Profiles
Cesar Tovar
Cesar Tovar
Technical Officer - Microbiology
Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Room 438-08 , Medical Science 2
+61 3 6226 4631 (phone)
Cesar is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania. He is part of the team researching immunologic aspects of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a transmissible cancer that is critically affecting the Tasmanian devil populations in the wild. His research contributed to the discovery of a highly specific and sensitive maker for DFTD which has greatly improved the diagnosis of the disease. His research also contributed to the understanding of the nature of this unique transmissible cancer.
Biography
Cesar is a biologist from the National University of Colombia BSc(Hons). Before moving to Australia Cesar worked as an environmental scientist for different private and government agencies in Colombia. In Australia he completed postgraduate studies at the University of Tasmania (GradDipEnvSt(Hons) and PhD) and worked for the Department of Parks and Wildlife Tasmania. Currently he is working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Menzies Institute for Medical Research in Hobart.
Career summary
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Tasmania, Australia, 2012. Insights into the nature and immune escape of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD)
- GradDipEnvSt(1st Class Hons), University of Tasmania, 2007. The effects of tourism on local social values: A case study of Northwest Tasmania
- GradDipEnvSt, University of Los Andes, Colombia, 1999
- BSc (1st Class Hons), National University of Colombia, Colombia, 1994. Morphological detection of the peptide S-17 from the synthetic vaccine SPf-66 in human red blood cells
Languages (other than English)
- Native Spanish speaker
Memberships
Professional practice
Member of:
- The Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)
- The Molecular and Experimental Pathology Society of Australasia (MEPSA)
- Tasmanian Haematology Immunology and Neoplasia Group (THING)
- Wildlife Disease Association (WDA)
Teaching
Human Biology, Biochemistry
Teaching expertise
While undertaking his PhD research Cesar worked as a tutor and demonstrator for the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Biotechnology at the University of Tasmania.
View more on Dr Cesar Tovar Lopez in WARP
Research Themes
Cesar's research aligns to the University's research themes of Environment and Better Health. His research focuses on the identification and characterisation of tumour antigens in Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) using an immunoproteomic approach. DFTD is a unique transmissible cancer spread by biting in the Tasmanian devil population. Our knowledge about the interaction of this cancer with the host immune system and the mechanisms that allow their transplantation between individuals is very limited. Therefore, this cancer is an exceptional model to study cancer immunology. The analysis of tumour antigens in DFTD will provide a better understanding of tumour immunology by identifying key proteins involved in the immune response and tumour development. Identification of antigens is also relevant for disease diagnosis and will offer potential immunological targets for the development of immunotherapy strategies.
Collaboration
Cesar's research team at Menzies has close working relations with research groups at the University of Cambridge and Southampton University in the UK, the University of Sydney, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, CSL Melbourne, the University of South Australia and the Central Science Laboratory at the University of Tasmania.
