Skin microbiomes of frogs vary among body regions, revealing differences that reflect known patterns of chytrid infection
IntroductionThe amphibian skin microbiome is an important line of defense against pathogens including the deadly chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bd is known to preferentially infect ventral skin surfaces and feet of host amphibians, often leaving dorsal surfaces like the back un...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1579231/full |
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| author | Sonia L. Ghose Sonia L. Ghose Jonathan A. Eisen Jonathan A. Eisen Jonathan A. Eisen |
| author_facet | Sonia L. Ghose Sonia L. Ghose Jonathan A. Eisen Jonathan A. Eisen Jonathan A. Eisen |
| author_sort | Sonia L. Ghose |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe amphibian skin microbiome is an important line of defense against pathogens including the deadly chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bd is known to preferentially infect ventral skin surfaces and feet of host amphibians, often leaving dorsal surfaces like the back uninfected. Within-individual variation in infection distribution across the skin, therefore, may relate to differences in microbiomes among skin regions. However, microbiome heterogeneity within amphibian individuals remains poorly characterized.MethodsWe utilized 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to compare microbiomes of 10 body regions from nine captive Rana sierrae individuals and their tank environments. These individuals were naive to Bd, allowing us to assess whether microbiomes differed among body regions prior to any impacts that may be caused by infection.ResultsWe found that frog skin and tank environments harbored distinct microbial communities. On frog skin, the bacterial families Burkholderiaceae (phylum Proteobacteria) and Rubritaleaceae (phylum Verrucomicrobia) were dominant, driven in large part by relative abundances of undescribed members of these families that were significantly higher on frogs than in their environment. Within individuals, we detected differences between microbiomes of body regions where Bd infection would be expected compared to regions that infrequently experience infection. Notably, putative Bd-inhibitory relative abundance was significantly higher on body regions where Bd infection is often localized.DiscussionThese findings suggest that microbiomes in certain skin regions may be predisposed for interactions with Bd. Further, our results highlight the importance of considering intraindividual heterogeneities, which could provide insights relevant to predicting localized interactions with pathogens. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a4679dfc3ce4134a0d83acef9ceb8d1 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a4679dfc3ce4134a0d83acef9ceb8d12025-08-20T02:15:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-05-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15792311579231Skin microbiomes of frogs vary among body regions, revealing differences that reflect known patterns of chytrid infectionSonia L. Ghose0Sonia L. Ghose1Jonathan A. Eisen2Jonathan A. Eisen3Jonathan A. Eisen4Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesDepartment of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesGenome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesDepartment of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesIntroductionThe amphibian skin microbiome is an important line of defense against pathogens including the deadly chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bd is known to preferentially infect ventral skin surfaces and feet of host amphibians, often leaving dorsal surfaces like the back uninfected. Within-individual variation in infection distribution across the skin, therefore, may relate to differences in microbiomes among skin regions. However, microbiome heterogeneity within amphibian individuals remains poorly characterized.MethodsWe utilized 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to compare microbiomes of 10 body regions from nine captive Rana sierrae individuals and their tank environments. These individuals were naive to Bd, allowing us to assess whether microbiomes differed among body regions prior to any impacts that may be caused by infection.ResultsWe found that frog skin and tank environments harbored distinct microbial communities. On frog skin, the bacterial families Burkholderiaceae (phylum Proteobacteria) and Rubritaleaceae (phylum Verrucomicrobia) were dominant, driven in large part by relative abundances of undescribed members of these families that were significantly higher on frogs than in their environment. Within individuals, we detected differences between microbiomes of body regions where Bd infection would be expected compared to regions that infrequently experience infection. Notably, putative Bd-inhibitory relative abundance was significantly higher on body regions where Bd infection is often localized.DiscussionThese findings suggest that microbiomes in certain skin regions may be predisposed for interactions with Bd. Further, our results highlight the importance of considering intraindividual heterogeneities, which could provide insights relevant to predicting localized interactions with pathogens.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1579231/fullmicrobiomeamphibianRana sierraeskincaptivityBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| spellingShingle | Sonia L. Ghose Sonia L. Ghose Jonathan A. Eisen Jonathan A. Eisen Jonathan A. Eisen Skin microbiomes of frogs vary among body regions, revealing differences that reflect known patterns of chytrid infection Frontiers in Microbiology microbiome amphibian Rana sierrae skin captivity Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| title | Skin microbiomes of frogs vary among body regions, revealing differences that reflect known patterns of chytrid infection |
| title_full | Skin microbiomes of frogs vary among body regions, revealing differences that reflect known patterns of chytrid infection |
| title_fullStr | Skin microbiomes of frogs vary among body regions, revealing differences that reflect known patterns of chytrid infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Skin microbiomes of frogs vary among body regions, revealing differences that reflect known patterns of chytrid infection |
| title_short | Skin microbiomes of frogs vary among body regions, revealing differences that reflect known patterns of chytrid infection |
| title_sort | skin microbiomes of frogs vary among body regions revealing differences that reflect known patterns of chytrid infection |
| topic | microbiome amphibian Rana sierrae skin captivity Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1579231/full |
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