![Skroo, a wild koala visiting Endeavour Veterinary Ecology clinic, on June 25. Researchers at the clinic are testing a vaccine against chlamydia in koalas, which is very similar to the human form of the disease.](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/07/14/science/00SCI-KOALAS02/00SCI-KOALAS02-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)
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
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