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Project title

Determining the environmental factors that enable an otherwise neoplastically benign herpesvirus to overcome host immune responses and induce a tumour epidemic in marine turtles.

Primary Funding Agency

Irish Research Council

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Limerick (UL)

Lead Applicant

n/a

Project Abstract

Sea turtles are a group of reptiles that have voyaged our oceans for the last 100 million years and occupy a fundamental niche in the marine ecosystem. Environmental exposures, climate change and human activity are severely affecting the survival of these species. Sadly, sea turtles are facing a relatively new and serious threat, a global tumour epidemic called fibropapillomatosis (FP). This disease, caused by an environmental co-trigger and Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), affects turtles� soft tissues and internal organs and leads to the development of tens-to-hundreds of tumours which can ultimately lead to death. Our understanding of this virus and how it causes cancer is extremely limited and hampers efforts to treat/prevent infection and tumour development. Working with the University of Florida�s Whitney Sea Turtle Hospital, who rehabilitate FP-afflicted turtles, and international collaborators we aim to understand 1) the environmental risk factors responsible for causing immunosuppression. 2) How the turtles� immune system responds to the virus and discover the biological mechanisms associated with the development of tumours. Applying state-of-the-art molecular and genomic techniques, applied to biopsied tumour tissue we will profile the host anti-viral immune response and tumour genetics. This information will allow us infer environmental exposures driving tumour formation and to determine the role of the turtles� immune system in the disease.

Grant Approved

�48,000.00

Research Hub

n/a

Research Theme

Not relevant

Start Date

01/10/2020

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/10/2022