Oral Presentation Australian Microbial Ecology Conference 2024

Tumour microbiomes of two transmissible cancers and its involvement in Tasmanian devils (#72)

Jeremy JJ Jeanjean 1
  1. Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia

Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) are threatened by two fatal contagious cancers, called Devil Facial Tumour (DFT) 1 and 2. Since the first discovery of this disease in 1996, scientists have been investigating the origin, cause and effect of these two transmissible cancers. However, a so far understudied component in these cancers, is the microbiome, i.e., the microorganisms inhabiting the tumour environment. Human cancer research has shown that microbes play a pivotal role in cancer development, progression and therapeutic outcomes by influencing host immune responses to tumours. It is, therefore, predictable that the tumour microbiomes will play a role in the emergence, progression and malignancy of DFT1 and DFT2.  A pilot study on the microbiome of the tumours has been conducted.  Preliminary results found differences in tumour microbiome between individuals, as well as within individuals with multiple tumours.