we can take to help prevent death

that we can take to help prevent death but ideally we would have maybe a

but ideally we would have maybe a

but ideally we would have maybe a vaccine or advanced diagnostic procedure

vaccine or advanced diagnostic procedure

vaccine or advanced diagnostic procedure that could be used almost immediately

that could be used almost immediately

that could be used almost immediately upon signs of illness

if an individual does experience

if an individual does experience symptoms we will go and acquire a blood

symptoms we will go and acquire a blood

symptoms we will go and acquire a blood sample and I will select the white blood

sample and I will select the white blood

sample and I will select the white blood cells from that sample we then perform

cells from that sample we then perform

cells from that sample we then perform RNA extraction that RNA from the white

RNA extraction that RNA from the white

RNA extraction that RNA from the white blood cells is what we can use to

blood cells is what we can use to

blood cells is what we can use to generate sequence data of the antibodies

generate sequence data of the antibodies

generate sequence data of the antibodies so it provides a snapshot of the immune

so it provides a snapshot of the immune

so it provides a snapshot of the immune system at the moment that the blood

system at the moment that the blood

system at the moment that the blood sample was taken and that snapshot will

sample was taken and that snapshot will

sample was taken and that snapshot will tell us which antibodies are being

tell us which antibodies are being

tell us which antibodies are being upregulated and that’s the information

upregulated and that’s the information

upregulated and that’s the information that’s critical

that’s critical

that’s critical what’s the immune system of that

what’s the immune system of that

what’s the immune system of that individual doing how is it particularly

individual doing how is it particularly

individual doing how is it particularly interacting with that pathogen that

database that we can develop of

database that we can develop of expressed antibodies can be mined in the

expressed antibodies can be mined in the

expressed antibodies can be mined in the future to be able to help create

future to be able to help create

future to be able to help create advanced diagnostics and vaccines

if we do nothing then they’re lost

if we do nothing then they’re lost forever right and so that’s why

forever right and so that’s why

forever right and so that’s why developing vaccines for wild populations

developing vaccines for wild populations

developing vaccines for wild populations of primates is so important because if

of primates is so important because if

of primates is so important because if we don’t do it they’re going to be lost

we don’t do it they’re going to be lost

we don’t do it they’re going to be lost forever