Awards
- Best poster presentation at the Molecular and Experimental Pathology Society of Australia Conference and finalist for the Best of the Best Student Prize at the Australian Health and Medical Research Congress, 2010. A tumour-specific diagnostic marker for transmissible facial tumours of Tasmanian devils, Melbourne, Australia
- Best student oral presentation. Immunohistochemistry studies of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. 2009. Molecular and Experimental Pathology Society of Australia Conference, Sydney, Australia
- Best student oral presentation. Immunohistochemistry of DFTD and identification of a potential marker, 2009, THING Annual Scientific Meeting, Launceston, Australia
Current projects
The Immune Response of the Tasmanian Devil & Devil Facial Tumour Disease
- Characterization of tumour associated antigens in Devil Facial Tumour Disease
- Identification of Heat Shock Proteins in Tasmanian devils
Fields of Research
- Animal immunology (310905)
- Veterinary immunology (300906)
- Cellular immunology (320404)
- Animal cell and molecular biology (310902)
- Humoural immunology and immunochemistry (320405)
- Medical parasitology (320704)
- Urban geography (440612)
- Tumour immunology (320409)
- Immunogenetics (incl. genetic immunology) (320406)
- Veterinary epidemiology (300905)
- Aquaculture (300501)
- Tourism management (350803)
- Veterinary diagnosis and diagnostics (300904)
- Proteomics and intermolecular interactions (excl. medical proteomics) (310109)
- Microbial ecology (310703)
- Veterinary pathology (300910)
- Cancer cell biology (321101)
- Veterinary sciences (300999)
Research Objectives
- Terrestrial biodiversity (180606)
- Clinical health (200199)
- Socio-cultural issues in tourism (110402)
- Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in terrestrial environments (180602)
- Other health (209999)
- Veterinary biological preventatives (241601)
- Expanding knowledge in the health sciences (280112)
- Aquaculture fin fish (excl. tuna) (100202)
Publications
Cesar's research has contributed to the understanding of the nature of Devil Facial Tumour Disease and the characterisation of a specific diagnostic marker for the disease. These findings have been published in the international journal Science and have placed the University of Tasmania and Menzies Research Institute at the forefront of research in this area.
Total publications
27
Highlighted publications
(1 outputs)| Year | Type | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Journal Article | Murchison EP, Tovar C, Hsu A, Bender HS, Kheradpour P, et al., 'The Tasmanian Devil Transcriptome Reveals Schwann Cell Origins of a Clonally Transmissible Cancer ', Science, 327, (5961) pp. 84-87. ISSN 0036-8075 (2010) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1126/science.1180616 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 176Web of Science - 159 Co-authors: Obendorf D; Blizzard CA; Kreiss A; Woods GM |
Journal Article
(21 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Patchett AL, Tovar C, Blackburn NB, Woods GM, Lyons AB, 'Mesenchymal plasticity of devil facial tumour cells during in vivo vaccine and immunotherapy trials', Immunology and Cell Biology pp. 1-13. ISSN 0818-9641 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12451 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 5 Co-authors: Patchett AL; Blackburn NB; Woods GM; Lyons AB | |
| 2019 | Patchett AL, Coorens THH, Darby J, Wilson R, McKay MJ, et al., 'Two of a kind: transmissible Schwann cell cancers in the endangered Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)', Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 77 pp. 1847-1858. ISSN 1420-682X (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03259-2 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 16Web of Science - 15 Co-authors: Patchett AL; Darby J; Wilson R; Pye RJ; Flies AS; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2018 | Caldwell A, Coleby R, Tovar C, Stammnitz MR, Kwon YM, et al., 'The newly-arisen devil facial tumour disease 2 (DFT2) reveals a mechanism for the emergence of a contagious cancer', Elife, 7 Article e35314. ISSN 2050-084X (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.7554/eLife.35314 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 31Web of Science - 32 Co-authors: Woods GM | |
| 2018 | Patchett AL, Wilson R, Charlesworth JC, Corcoran LM, Papenfuss AT, et al., 'Transcriptome and proteome profiling reveals stress-induced expression signatures of imiquimod-treated Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) cells', OncoTarget, 9, (22) pp. 15895-15914. ISSN 1949-2553 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24634 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9 Co-authors: Patchett AL; Wilson R; Charlesworth JC; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2018 | Tovar C, Patchett AL, Kim V, Wilson R, Darby J, et al., 'Heat shock proteins expressed in the marsupial Tasmanian devil are potential antigenic candidates in a vaccine against devil facial tumour disease', PLoS ONE, 13, (4) Article e0196469. ISSN 1932-6203 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196469 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: Patchett AL; Wilson R; Darby J; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2018 | Woods GM, Fox S, Flies A, Tovar CD, Jones M, et al., 'Two decades of the impact of Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD)', Integrative and Comparative Biology, 58, (6) pp. 1043-1054. ISSN 1540-7063 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy118 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 7Web of Science - 6 Co-authors: Woods GM; Flies A; Jones M; Hamede R; Lyons AB; Bettiol S | |
| 2017 | Patchett AL, Tovar C, Corcoran LM, Lyons AB, Woods GM, 'The toll-like receptor ligands Hiltonol® (polyICLC) and imiquimod effectively activate antigen-specific immune responses in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii)', Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 76 pp. 352-360. ISSN 0145-305X (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.07.004 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 11Web of Science - 12 Co-authors: Patchett AL; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2017 | Tovar C, Pye RJ, Kreiss A, Cheng Y, Brown GK, et al., 'Regression of devil facial tumour disease following immunotherapy in immunised Tasmanian devils', Scientific Reports, 7 Article 43827. ISSN 2045-2322 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/srep43827 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 41Web of Science - 41 Co-authors: Pye RJ; Kreiss A; Brown GK; Darby J; Malley RC; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2016 | Brown GK, Tovar C, Cooray AA, Kreiss A, Darby J, et al., 'Mitogen activated Tasmanian devil blood mononuclear cells kill devil facial tumour disease cells', Immunology and Cell Biology, 94, (7) pp. 673-679. ISSN 0818-9641 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/icb.2016.38 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 17Web of Science - 17 Co-authors: Brown GK; Cooray AA; Kreiss A; Darby J; Bettiol SS; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2016 | Patchett AL, Darby JM, Tovar C, Lyons AB, Woods GM, 'The immunomodulatory small molecule imiquimod induces apoptosis in devil facial tumour cell lines', PL o S One, 11, (12) Article e0168068. ISSN 1932-6203 (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168068 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 11Web of Science - 10 Co-authors: Patchett AL; Darby JM; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2015 | Kreiss A, Brown GK, Tovar C, Lyons AB, Woods GM, 'Evidence for induction of humoral and cytotoxic immune responses against devil facial tumor disease cells in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) immunized with killed cell preparations', Vaccine, 33, (26) pp. 3016-3025. ISSN 0264-410X (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.01.039 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 40Web of Science - 36 Co-authors: Kreiss A; Brown GK; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2015 | Patchett AL, Latham R, Brettingham-Moore KH, Tovar C, Lyons AB, et al., 'Toll-like receptor signaling is functional in immune cells of the endangered Tasmanian devil', Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 53 pp. 123-133. ISSN 0145-305X (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.07.003 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 15Web of Science - 14 Co-authors: Patchett AL; Latham R; Brettingham-Moore KH; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2015 | Pye RJ, Pemberton D, Tovar C, Tubio JM, Dun KA, et al., 'A second transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113, (2) pp. 374-379. ISSN 0027-8424 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1519691113 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 140Web of Science - 138 Co-authors: Pye RJ; Darby J; Kreiss A; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2015 | Woods GM, Howson LJ, Brown GK, Tovar C, Kreiss A, et al., 'Immunology of a transmissible cancer spreading among Tasmanian devils', Journal of Immunology, 195, (1) pp. 23-29. ISSN 0022-1767 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500131 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 19Web of Science - 19 Co-authors: Woods GM; Howson LJ; Brown GK; Kreiss A; Lyons AB | |
| 2014 | Howson LJ, Morris KM, Kobayashi T, Tovar C, Kreiss A, et al., 'Identification of dendritic cells, B cell and T cell subsets in Tasmanian devil lymphoid tissue; evidence for poor immune cell infiltration into devil facial tumors', Anatomical Record, 297, (5) pp. 925-938. ISSN 1932-8486 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/ar.22904 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 30Web of Science - 29 Co-authors: Howson LJ; Kreiss A; Woods GM | |
| 2013 | Siddle HV, Kreiss A, Tovar C, Yuen CK, Cheng Y, et al., 'Reversible epigenetic down-regulation of MHC molecules by devil facial tumour disease illustrates immune escape by a contagious cancer', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110, (13) pp. 5103-5108. ISSN 0027-8424 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1219920110 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 151 Co-authors: Kreiss A; Hamede R; Jones ME; Woods GM | |
| 2011 | Dorantes Aranda JJ, Waite TD, Godrant A, Rose AL, Tovar CD, et al., 'Novel application of a fish gill cell line assay to assess ichthyotoxicity of harmful marine microalgae', Harmful Algae, 10, (4) pp. 366-373. ISSN 1568-9883 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2011.01.002 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 45Web of Science - 45 Co-authors: Dorantes Aranda JJ; Woods GM; Hallegraeff GM | |
| 2011 | Kreiss A, Tovar C, Obendorf DL, Dun K, Woods GM, 'A murine xenograft model for a transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils', Veterinary Pathology, 48, (2) pp. 475-481. ISSN 0300-9858 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1177/0300985810380398 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 21Web of Science - 19 Co-authors: Kreiss A; Obendorf DL; Woods GM | |
| 2011 | Tovar C, Obendorf D, Murchison EP, Papenfuss AT, Kreiss A, et al., 'Tumor-specific diagnostic marker for transmissible facial tumors of Tasmanian devils: immunohistochemistry studies', Veterinary Pathology, 48, (6) pp. 1195-1203. ISSN 1544-2217 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1177/0300985811400447 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 48Web of Science - 47 Co-authors: Obendorf D; Kreiss A; Woods GM | |
| 2010 | Murchison EP, Tovar C, Hsu A, Bender HS, Kheradpour P, et al., 'The Tasmanian Devil Transcriptome Reveals Schwann Cell Origins of a Clonally Transmissible Cancer ', Science, 327, (5961) pp. 84-87. ISSN 0036-8075 (2010) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1126/science.1180616 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 176Web of Science - 159 Co-authors: Obendorf D; Blizzard CA; Kreiss A; Woods GM | |
| 2008 | Tovar CD, Lockwood M, 'Social impacts of tourism: an Australian regional case study', International Journal of Tourism Research, 10, (4) pp. 365-378. ISSN 1099-2340 (2008) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/jtr.667 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 119Web of Science - 107 Co-authors: Lockwood M |
Conference Publication
(6 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Patchett A, Pinfold T, Tovar C, Lyons B, Woods G, 'Abstract B040: Imiquimod initiates tumor specific overload of the ER stress response in Tasmanian devil facial cancer cells', Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: translating science into survival, September 25-28 2016, New York, NY (2016) [Conference Extract] DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.IMM2016-B040 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Patchett A; Pinfold T; Lyons B; Woods G | |
| 2016 | Patchett AL, Kalodimos G, Tovar C, Lyons AB, Woods GM, 'Analysis of toll-like receptor responses in the endangered Tasmanian devil', International Congress of Immunology, August 21-26, 2016, Melbourne, Australia (2016) [Conference Extract] DOI: 10.1002/eji.201670200 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Patchett AL; Kalodimos G; Lyons AB; Woods GM | |
| 2015 | Pinfold T, Brown GK, Patchett AL, Tovar CD, Bettiol SS, et al., 'Curse of the Devil: Devil Facial Tumour Disease', Australasian Cytometry Society 38th Annual Scientific Meeting, October 11-14, 2015, Perth, Australia (2015) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Pinfold T; Brown GK; Patchett AL; Bettiol SS; Woods GM | |
| 2014 | Tovar C, Pye RJ, Kreiss A, Woods G, 'The immune response of Tasmanian devils to devil facial tumour disease cell preparations', The 5th Australasian Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Development Meeting, 7-9 May, Melbourne, Australia (2014) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Pye RJ; Kreiss A; Woods G | |
| 2009 | Kreiss A, Tovar C, Woods GM, 'Immunisation of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) against Devil Facial Tumour Disease Tumour Cells', The 5th International Veterinary Vaccines and Diagnostics Conference, 19-23 July, Madison, USA (2009) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Kreiss A; Woods GM | |
| 2006 | Tovar CD, 'The effects of tourism in Northwest Tasmania', School of Geography and Environmental Studies Conference 2006: Full Program with Abstracts, October, Hobart, pp. 8-8. (2006) [Conference Extract] |
Grants & Funding
- Chief Investigator. Selection of devil facial tumour associated antigens as a tool for the development of a prophylactic vaccine. Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research – University of Tasmania Foundation 2012-2013
- Chief Investigator. Analysis of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) to identify unique tumour antigens for diagnosis and vaccination. Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research – University of Tasmania Foundation 2009-2010
- Chief Investigator. Characterisation of immunological targets for the development of a vaccine to protect Tasmanian devils against a contagious cancer. Research Enhancement Grant Scheme (REGS). University of Tasmania 2014-2015
- Chief Investigator. Establishment of a mouse model to study the biology of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research – University of Tasmania Foundation 2010-2011
Funding Summary
Number of grants
9
Total funding
Projects
- Description
- This project will use sequencing to identify key cell subsets and molecular functions in devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) that are associated with tumour survival and regression. This information will be harnessed for improvement of candidate DFTD therapies and vaccines in the Tasmanian devil.
- Funding
- University of Tasmania Foundation Inc ($32,775)
- Scheme
- Grant-Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Gran
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Patchett AL; Lyons AB; Tovar Lopez CD
- Year
- 2018
- Description
- We have established a multifaceted study to understand the cellular origin of DFT2 by producing large datasets with gene and protein profiles for DFT1 and DFT2. This proposal will use bioinformatics tools for the analysis of these data and the interpretation of the results in order to promote a more comprehensive understanding of the biology of DFTD
- Funding
- University of Tasmania Foundation Inc ($34,165)
- Scheme
- Grant-Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Gran
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Woods GM; Tovar Lopez CD; Wilson RA; McKay M; Papenfuss A
- Year
- 2017
- Description
- Funds will be used to procure services from BPA that will support proteomics and research projects on, respectively, molecular mechanisms of DFTD and the physiological response of diatoms to environmental stresses.
- Funding
- Bioplatforms Australia Ltd ($15,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Wilson RR; Foo E; King AE; Tovar Lopez CD; Martin AR
- Year
- 2016
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($14,500)
- Scheme
- Grant-Research Enhancement (REGS)
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Tovar Lopez CD
- Year
- 2014
- Funding
- University of Tasmania Foundation Inc ($29,736)
- Scheme
- Award-Eric Guiler Foundation
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Kreiss A; Woods GM; Lyons AB; Tovar Lopez CD
- Year
- 2012
- Funding
- University of Tasmania Foundation Inc ($33,661)
- Scheme
- Grant-Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Gran
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Tovar Lopez CD; Woods GM
- Year
- 2012
- Funding
- University of Tasmania Foundation Inc ($26,500)
- Scheme
- Donation-Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Tovar Lopez CD; Woods GM; Kreiss A
- Year
- 2011
- Funding
- University of Tasmania Foundation Inc ($20,255)
- Scheme
- Donation-Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Woods GM; Kreiss A; Tovar Lopez CD; Shellie RA; Hilder EF; Breadmore MC
- Year
- 2009
- Funding
- University of Tasmania Foundation Inc ($16,251)
- Scheme
- Donation-Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Woods GM; Kreiss A; Tovar Lopez CD
- Year
- 2008
Research Supervision
Cesar is currently supervising a PhD student (Analysis of toll-like receptors in Tasmanian devils and Devil Facial Tumour Disease) and an Honours student (Analysis of heat shock proteins in Tasmanian devils and DFTD).
Completed
1
Completed
| Degree | Title | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | Toll-Like Receptors in the Endangered Tasmanian Devil and Devil Facial Tumour Disease Candidate: Amanda Louise Patchett | 2018 |