A5023359171- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Gut microbiota and health
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Plant and animal studies
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
Vassar College
2018-2024
Virginia Tech
2012-2021
Boston University
2012-2018
Loyola University New Orleans
2012
Microbial symbionts of vertebrate skin have an important function in defense the host against pathogens. In particular, emerging chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , causes widespread disease amphibians but can be inhibited via secondary metabolites produced by many different skin‐associated bacteria. Similarly, fungal pathogens terrestrial salamander eggs Mariannaea elegans and Rhizomucor variabilis are also a variety Indeed, probiotic therapy diseases is recent approach...
The amphibian-killing chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is one of the most generalist pathogens known, capable infecting hundreds species globally and causing widespread population declines extinctions. However, some host are seemingly unaffected by Bd, tolerating or clearing infections without clinical signs disease. Variation in immune responses commonly evoked for these resistant tolerant species, yet to date, we have no direct comparison amphibian infection at level gene...
Vertebrates, including amphibians, host diverse symbiotic microbes that contribute to disease resistance. Globally, and especially in montane tropical systems, many amphibian species are threatened by a chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), causes lethal skin disease. Bd therefore may be strong selective agent on the diversity function of microbial communities inhabiting skin. In Panamá, population declines spread have been tracked. 2012, we completed field survey Panamá...
Host-associated microbial communities are ubiquitous among animals, and serve important functions. For example, the bacterial skin microbiome of amphibians can play a role in preventing or reducing infection by amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Evidence suggests that environmental bacteria likely as source pool for at least some members community, underscoring potential local changes to disrupt community pools could be critical health host organisms. However, few...
Skin symbiotic bacteria on amphibians can play a role in protecting their host against pathogens. Chytridiomycosis, the disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Bd, has dramatic population declines and extinctions of worldwide. Anti-Bd from amphibian skin have been cultured, bacterial communities described through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Here, we present shotgun metagenomic analysis Neotropical frog, Craugastor fitzingeri. We sequenced metagenome six frogs two different...
Currently, it is estimated that only 0.001% to 15% of bacteria in any given system can be cultured by use commonly used techniques and media, yet culturing critically important for investigations bacterial function. Despite this situation, few studies have attempted link culture-dependent culture-independent data a single better understand which members the microbial community are readily cultured. In amphibians, some cutaneous symbionts inhibit establishment growth fungal pathogen...
The fungal disease chytridiomycosis, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is one of the main causes amphibian population declines and extinctions all over world. In Neotropics, this has catastrophic in highlands as it spread throughout Central America down to Panamá. study, we determined prevalence intensity Bd infection three species frogs highland four lowland tropical forests, including two regions eastern Panamá which pathogen had not been detected previously. was present sites...
Host-associated microbial communities, like other ecological may be impacted by the colonization order of taxa through priority effects. Developing embryos and their associated microbiomes are subject to stochasticity during bacteria. For amphibian embryos, often developing externally in bacteria-rich environments, this particularly impactful. example, microbiome can mitigate lethal outcomes from disease for hosts; however, depend on composition. Here, we examined assembly bacterial...
Greater knowledge of how host–microbiome interactions vary with anthropogenic environmental change and influence pathogenic infections is needed to better understand stress-mediated disease outcomes. We investigated increasing salinization in freshwaters (e.g. due road de-icing salt runoff) associated increases growth nutritional algae influenced gut bacterial assembly, host physiology responses ranavirus exposure larval wood frogs ( Rana sylvatica ). Elevating salinity supplementing a basic...
Abstract Embryos of oviparous organisms must cope with harsh environments and are especially susceptible to disease, considering that many immune mechanisms do not develop until later in life. Parents may transmit symbiotic microflora eggs, which can contribute embryo defense. Despite the importance microbes for function survival adult amphibians, vertical transfer symbionts amphibians has received less attention than other taxa. Here, we test role male‐only parental care establishing...
Amphibians around the world are declining from threats that cannot currently be mitigated, making it impossible to safeguard some species in their natural habitats. mountainous neotropics one example where severe disease-related declines prompted calls for establishment of captive assurance colonies avoid extinctions. We surveyed experts Panamanian amphibians determine probability avoiding chytridiomycosis-related extinctions using breeding programs. ranked amphibian by perceived...
The amphibian skin microbiome has been the focus of recent studies aiming to better understand role these microbial symbionts in host defense against disease. However, host-associated communities are complex and dynamic, changes their composition structure can influence function. Understanding temporal variation bacterial on is critical for establishing baselines from which improve development mitigation techniques based probiotic therapy provides long-term protection a changing environment....
Summary Some amphibian skin bacteria inhibit growth of a fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), but it is unclear how dominant these anti‐Bd are in communities. Using vitro co‐culture challenge assays, we quantified Bd inhibition by bacterial isolates collected from the four species: bullfrogs, Eastern newts, spring peepers and American toads. The 16S rRNA sequences for each isolate were matched to culture‐independent amplicon same individuals assess inhibitory function versus...
Disruptions to the microbiome can impact host health as exposure environmental contaminants. However, few studies have addressed how contaminants microbiome. We explored this question for frogs that breed in wetlands contaminated with fly ash, a by-product of coal combustion is enriched trace elements. found differences bacterial communities among ash-contaminated site and several reference wetlands. then experimentally assessed impacts ash on skin adult spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer)....
Summary Amphibian population declines caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) have prompted studies on bacterial community that resides amphibian skin. However, addressing fungal portion of these symbiont communities lagged behind. Using ITS1 amplicon sequencing, we examined skin microbiome temperate and tropical species currently coexisting with Bd in nature. We assessed cooccurrence patterns between OTUs using a subset samples for which 16S rRNA gene data were also...
Priority effects, or impacts of colonization order, may have lasting influence on ecological community composition. The embryonic microbiome is subject to stochasticity in order bacteria. Stochasticity be especially impactful for embryos developing bacteria-rich environments, such as the many amphibians. To determine if priority effects experienced impacted bacterial composition newly hatched tadpoles, we selectively inoculated laboratory-raised hourglass treefrogs, Dendropsophus ebraccatus...
Abstract Predators can directly or indirectly shape food webs through a combination of consumptive and non‐consumptive effects. Yet, how these effects vary across natural populations their consequences for adjacent ecosystems remains poorly resolved. We examined links between terrestrial predators aquatic on locally abundant amphibian, the red‐eyed treefrog ( Agalychnis callidryas ), which has arboreal eggs (heavily predated by snakes wasps) larvae; embryos escape threats hatching at an...
Spatial contagion occurs when the perceived suitability of neighbouring habitat patches is not independent. As a result, organisms may colonize less-preferred near preferred and avoid non-preferred patches. thus alter colonization dynamics as well type frequency post-colonization interactions. Studies have only recently documented phenomenon spatial begun to examine its consequences for local recruitment. Here, we test in arboreal egg clutches red-eyed treefrogs by frogfly fly In laboratory...
Theory predicts that prey behavioural responses should reflect the level of risk posed by predators. We investigated how red-eyed treefrog embryos perceive and respond to spatially variable during wasp attacks on their clutches. First, we restricted activity clutches compared hatching wasp-exposed, adjacent, protected embryos. Hatching occurred in all zones but increased with exposure, being highest directly exposed Second, videotaped wasps attacking experiences hatched first those did not...
Interactions between pathogens and the symbiotic microbial communities that reside in hosts can impact disease processes. Symbiotic act to prevent pathogen infection some instances, while other disrupt these communities. We sought address interactions fungal skin Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) bacterial of adult Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer). In laboratory, frogs were exposed Bd zoospores for a 12-hour period then monitored five days. Bacterial community composition on was...