Help Koalas, help ourselves

Vaccine trials being run in Australia to protect koalas from chlamydia could help lead to a human vaccine, too. Chlamydia is ravaging the animals’ population (aided by habitat destruction and road kill). Animal- and human-health researchers are working together on projects that benefit both species. “You’re better off doing a bad experiment in koalas than a good experiment in mice,” says microbiologist Peter Timms. “We don’t need a vaccine for mice.”

The New York Times | 10 min read