World-first echidna, improved platypus genomic sequencing – News – The University of Sydney

Female platypuses dont have teats. Rather, they secrete milk onto their bellies for their babies to lap up. We believe that the novel antimicrobial peptide genes that we found are secreted by mothers through their milk, to protect their young from harmful bacteria while they are in burrows, Professor Belov said.

A similar process also occurs in echidnas. Newborn platypus and echidna do not have immune tissues or organs when they hatch from eggs. Their immune systems develop while they are in burrows.

These findings build on Professor Belovs prior, genomic research on the platypus, which pinpointed the genes responsible for the animals venom. Future work will involve measuring the antimicrobial activities of each platypus and echidna peptide against a broad panel of bacteria and viruses, to identify the best targets for future development.

Researchers from other Australian universities, including the University of Melbourne, focused on identifying and studying genes responsible for platypus lactation in order to understand mammals evolutionary transition from egg-laying to live birth.

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World-first echidna, improved platypus genomic sequencing - News - The University of Sydney