OOS 45
The Role of the Skin Microbiome in Amphibian Health, from Ecology and Immunology to Conservation Applications

Thursday, August 14, 2014: 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
307, Sacramento Convention Center
Organizer:
Valerie J. McKenzie
Co-organizers:
Reid N. Harris and Lisa K. Belden
Moderator:
Vance T. Vredenburg
All species of plants and animals harbor bacteria and fungi that live symbiotically in and on them. How those communities of microbes are related to the health of their host organisms is largely undetermined and, in particular, there is a limited understanding of how symbiotic microbes may interact with the immune system and mediate the establishment of pathogenic organisms that can cause disease. Amphibian species vary in their ability to tolerate infection by a fungal skin pathogen (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, ‘Bd’) that is linked to amphibian declines at the global scale. A number of recent studies have demonstrated that certain bacteria that live on the skin of some amphibians can inhibit growth of Bd, and these discoveries have lead to a rapid expansion of scientists exploring the amphibian skin microbiome. We propose an organized oral session to bring these investigators together to share the recent trajectories of research in an effort to foster further collaborative relationships and accelerate efforts that may provide tools for amphibian conservation in the form of bioaugmentation or probiotics. In addition, we hope to interact with scientists working on similar topics in other systems and to attract new scientists to this emerging research area. Thus, we envision a session that encompasses ecological discoveries about the skin microbiome as well as areas of applied research. More specifically, topics will include: discoveries of symbiotic skin microbes that exhibit anti-Bd activity; studies that investigate the role of the amphibian immune system as well as microbially produced compounds that inhibit Bd; studies that compare the microbiome across species or different environments; experimental approaches to understand the response of skin microbial communities to exposure to a pathogen; experimental approaches to investigate the use of bioaugmentation in reducing amphibian mortality caused by disease; and a discussion about strategies to use common methodologies and sequence data sharing to facilitate comparison across studies. While the focus of our session is on the skin microbiome of amphibians, the concepts and tools being developed are relevant to many wildlife disease systems (e.g., white nose syndrome in bats) and human medicine (e.g., MRSA in humans). Our goal is to merge this area of research into broader realms of disease ecology and conservation applications.
1:30 PM
Microbial defense against a lethal fungal pathogen of amphibians: Characteristics of an effective bioaugmentation strategy
Reid N. Harris, James Madison University and Amphibian Survival Alliance; Andrew H. Loudon, James Madison University; Matthew H. Becker, Virginia Tech; Sara Bell, James Cook University; Douglas Woodhams, University of Colorado; Kevin P. C. Minbiole, Villanova University; Molly C. Bletz, U Mass Boston
1:50 PM
Structure-function relationships in the amphibian skin microbiome
Lisa K. Belden, Virginia Tech; Myra C. Hughey, Virginia Tech; Eria A. Rebollar, James Madison University; Thomas P. Umile, Villanova University; Stephen C. Loftus, Virginia Tech; Elizabeth A. Burzynski, Villanova University; Kevin P. C. Minbiole, Villanova University; Leanna L. House, Virginia Tech; Roderick V. Jensen, Virginia Tech; Matthew H. Becker, Virginia Tech; Jenifer B. Walke, Virginia Tech; Daniel Medina, Virginia Tech; Roberto Ibáñez, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; Reid N. Harris, James Madison University and Amphibian Survival Alliance
2:10 PM
Toward building an open-access database of cultured amphibian skin bacteria to inform microbial function against chytridiomycosis
Douglas C. Woodhams, University of Massachusetts-Boston; Antonio Gonzalez, University of Colorado; Rob Knight, University of Colorado; Valerie McKenzie, University of Colorado
2:30 PM
Barrier defenses in amphibian skin against chytridiomycosis: Additional lessons from microbial reduction experiments
Louise A. Rollins-Smith, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Whitney M. Holden, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
2:50 PM
Protection of rainforest frogs in recolonised populations from Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection by symbiotic microbiota: Repeated, divergent evolution of the hologenome?
Sara Bell, James Cook University; Sarah J. Sapsford, James Cook University; Lin Schwarzkopf, James Cook University; Ross A. Alford, James Cook University
3:10 PM
3:20 PM
The effect of captivity on the skin microbiota of three lowland Atelopus species
Sandra Victoria Flechas, Universidad de los Andes; Ailin Blasco, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; Valeria Ramírez, Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Andrés Merino-Viteri, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; Miryan Rivera, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; Adolfo Amézquita, Universidad de los Andes
3:40 PM
Linking culture-dependent and -independent characterizations of amphibian skin microbial communities: Important insights into the use of probiotics in amphibian conservation
Jenifer B. Walke, Virginia Tech; Matthew H. Becker, Virginia Tech; Myra C. Hughey, Virginia Tech; Meredith C. Swartwout, Virginia Tech; Roderick V. Jensen, Virginia Tech; Lisa K. Belden, Virginia Tech
4:00 PM
Amphibian skin microbial community responses to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: A time-series experimental approach
Valerie McKenzie, University of Colorado; Jordan Kueneman, University of Colorado; Antonio González, University of Colorado; Douglas Woodhams, University of Colorado; Rob Knight, University of Colorado
4:20 PM
Host development and pathogen presence interact to shape the skin-associated microbes on endangered Colorado boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas)
Jordan Kueneman, University of Colorado; Douglas Woodhams, University of Colorado; Valerie McKenzie, University of Colorado
4:40 PM
Seasonal and ontogenetic transitions trigger skin dysbioses in declining amphibians affected by chytridiomycosis
Ana V. Longo, Cornell University; Anna E. Savage, National Park Zoo; Ian Hewson, Cornell University; Kelly R. Zamudio, Cornell University