Bacterial Biofilm Thickness and Fungal Inhibitory Bacterial Richness Both Prevent Establishment of the Amphibian Fungal Pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Melissa Y. Chen, Alexandra Alexiev, Valerie J. McKenzie
Abstract
Our finding highlights the fact that diversity, as measured through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, may obscure the true mechanisms behind microbe-mediated pathogen defense and that physical space occupation by biofilm-forming symbionts may significantly contribute to pathogen protection. These findings have implications across a wide range of host-microbe systems since 16S rRNA gene sequencing is a standard tool used across many microbial systems. Further, our results are potentially relevant to many host-pathogen systems since host-associated bacterial biofilms are ubiquitous.
Topics & Concepts
BiofilmBiologyPathogenMicrobiologySpecies richnessAmphibianChytridiomycotaMicrocosmEcologyHuman pathogenBacteriaColonizationFungal pathogenMicrobial population biologySymbiosisChytridiomycosisBacterial cell structureMicroorganismMicrobial ecologyBiomass (ecology)Amphibian and Reptile BiologySubterranean biodiversity and taxonomyTurtle Biology and Conservation