Identification of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis lineage in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Faculty Mentor
Jenifer Walke and Paul Spruell
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
10-5-2023 9:00 AM
End Date
10-5-2023 10:45 AM
Location
PUB NCR
Department
Biology
Abstract
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is an amphibian, water-borne fungal pathogen responsible for the chytridiomycosis panzootic that has led to over 90 extinctions and the decline of 500 species. To date, six lineages have been identified via whole genome sequencing: BdCAPE, BdGPL, BdASIA-1, Bd-ASIA2/BRAZIL, BdASIA-3 and BdCH. Phylogenetic analysis suggests these lineages derived from BdASIA-1 in the Korean peninsula and likely spread due to human activity. Because some lineages are more virulent than others, lineage identification provides valuable insight for wildlife management and research. Moreover, infections of multiple lineages have been detected, increasing the risk of recombination and increased virulence. BdGPL (Global Panzootic Lineage), the primary lineage responsible for the chytridiomycosis panzootic, has been detected in North and South America. However, despite confirmed Bd presence in the Pacific Northwest, no lineages have been identified. To identify the local lineage, we sequenced ten internal transcribed spacers (ITS), a highly conserved but variable region of ribosomal DNA, from previously collected samples of amphibian skin swabs (intensity: mean±SE = 27787.78 ± 4015.125) of confirmed Bd from Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (Turnbull NWR) and will compare them to reference strains in the GenBank database using MEGA7 MUSCLE alignment. Despite conflicting evidence for the reliability of ITS lineage identification, we targeted the ITS region due to logistical and budgetary constraints. If a lineage can be discerned from these data, we expect to find the BdGPL lineage, as it has been reported elsewhere in the United States.
Recommended Citation
Gray, Aric, "Identification of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis lineage in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge" (2023). 2023 Symposium. 37.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2023/res_2023/p1_2023/37
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Identification of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis lineage in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
PUB NCR
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is an amphibian, water-borne fungal pathogen responsible for the chytridiomycosis panzootic that has led to over 90 extinctions and the decline of 500 species. To date, six lineages have been identified via whole genome sequencing: BdCAPE, BdGPL, BdASIA-1, Bd-ASIA2/BRAZIL, BdASIA-3 and BdCH. Phylogenetic analysis suggests these lineages derived from BdASIA-1 in the Korean peninsula and likely spread due to human activity. Because some lineages are more virulent than others, lineage identification provides valuable insight for wildlife management and research. Moreover, infections of multiple lineages have been detected, increasing the risk of recombination and increased virulence. BdGPL (Global Panzootic Lineage), the primary lineage responsible for the chytridiomycosis panzootic, has been detected in North and South America. However, despite confirmed Bd presence in the Pacific Northwest, no lineages have been identified. To identify the local lineage, we sequenced ten internal transcribed spacers (ITS), a highly conserved but variable region of ribosomal DNA, from previously collected samples of amphibian skin swabs (intensity: mean±SE = 27787.78 ± 4015.125) of confirmed Bd from Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (Turnbull NWR) and will compare them to reference strains in the GenBank database using MEGA7 MUSCLE alignment. Despite conflicting evidence for the reliability of ITS lineage identification, we targeted the ITS region due to logistical and budgetary constraints. If a lineage can be discerned from these data, we expect to find the BdGPL lineage, as it has been reported elsewhere in the United States.
