Environment and host species shape the skin microbiome of captive neotropical bats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A wide range of microorganisms inhabit animal skin. This microbial community (microbiome) plays an important role in host defense against pathogens and disease. Bats (Chiroptera: Mammalia) are an ecologically and evolutionarily diversified group with a relatively unexplored skin microbiome. The bat skin microbiome could play a role in disease resistance, for example, to white nose syndrome (WNS), an infection which has been devastating North American bat populations. However, fundamental knowledge of the bat skin microbiome is needed before understanding its role in health and disease resistance. Captive neotropical frugivorous bats Artibeus jamaicensis and Carollia perspicillataprovide a simple controlled system in which to characterize the factors shaping the bat micro

SUBMITTER: Lemieux-Labonte V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5036103 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature