Environmental factors and host sex influence the skin microbiota structure of Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in a coldspot of chytridiomycosis in subtropical East Asia.
Bowen Wan, Guoling Chen, Emily Shui Kei Poon, Hon Shing Fung, Anthony Lau, Simon Yung Wa Sin
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Chytridiomycosis, an infectious skin disease caused by the chytrid fungi, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans, poses a significant threat to amphibian biodiversity worldwide. Antifungal bacteria found on the skin of chytrid-resistant amphibians could potentially provide defense against chytridiomycosis and lower mortality rates among resistant individuals. The Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) is native to East Asia, a region suspected to be the origin of chytrids, and has exhibited asymptomatic infection, suggesting a long-term coexistence with the chytrids. Therefore, the skin microbiota of this resistant species warrant investigation, along with other factors that can affect the microbiota. Among the 149 newts sampled in their natural habitats in Hong Kong, China, putative antifungal bacteria were found in all individuals. There were 314 amplicon sequence variants distributed over 25 genera of putative antifungal bacteria; abundant ones included Acinetobacter, Flavobacterium, and Novosphingobium spp. The skin microbiota compositions were strongly influenced by the inter-site geographical distances. Despite inter-site differences, we identified some core skin microbes across sites that could be vital to P. hongkongensis. The dominant cores included the family Comamonadaceae, family Chitinophagaceae, and class Betaproteobacteria. Moreover, habitat elevation and host sex also exhibited significant effects on skin microbiota compositions. The antifungal bacteria found on these newts offer an important resource for conservation against chytridiomycosis, such as developing probiotic treatments for susceptible species.
期刊介绍:
The official journal of the International Society of Zoological Sciences focuses on zoology as an integrative discipline encompassing all aspects of animal life. It presents a broader perspective of many levels of zoological inquiry, both spatial and temporal, and encourages cooperation between zoology and other disciplines including, but not limited to, physics, computer science, social science, ethics, teaching, paleontology, molecular biology, physiology, behavior, ecology and the built environment. It also looks at the animal-human interaction through exploring animal-plant interactions, microbe/pathogen effects and global changes on the environment and human society.
Integrative topics of greatest interest to INZ include:
(1) Animals & climate change
(2) Animals & pollution
(3) Animals & infectious diseases
(4) Animals & biological invasions
(5) Animal-plant interactions
(6) Zoogeography & paleontology
(7) Neurons, genes & behavior
(8) Molecular ecology & evolution
(9) Physiological adaptations