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Antibodies To Pseudogymnoascus Destructans Are Not Sufficient For Protection Against White-Nose Syndrome, Joseph S. Johnson, Deeann M. Reeder, Thomas M. Lilley
Antibodies To Pseudogymnoascus Destructans Are Not Sufficient For Protection Against White-Nose Syndrome, Joseph S. Johnson, Deeann M. Reeder, Thomas M. Lilley
KIP Articles
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) that affects bats during hibernation. Although millions of bats have died from WNS in North America, mass mortality has not been observed among European bats infected by the fungus, leading to the suggestion that bats in Europe are immune. We tested the hypothesis that an antibody-mediated immune response can provide protection against WNS by quantifying antibodies reactive to Pd in blood samples from seven species of free-ranging bats in North America and two free-ranging species in Europe. We also quantified antibodies in blood samples from little brown myotis …
The White-Nose Syndrome Transcriptome: Activation Of Anti-Fungal Host Responses In Wing Tissue Of Hibernating Little Brown Myotis, Kenneth A. Field, Joseph Johnson, Thomas M. Lilley
The White-Nose Syndrome Transcriptome: Activation Of Anti-Fungal Host Responses In Wing Tissue Of Hibernating Little Brown Myotis, Kenneth A. Field, Joseph Johnson, Thomas M. Lilley
KIP Articles
White-nose syndrome (WNS) in North American bats is caused by an invasive cutaneous infection by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). We compared transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression using RNA-Seq on wing skin tissue from hibernating little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) with WNS to bats without Pd exposure. We found that WNS caused significant changes in gene expression in hibernating bats including pathways involved in inflammation, wound healing, and metabolism. Local acute inflammatory responses were initiated by fungal invasion. Gene expression was increased for inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL) IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17C, IL-20, IL-23A, IL-24, and G-CSF and chemokines, such …
Trash To Treasure: Assessing Viability Of Wing Biopsies For Use In Bat Genetic Research, Mary Beth Manjerovic, Michelle L. Green, Andrew N. Miller
Trash To Treasure: Assessing Viability Of Wing Biopsies For Use In Bat Genetic Research, Mary Beth Manjerovic, Michelle L. Green, Andrew N. Miller
KIP Articles
The outbreak of white-nose syndrome in North American bats has resulted in massive data collection efforts to characterize the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Wing biopsies routinely are collected from live bats, placed in agar media to culture the fungus, and ultimately discarded. We tested whether these discarded tissues represent a viable source of host bat DNA. We found no difference in DNA concentration and no reduction of DNA quality between samples that were extracted immediately compared to samples placed in agar for fungal culture. Although recovered quantities were low, concentrations increased using a cleanup kit. Our study suggests samples collected from …
Range-Wide Genetic Analysis Of Little Brown Bat (Myotis Lucifugus) Populations: Estimating The Risk Of Spread Of White-Nose Syndrome, Maarten J. Vonhof, Amy L. Russell, Cassandra M. Miller-Butterworth
Range-Wide Genetic Analysis Of Little Brown Bat (Myotis Lucifugus) Populations: Estimating The Risk Of Spread Of White-Nose Syndrome, Maarten J. Vonhof, Amy L. Russell, Cassandra M. Miller-Butterworth
KIP Articles
The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) is one of the most widespread bat species in North America and is experiencing severe population declines because of an emerging fungal disease, white-nose syndrome (WNS). To manage and conserve this species effectively it is important to understand patterns of gene flow and population connectivity to identify possible barriers to disease transmission. However, little is known about the population genetic structure of little brown bats, and to date, no studies have investigated population structure across their entire range. We examined mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellites in 637 little brown bats (including all currently recognized …
Post-White-Nose Syndrome Trends In Virginia’S Cave Bats, 2008-2013, Karen E. Powers, Richard J. Reynolds, Wil Orndorff
Post-White-Nose Syndrome Trends In Virginia’S Cave Bats, 2008-2013, Karen E. Powers, Richard J. Reynolds, Wil Orndorff
KIP Articles
Since its 2009 detection in Virginia hibernacula, the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans causing White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has had a marked impact on cave bats locally. From 2008-2013, we documented numeric and physiologic changes in cave bats through fall swarm (FS), early hibernation (EH), and late hibernation (LH) capture and banding surveys at 18 hibernacula in western Virginia. We coupled active surveys with passive biennial winter counts in 2009, 2011, and 2013. We compared individual body mass index (BMI) across years for FS, EH, and LH hibernation to determine if WNS impacts on extant bats would be manifested by changes in …