Immune priming prior to pathogen exposure sheds light on the relationship between host, microbiome and pathogen in disease.

ABSTRACT: Dynamic interactions between host, pathogen and host-associated microbiome dictate infection outcomes. Pathogens including Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) threaten global biodiversity, but conservation efforts are hindered by limited understanding of amphibian host, Bd and microbiome interactions. We conducted a vaccination and infection experiment using Eastern hellbender salamanders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) challenged with Bd to observe infection, skin microbial communities and gene expression of host skin, pathogen and microbiome throughout the experiment. Most animals survived high Bd loads regardless of their vaccination status and vaccination did not affect pathogen load, but host gene expression differed based on vaccination. Oral vaccination (e

SUBMITTER: Kaganer AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9890126 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature