The genetic relatedness of a peri-urban population of eastern grey kangaroos.

Objectives: The genetic diversity of an eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) population surrounded by landscape barriers was examined. DNA was extracted from tissue samples from 22 road-killed kangaroos, and blood samples from four live captured kangaroos. Amplified loci were used to determine relatedness between individual kangaroos.

Antimicrobial activity of red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura) serum.

Antimicrobial substances in serum include circulating complement proteins and acute phase proteins (APPs). We identified gene sequences for APPs, haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in marsupial genomes. Hp and SAA levels were measured in red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura) sera using commercially available assays.