Comparative eco-physiology revealed extensive enzymatic curtailment, lipases production and strong conidial resilience of the bat pathogenic fungus

0533118 - MBÚ 2021 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Veselská, Tereza - Homutová, K. - García Fraile, Paula - Kubátová, A. - Martínková, Natália - Pikula, J. - Kolařík, Miroslav
Comparative eco-physiology revealed extensive enzymatic curtailment, lipases production and strong conidial resilience of the bat pathogenic fungus.
Scientific Reports. Roč. 10, č. 1 (2020), č. článku 16530. ISSN 2045-2322. E-ISSN 2045-2322
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA17-20286S
Institutional support: RVO:61388971 ; RVO:68081766
Keywords : white-nose syndrome * geomyces-destructans * virulence
OECD category: Microbiology; Veterinary science (UBO-W)
Impact factor: 4.380, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-73619-7

The genus Pseudogymnoascus encompasses soil psychrophilic fungi living also in caves. Some are opportunistic pathogens, nevertheless, they do not cause outbreaks. Pseudogymnoascus destructans is the causative agent of the white-nose syndrome, which is decimating cave-hibernating bats. We used comparative eco-physiology to contrast the enzymatic potential and conidial resilience of P. destructans with that of phylogenetically diverse cave fungi, including Pseudogymnoascus spp., dermatophytes and outdoor saprotrophs. Enzymatic potential was assessed by Biolog MicroArray and by growth on labelled substrates and conidial viability was detected by flow cytometry. Pseudogymnoascusdestructans was specific by extensive losses of metabolic variability and by ability of lipid degradation. We suppose that lipases are important enzymes allowing fungal hyphae to digest and invade the skin. Pseudogymnoascus destructans prefers nitrogenous substrates occurring in bat skin and lipids. Additionally, P. destructans alkalizes growth medium, which points to another possible virulence mechanism. Temperature above 30 °C substantially decreases conidial viability of cave fungi including P. destructans. Nevertheless, survival of P. destructans conidia prolongs by the temperature regime simulating beginning of the flight season, what suggests that conidia could persist on the body surface of bats and contribute to disease spreading during bats active season
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0311676