A pilot study of re-purposing drugs to treat koalas with chlamydia.

Fleming, C; Nugent, H; Quinteros, SL; Fernando, BSM; Tyndall, JDA; Webb, JK; Mella, VSA; Huston, WM

A pilot study of re-purposing drugs to treat koalas with chlamydia.

Fleming, C Nugent, H Quinteros, SL Fernando, BSM Tyndall, JDA Webb, JK Mella, VSA Huston, WM

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Publisher:: Springer Nature
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sci Rep, 2025, 15, (1), pp. 45194
Issue Date:: 2025-11-23

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fleming, C
dc.contributor.author	Nugent, H
dc.contributor.author	Quinteros, SL
dc.contributor.author	Fernando, BSM
dc.contributor.author	Tyndall, JDA
dc.contributor.author	Webb, JK
dc.contributor.author	Mella, VSA
dc.contributor.author	Huston, WM
dc.date.accessioned	2026-01-14T05:33:55Z
dc.date.available	2025-11-19
dc.date.available	2026-01-14T05:33:55Z
dc.date.issued	2025-11-23
dc.identifier.citation	Sci Rep, 2025, 15, (1), pp. 45194
dc.identifier.issn	2045-2322
dc.identifier.issn	2045-2322
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/191828
dc.description.abstract	The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an endangered species in parts of Australia, in part due to chlamydial infections. Treatment is difficult due to the hepatic metabolism of the koala, and the critical reliance on a gut microbiota for survival. This study aimed to identify new compounds for treatment of Chlamydia infections by screening a drug re-purposing library. Screening was conducted using an in vitro cell culture model prior to in vivo mouse infection model testing of two candidates identified from the in vitro screen. One lead, bisoprolol fumarate, showed an impact on chlamydial infection and burden in vitro and in vivo. Whilst the mechanism of action may not support progressing this lead further, the approach to screening the library and list of candidates may enable identification of other new koala treatments. This study demonstrates the potential to apply drug re-purposing to koala treatment and presents a list of candidates that could be explored further.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Springer Nature
dc.relation.ispartof	Sci Rep
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1038/s41598-025-29789-3
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Phascolarctidae
dc.subject.mesh	Chlamydia Infections
dc.subject.mesh	Pilot Projects
dc.subject.mesh	Chlamydia
dc.subject.mesh	Mice
dc.subject.mesh	Anti-Bacterial Agents
dc.subject.mesh	Disease Models, Animal
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Phascolarctidae
dc.subject.mesh	Mice
dc.subject.mesh	Chlamydia
dc.subject.mesh	Chlamydia Infections
dc.subject.mesh	Disease Models, Animal
dc.subject.mesh	Anti-Bacterial Agents
dc.subject.mesh	Pilot Projects
dc.title	A pilot study of re-purposing drugs to treat koalas with chlamydia.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	15
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection (AIMI)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection (AIMI)/Australian Institute for Microbiology & Infection (AIMI) Associate Members
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-01-14T05:33:51Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	15
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an endangered species in parts of Australia, in part due to chlamydial infections. Treatment is difficult due to the hepatic metabolism of the koala, and the critical reliance on a gut microbiota for survival. This study aimed to identify new compounds for treatment of Chlamydia infections by screening a drug re-purposing library. Screening was conducted using an in vitro cell culture model prior to in vivo mouse infection model testing of two candidates identified from the in vitro screen. One lead, bisoprolol fumarate, showed an impact on chlamydial infection and burden in vitro and in vivo. Whilst the mechanism of action may not support progressing this lead further, the approach to screening the library and list of candidates may enable identification of other new koala treatments. This study demonstrates the potential to apply drug re-purposing to koala treatment and presents a list of candidates that could be explored further.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/191828