Brits launch urgent bid to cure deadly 'contagious cancer' threatening to wipe out iconic Tasmanian devils

An ugly epidemic: This Tasmanian devil is infected with facial tumour disease

British animal experts are working to develop a vaccine for the terrifying form of infectious cancer threatening to send Australia's much-loved Tasmanian devils into extinction.
Biologists at the University of Southampton want to eliminate Devil Facial Tumour Disease, which causes death in almost every infected devil.
The disease emerged in the brain cells of one unlucky beast more than 18 years ago, before spreading throughout the population.
Tumours cells pass between devils if they bite each other during fights.
The cute beasties are known to be extremely agressive with each other, with males often engaging in vicious brawls to prove their dominance.

A healthy Tasmanian devil in the wild

Victors often chase their enemies away, biting at their bum as they run.
But when they do so, tumour cells are able to pass between the animals - with deadly consequences.
Dr Hannah Siddle, the scientist leading the research, said: "This contagious cancer is very unusual in that the cancer cells can move between animals.
"We are looking for the proteins that make the tumour cells different to the host devils that they infect and then use these 'tumour specific' proteins to design a vaccine that will save the devil from extinction."

 

Details of the devil: This cutey is more vicious than it appears

Dr Siddle has been handed a total of £183,759 in funding from the Leverhulme Trust, which she will spend during a three year research project.
"We have an opportunity to develop an effective vaccine against a disease that is rapidly destroying a unique and important species," Dr Siddle added.
"The Tasmanian devil is the top carnivore in Tasmania and its loss would be a disastrous outcome for the ecosystem.
"It has proven impossible to prevent the spread of DFTD and only a successful vaccine will allow captive, immunised animals to be released into the wild, eventually eradicating the disease."
Dr Siddle will also collaborate with a teams of experts from Monash University in Melbourne and the University of Tasmania.