Pseudogymnoascus destructans invasion stage impacts the skin microbial functions of highly vulnerable Myotis lucifugus.

ABSTRACT: The role of the skin microbiome in resistance and susceptibility of wildlife to fungal pathogens has been examined from a taxonomic perspective but skin microbial function, in the context of fungal infection, has yet to be studied. Our objective was to understand effects of a bat fungal pathogen site infection status and course of invasion on skin microbial function. We sampled seven hibernating colonies of Myotis lucifugus covering three-time points over the course of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) invasion and white nose syndrome (pre-invasion, epidemic, and established). Our results support three new hypotheses about Pd and skin functional microbiome: (1) there is an important effect of Pd invasion stage, especially at the epidemic stage; (2) disruption by the fungus at the epidemic

SUBMITTER: Lemieux-Labonte V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11523048 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature