Breaching Pathogeographic Barriers by the Bat White-Nose Fungus

Abstract

Bat white-nose syndrome has become associated with unparalleled mortality in bat species across the United States since 2006. In a recent article, Drees and colleagues (mBio 8:e01941-17, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01941-17) utilized both whole-genome sequencing and microsatellite data to explore the origin and spread of the causative agent of bat white-nose syndrome, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. The research by Drees et al. supports the hypothesis that P. destructans was introduced into North America from Europe, with molecular dating suggesting a divergence from European isolates approximately 100 years ago. The approaches described in this study are an important contribution toward pinpointing the origins of this infection and underscore the need for more rigorous international biosecurity in order to stem the tide of emerging fungal pathogens.

UV‐B‐induced DNA damage and repair pathways in polar Pseudogymnoascus sp. from the Arctic and Antarctic regions and their effects on growth, pigmentation and conidiogenesis

“…lanuginosus , but species from the Arctic remain undescribed. Pseudogymnoascus destructans , previously discovered and identified as Geomyces destructans , is one of the most well‐studied species due to its well‐known role as the pathogen causing white‐nose syndrome, a lethal disease that affects bats in temperate regions (Gargas et al ., 2009; Rhodes and Fisher, 2018). Because of its ecological impacts to the bat population, the implication of using UV radiation as a controlling agent for P .…”

“…Recently, four further species in the genus have been described from Antarctica by Villanueva et al (2021) namely, P. antarcticus, P. australis, P. griseus and P. lanuginosus, but species from the Arctic remain undescribed. Pseudogymnoascus destructans, previously discovered and identified as Geomyces destructans, is one of the most well-studied species due to its wellknown role as the pathogen causing white-nose syndrome, a lethal disease that affects bats in temperate regions (Gargas et al, 2009;Rhodes and Fisher, 2018). Because of its ecological impacts to the bat population, the implication of using UV radiation as a controlling agent for P. destructans had initiated studies of the adaptation of this genus to UV radiation (Palmer et al, 2018).…”