Scholarlink

Background <p>Amidst the current biodiversity crisis, amphibians are particularly endangered by the emergence of infectious diseases. The skin disease chytridiomycosis is caused by the fungi <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)</i> and <i>B. salamandrivorans (Bsal)</i>, which may interact with bacterial symbionts present on the amphibian epidermis. Extensive research has explored the interactions between the amphibian microbiota and <i>Bd</i>; yet, little is known about its interactions with <i>Bsal</i>. In this paper, we used the ribbed newt (<i>Pleurodeles waltl</i>), a model species displaying pronounced among-individual variation in response to <i>Bsal,</i> to (1) determine whether susceptibility to <i>Bsal</i> and individual microbiota vary between source groups; (2) test whether susceptibility to <i>Bsal</i> can be predicted from skin microbiota before exposure and (3) quantify microbiota volatility over time to determine whether <i>Bsal</i> infection intensity and chytridiomycosis severity correlate with the magnitude of shifts in bacterial communities caused by <i>Bsal</i> exposure.</p> Results <p>Our results demonstrate that newts of different origin harbor distinct microbiota even under uniform rearing conditions. We show that <i>Bsal</i> infection intensity and disease severity cannot be predicted from the diversity, structure, or composition of the skin microbiota of <i>P. waltl.</i> Instead, a strong relation between newts’ source group and their response to <i>Bsal</i> suggests that other factors might underpin among-individual variation in <i>Bsal</i> susceptibility in this species. Moreover, our results indicate that the intensity of early <i>Bsal</i> infection and longer-term severity of chytridiomycosis do not correlate with the magnitude of microbiota change following <i>Bsal</i> exposure.</p> Conclusion <p>These results demonstrate a limited involvement of the microbiota in <i>Bsal</i> dynamics in <i>P. waltl,</i> suggesting that other mechanisms contribute to individual <i>Bsal</i> susceptibility. Further research on the relation between chytrid pathogens and their amphibian hosts will be instrumental to improve the conservation of the most endangered vertebrate class on earth.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Bsal susceptibility depends on host origin but not on skin microbiota in captive Pleurodeles waltl.

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月28日

查看全文
  • Léa Fieschi-Méric,
  • Frank Pasmans,
  • Eduardo Fernández Meléndez,
  • Sofie De Bruyckere,
  • Ellen Blomme,
  • Elin Verbrugghe,
  • An Martel,

摘要

Background

Amidst the current biodiversity crisis, amphibians are particularly endangered by the emergence of infectious diseases. The skin disease chytridiomycosis is caused by the fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), which may interact with bacterial symbionts present on the amphibian epidermis. Extensive research has explored the interactions between the amphibian microbiota and Bd; yet, little is known about its interactions with Bsal. In this paper, we used the ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl), a model species displaying pronounced among-individual variation in response to Bsal, to (1) determine whether susceptibility to Bsal and individual microbiota vary between source groups; (2) test whether susceptibility to Bsal can be predicted from skin microbiota before exposure and (3) quantify microbiota volatility over time to determine whether Bsal infection intensity and chytridiomycosis severity correlate with the magnitude of shifts in bacterial communities caused by Bsal exposure.

Results

Our results demonstrate that newts of different origin harbor distinct microbiota even under uniform rearing conditions. We show that Bsal infection intensity and disease severity cannot be predicted from the diversity, structure, or composition of the skin microbiota of P. waltl. Instead, a strong relation between newts’ source group and their response to Bsal suggests that other factors might underpin among-individual variation in Bsal susceptibility in this species. Moreover, our results indicate that the intensity of early Bsal infection and longer-term severity of chytridiomycosis do not correlate with the magnitude of microbiota change following Bsal exposure.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate a limited involvement of the microbiota in Bsal dynamics in P. waltl, suggesting that other mechanisms contribute to individual Bsal susceptibility. Further research on the relation between chytrid pathogens and their amphibian hosts will be instrumental to improve the conservation of the most endangered vertebrate class on earth.

Graphical Abstract