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Whiting-Fawcett F, Blomberg AS, Troitsky T, Meierhofer MB, Field KA, Puechmaille SJ, Lilley TM. A Palearctic view of a bat fungal disease. Conserv Biol 2024:e14265. [PMID: 38616727 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The fungal infection causing white-nose disease in hibernating bats in North America has resulted in dramatic population declines of affected species, since the introduction of the causative agent Pseudogymnoascus destructans. The fungus is native to the Palearctic, where it also infects several bat species, yet rarely causes severe pathology or the death of the host. Pseudogymnoascus destructans infects bats during hibernation by invading and digesting the skin tissue, resulting in the disruption of torpor patterns and consequent emaciation. Relations among pathogen, host, and environment are complex, and individuals, populations, and species respond to the fungal pathogen in different ways. For example, the Nearctic Myotis lucifugus responds to infection by mounting a robust immune response, leading to immunopathology often contributing to mortality. In contrast, the Palearctic M. myotis shows no significant immunological response to infection. This lack of a strong response, resulting from the long coevolution between the hosts and the pathogen in the pathogen's native range, likely contributes to survival in tolerant species. After more than 15 years since the initial introduction of the fungus to North America, some of the affected populations are showing signs of recovery, suggesting that the fungus, hosts, or both are undergoing processes that may eventually lead to coexistence. The suggested or implemented management methods of the disease in North America have encompassed, for example, the use of probiotics and fungicides, vaccinations, and modifying the environmental conditions of the hibernation sites to limit the growth of the pathogen, intensity of infection, or the hosts' responses to it. Based on current knowledge from Eurasia, policy makers and conservation managers should refrain from disrupting the ongoing evolutionary processes and adopt a holistic approach to managing the epizootic.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Whiting-Fawcett
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A S Blomberg
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - T Troitsky
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M B Meierhofer
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - K A Field
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - S J Puechmaille
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution Montpellier (ISEM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - T M Lilley
- BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Carvalho T, Belasen AM, Toledo LF, James TY. Coevolution of a generalist pathogen with many hosts: the case of the amphibian chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102435. [PMID: 38387210 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Generalist pathogens maintain infectivity in numerous hosts; how this broad ecological niche impacts host-pathogen coevolution remains to be widely explored. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a highly generalist pathogenic fungus that has caused devastating declines in hundreds of amphibian species worldwide. This review examines amphibian chytridiomycosis host-pathogen interactions and available evidence for coevolution between Bd and its numerous hosts. We summarize recent evidence showing that Bd genotypes vary in geographic distribution and virulence, and that amphibian species also vary in Bd susceptibility according to their geographic distribution. How much variation can be explained by phenotypic plasticity or genetic differences remains uncertain. Recent research suggests that Bd genotypes display preferences for specific hosts and that some hosts are undergoing evolution as populations rebound from Bd outbreaks. Taken together, these findings suggest the potential for coevolution to occur and illuminate a path for addressing open questions through integrating historical and contemporary genetic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamilie Carvalho
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Anat M Belasen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - L Felipe Toledo
- Laboratório de História Natural de Anfíbios Brasileiros (LaHNAB), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Unicamp, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Timothy Y James
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
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Boyles JG, Brack V, Marshall KE, Brack D. Shifts in population density centers of a hibernating mammal driven by conflicting effects of climate change and disease. Glob Chang Biol 2024; 30:e17035. [PMID: 37987538 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Populations wax and wane over time in response to an organism's interactions with abiotic and biotic forces. Numerous studies demonstrate that fluctuations in local populations can lead to shifts in relative population densities across the geographic range of a species over time. Fewer studies attempt to disentangle the causes of such shifts. Over four decades (1983-2022), we monitored populations of hibernating Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) in two areas separated by ~110 km. The number of bats hibernating in the northern area increased from 1983 to 2011, while populations in the southern area remained relatively constant. We used simulation models and long-term weather data to demonstrate the duration of time bats must rely on stored fat during hibernation has decreased in both areas over that period, but at a faster rate in the northern area. Likewise, increasing autumn and spring temperatures shortened the periods of sporadic prey (flying insect) availability at the beginning and end of hibernation. Climate change thus increased the viability of northern hibernacula for an increasing number of bats by decreasing energetic costs of hibernation. Then in 2011, white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease of hibernating bats that increases energetic costs of hibernation, was detected in the area. From 2011 to 2022, the population rapidly decreased in the northern area and increased in the southern area, completely reversing the northerly shift in population densities associated with climate change. Energy balance during hibernation is the singular link explaining the northerly shift under a changing climate and the southerly shift in response to a novel disease. Continued population persistence suggests that bats may mitigate many impacts of WNS by hibernating farther south, where insects are available longer each year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin G Boyles
