Antimicrobial peptide defenses against chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease of amphibian populations

Chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease (EID) of the skin caused by the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been linked with continuing amphibian population declines in the western USA, Central America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Genetic analysis suggests that B. dendrob...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental & Comparative Immunology 2005, Vol.29 (7), p.589-598
Main Authors: Rollins-Smith, Louise A., Conlon, J. Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibians
Amphibians - immunology
Amphibians - microbiology
Animals
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - immunology
Antimicrobial peptides
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Chytrid fungus
Chytridiomycota - immunology
Frogs
Global population declines
Immune defense
Mycoses - immunology
Toads
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease (EID) of the skin caused by the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been linked with continuing amphibian population declines in the western USA, Central America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Genetic analysis suggests that B. dendrobatidis is a recently emerged pathogen. This article reviews the biology of this pathogenic chytrid and the evidence for chytridiomycosis as a cause of declines in amphibian populations worldwide. Data are presented to show that antimicrobial peptides, produced in granular glands of the skin and released in high concentrations into skin secretions, are highly effective in inhibiting growth of B. dendrobatidis in vitro and may provide limited protection for some species. Ongoing studies suggest a correlation between resistance to lethal infection by B. dendrobatidis and synthesis of antimicrobial peptides by the host amphibian, but further research is needed to define better the role of antimicrobial peptides in protection of amphibian populations and the effect of environmental factors upon antimicrobial peptide synthesis.
ISSN:0145-305X
1879-0089
1365-2567
DOI:10.1016/j.dci.2004.11.004