This project characterises immune gene diversity and leukocyte markers in African wildlife using next-generation sequencing. The findings will enable the development of cross-reactive reagents and immunological tools for disease surveillance, vaccine evaluation, and conservation health monitoring.

Challenge

Wildlife immunology remains constrained by a critical lack of information on immune gene diversity and leukocyte surface markers in non-model species. This knowledge gap hampers efforts to investigate host-pathogen interactions, develop immunological reagents, and understand disease susceptibility in threatened species.

Solution

This project aims to characterise a broad range of immunogenetic features, including major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci, cytokine gene variants, and key leukocyte surface markers, across ecologically and conservation-relevant African wildlife species such as warthogs, lions, and elephants. Using next-generation sequencing and comparative analyses, the study lays the groundwork for translational use of cross-reactive antibodies and tailored immunological assays.

Impact

The resulting datasets will unlock new opportunities for immune profiling and disease surveillance across multiple taxa, supporting both conservation and veterinary research. By enabling the development of flow cytometry panels and serological tools for non-model species, the project strengthens our capacity to evaluate vaccine responses, monitor immunocompetence, and conduct pathogen challenge studies in threatened wildlife. In the longer term, it will contribute to wildlife health monitoring in reintroduction programmes and enhance our understanding of immune system evolution in the wild.

Partners

Zoological Society of London (ZSL)