agsci.psu.edu/">College of Agricultural Sciences aimed at helping amphibians fight fungal disease by strengthening their natural defenses has received a $120,000 grant from the Morris Animal Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing animal health through scientific research.
Lead researcher Molly Bletz, assistant professor of disease ecology in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, explained that amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, are critical to the health of ecosystems. They provide benefits such as helping to control insect populations and serving as food for other animals.
However, a group of fungi called chytrids attacks amphibians' skin, the health of which is essential for their ability to breathe and stay hydrated. Bletz said this has resulted in significant reductions in amphibian populations worldwide, and a new type of chytrid fungus has now emerged, making the situation more urgent.
She explained that like most animals, amphibians carry a variety of tiny organisms on their skin - including bacteria, fungi and protists - that make up their skin microbiome. Some of these microbes cause disease, but others work together to protect the animal.
"Scientists have learned that certain bacteria can counteract chytrid fungi, but we know little about the role of protists," Bletz said. "In plants and other systems, protists can help defend against disease by regulating the bacterial community, so understanding these relationships between protists and bacteria could lead to new ways to protect amphibians."
Bletz and her graduate student, Jane Venezia, will investigate the potential role of protists in helping amphibians to combat fungal infections. Their research will examine the diversity and abundance of protists and bacteria on wild amphibians, investigate how these microbes interact to inhibit the growth of chytrid fungi, and test whether specific protists will consume harmful fungi.
Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the Morris Animal Foundation has invested more than $142 million to date in nearly 3,000 studies aimed at advancing the health and well-being of animals worldwide.
