Amphibian Hymenochirus boettgeri as an experimental model for infection studies with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Model organisms are crucial in research as they can provide key insights applicable to other species. This study proposes the use of the amphibian species Hymenochirus boettgeri, widely available through the aquarium trade, as a model organism for the study of chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Virulence |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2023.2270252 |
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| author | Tamilie Carvalho Catherine Si Rebecca A. Clemons Evelyn Faust Timothy Y. James |
| author_facet | Tamilie Carvalho Catherine Si Rebecca A. Clemons Evelyn Faust Timothy Y. James |
| author_sort | Tamilie Carvalho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Model organisms are crucial in research as they can provide key insights applicable to other species. This study proposes the use of the amphibian species Hymenochirus boettgeri, widely available through the aquarium trade, as a model organism for the study of chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and linked to amphibian decline and extinction globally. Currently, no model organisms are used in the study of chytridiomycosis, particularly because of the lack of availability and nonstandardized methods. Thus, laboratories around the world use wild local species to conduct Bd infection experiments, which prevents comparisons between studies and reduces reproducibility. Here, we performed a series of Bd infection assays that showed that H. boettgeri has a dose- and genotype-dependent response, can generalize previous findings on virulence estimates in other species, and can generate reproducible results in replicated experimental conditions. We also provided valuable information regarding H. boettgeri husbandry, including care, housing, reproduction, and heat treatment to eliminate previous Bd infections. Together, our results indicate that H. boettgeri is a powerful and low-ecological-impact system for studying Bd pathogenicity and virulence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-70e5c2839c484a25a14480dca7da975e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2150-5594 2150-5608 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Virulence |
| spelling | doaj-art-70e5c2839c484a25a14480dca7da975e2025-08-20T03:32:18ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirulence2150-55942150-56082023-12-0114110.1080/21505594.2023.2270252Amphibian Hymenochirus boettgeri as an experimental model for infection studies with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidisTamilie Carvalho0Catherine Si1Rebecca A. Clemons2Evelyn Faust3Timothy Y. James4Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan Herbarium, Ann Arbor, MI, USAModel organisms are crucial in research as they can provide key insights applicable to other species. This study proposes the use of the amphibian species Hymenochirus boettgeri, widely available through the aquarium trade, as a model organism for the study of chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and linked to amphibian decline and extinction globally. Currently, no model organisms are used in the study of chytridiomycosis, particularly because of the lack of availability and nonstandardized methods. Thus, laboratories around the world use wild local species to conduct Bd infection experiments, which prevents comparisons between studies and reduces reproducibility. Here, we performed a series of Bd infection assays that showed that H. boettgeri has a dose- and genotype-dependent response, can generalize previous findings on virulence estimates in other species, and can generate reproducible results in replicated experimental conditions. We also provided valuable information regarding H. boettgeri husbandry, including care, housing, reproduction, and heat treatment to eliminate previous Bd infections. Together, our results indicate that H. boettgeri is a powerful and low-ecological-impact system for studying Bd pathogenicity and virulence.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2023.2270252Model organismHymenochirus boettgeriBatrachochytrium dendrobatidisvirulenceamphibianshusbandry |
| spellingShingle | Tamilie Carvalho Catherine Si Rebecca A. Clemons Evelyn Faust Timothy Y. James Amphibian Hymenochirus boettgeri as an experimental model for infection studies with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Virulence Model organism Hymenochirus boettgeri Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis virulence amphibians husbandry |
| title | Amphibian Hymenochirus boettgeri as an experimental model for infection studies with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| title_full | Amphibian Hymenochirus boettgeri as an experimental model for infection studies with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| title_fullStr | Amphibian Hymenochirus boettgeri as an experimental model for infection studies with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Amphibian Hymenochirus boettgeri as an experimental model for infection studies with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| title_short | Amphibian Hymenochirus boettgeri as an experimental model for infection studies with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| title_sort | amphibian hymenochirus boettgeri as an experimental model for infection studies with the chytrid fungus batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| topic | Model organism Hymenochirus boettgeri Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis virulence amphibians husbandry |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2023.2270252 |
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