TY - JOUR
T1 - Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans
AU - Farrer, Rhys A.
N1 - An Martel, University of Ghent, provided the micrograph of B. salamandrivorans, in which (left) Bsal sporangia in mTGhL media develop discharge tubes (arrow) to release zoospores, and (right) a scanning electron microscopic image of Bsal with rhizoids. Duncan Wilson and Matthew Fisher provided valuable comments.
PY - 2019/10
Y1 - 2019/10
N2 - The recently discovered species Batrachochytrium salamandivorans (Bsal) is a fungal pathogen of salamanders and newts that has recently spread from Asia into Europe, devastating the fire salamander. The disease is characterized by multifocal superficial erosions and deep ulcerations in the skin of salamanders, with several European species particularly susceptible. Although seemingly unaffected, the Anura (frogs and toads) can also act as Bsal carriers, with anthropogenic trade and inter/intraspecies contact likely spreading the disease. Bsal is closely related to the generalist amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which was discovered two decades prior. The genome of Bsal is larger (32 Mb) than that of Bd (23 Mb) and it encodes over 100 metalloprotease M36 genes, correlating with its ulcerative pathology. Further work on the population genetics of Bsal and genetic differences between Bd and Bsal should uncover the mechanisms behind their differences in host specificity, pathology, and epidemiology.
AB - The recently discovered species Batrachochytrium salamandivorans (Bsal) is a fungal pathogen of salamanders and newts that has recently spread from Asia into Europe, devastating the fire salamander. The disease is characterized by multifocal superficial erosions and deep ulcerations in the skin of salamanders, with several European species particularly susceptible. Although seemingly unaffected, the Anura (frogs and toads) can also act as Bsal carriers, with anthropogenic trade and inter/intraspecies contact likely spreading the disease. Bsal is closely related to the generalist amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which was discovered two decades prior. The genome of Bsal is larger (32 Mb) than that of Bd (23 Mb) and it encodes over 100 metalloprotease M36 genes, correlating with its ulcerative pathology. Further work on the population genetics of Bsal and genetic differences between Bd and Bsal should uncover the mechanisms behind their differences in host specificity, pathology, and epidemiology.
KW - Batrachochytrium salamandivorans
KW - chytrid
KW - salamander
KW - amphibian
KW - CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065859492&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/batrachochytrium-salamandrivorans
UR - https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/en/researchoutput/batrachochytrium-salamandrivorans(87e9fc3f-28d3-4465-a171-4e84cc7cab80).html
U2 - 10.1016/j.tim.2019.04.009
DO - 10.1016/j.tim.2019.04.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 31128929
VL - 27
SP - 892
EP - 893
JO - Trends in Microbiology
JF - Trends in Microbiology
SN - 0966-842X
IS - 10
ER -