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
| | - Virgil Brack
- Environmental Solutions & Innovations, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Katie E Marshall
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Darwin Brack
- Environmental Solutions & Innovations, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Vanderwolf K, Kyle C, Davy C. A review of sebum in mammals in relation to skin diseases, skin function, and the skin microbiome. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16680. [PMID: 38144187 PMCID: PMC10740688 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases vary among and within species but the causes of this variation can be unclear. Immune responses are an important driver of disease variation, but mechanisms on how the body resists pathogen establishment before activation of immune responses are understudied. Skin surfaces of mammals are the first line of defense against abiotic stressors and pathogens, and skin attributes such as pH, microbiomes, and lipids influence disease outcomes. Sebaceous glands produce sebum composed of multiple types of lipids with species-specific compositions. Sebum affects skin barrier function by contributing to minimizing water loss, supporting thermoregulation, protecting against pathogens, and preventing UV-induced damage. Sebum also affects skin microbiome composition both via its antimicrobial properties, and by providing potential nutrient sources. Intra- and interspecific variation in sebum composition influences skin disease outcomes in humans and domestic mammal species but is not well-characterized in wildlife. We synthesized knowledge on sebum function in mammals in relation to skin diseases and the skin microbiome. We found that sebum composition was described for only 29 live, wild mammalian species. Sebum is important in dermatophilosis, various forms of dermatitis, demodicosis, and potentially white-nose syndrome. Sebum composition likely affects disease susceptibility, as lipid components can have antimicrobial functions against specific pathogens. It is unclear why sebum composition is species-specific, but both phylogeny and environmental effects may drive differences. Our review illustrates the role of mammal sebum function and influence on skin microbes in the context of skin diseases, providing a baseline for future studies to elucidate mechanisms of disease resistance beyond immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Vanderwolf
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher Kyle
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensics Center, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christina Davy
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Lv H, Li X, He D, Chen X, Liu M, Lan Y, Zhao J, Wang H, Yan Z. Genotype-Controlled Vertical Transmission Exerts Selective Pressure on Community Assembly of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Microb Ecol 2023; 86:2934-2948. [PMID: 37667132 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02295-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The plant's endophytic fungi play an important role in promoting host development and metabolism. Studies have shown that the factors affecting the assembly of the endophyte community mainly include host genotype, vertical transmission, and soil origin. However, we do not know the role of vertically transmitted endohytic fungi influences on the host-plant's endophytic community assembly. Salvia miltiorrhiza from three production areas were used as research objects; we constructed three production area genotypes of S. miltiorrhiza regenerated seedlings simultaneously. Based on high-throughput sequencing, we analyzed the effects of genotype, soil origin, and vertical transmission on endophytic fungal communities. The results show that the community of soil origins significantly affected the endophytic fungal community in the regenerated seedlings of S. miltiorrhiza. The influence of genotype on community composition occurs through a specific mechanism. Genotype may selectively screen certain communities into the seed, thereby exerting selection pressure on the community composition process of offspring. As the number of offspring increases gradually, the microbiota, controlled by genotype and transmitted vertically, stabilizes, ultimately resulting in a significant effect of genotype on community composition.Furthermore, we observed that the taxa influencing the active ingredients are also selected as the vertically transmitted community. Moreover, the absence of an initial vertically transmitted community in S. miltiorrhiza makes it more vulnerable to infection by pathogenic fungi. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate and comprehend the selection model of the vertically transmitted community under varying genotypes and soil conditions. This research holds significant implications for enhancing the quality and yield of medicinal plants and economic crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyang Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Dongmei He
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yin Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, China.
| | - Hai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu, China.
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Zhuyun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu, China.
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
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