The effects of epidermal free fatty acids and triacylglycerols on the growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the etiological agent of white nose syndrome in North American bats
Abstract
White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a fungal infection of bats caused by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans which was first described in 2006. The disease has since ravaged bat populations across North America, killing some species with up to a 90% mortality rate in infected hibernacula. Though the etiology and pathology of White Nose Syndrome are well characterized, the innate defenses of bats against this fungal infection remain poorly studied. In this series of experiments, I hypothesized that cutaneous lipid profiles high in inhibitory free fatty acids as well as their corresponding triacylglycerols could offer some protection against infection with Pseudogymnoascus destructans. While it was determined linoleic acid inhibits the growth of the fungus, and that exposure to pentadecanoic acid has long-term effects on the viability of the fungus, triacylglycerols did not have an effect on fungal growth. Finally, hibernation simulation experiments revealed that the decrease in overall FFA content contributes to the mortality of M. lucifugus by late hibernation. These studies have the potential to inform conservation policy and susceptibility screening of unexposed species as WNS moves across North America.
Subject Area
Biology|Ecology|Biochemistry
Recommended Citation
Ingala, Melissa, "The effects of epidermal free fatty acids and triacylglycerols on the growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the etiological agent of white nose syndrome in North American bats" (2016). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI10160378.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI10160378
