Biofilms inactivate the free-living stage of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the most destructive pathogen for vertebrate diversity.

ABSTRACT: Emerging infectious diseases threaten biodiversity and human health. Many emerging pathogens have aquatic life stages and all immersed substrates have biofilms on their surface, i.e. communities of microorganisms producing a gelatinous matrix. However, the outcome of the interactions between environmental biofilms and pathogens is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that biofilms reduce the survival of the most impactful pathogen for vertebrate diversity, the invasive chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Effects on its zoospores varied with biofilm composition in controlled settings and biofilm compositional variation also coincided with divergent impacts of chytridiomycosis on amphibian populations in nature. Our results suggest that biofilms form a biotic component of ecosy

SUBMITTER: Sentenac H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11630259 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature