Microbial Defense Against WNS in Bat Microbiota

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White-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, threatens bat populations throughout the U.S. Western bat populations provide an excellent opportunity to understand bats' external bacterial and fungal inhabitants and their potential to provide natural defenses against this newly emerging pathogen. Using next gen sequencing and microbial culturing techniques we propose to analyze bat microbiota across five or more bat species, and to isolate Actinobacteria for testing of anti-fungal activity against P. destructans. Actinobacteria are rich producers of antibiotics, including antifungals. In 2013-2015, we netted bats in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument (PARA) at both cave and surface sites. Five target species of bats were swabbed, including species very likely and less likely susceptible to WNS. Next gen sequencing performed on DNA from swabs suggests that bats caught on the surface versus those caught in the PARA have different microbial communities. Some species of bats have many Actinobacteria present, and we have identified some isolates that show significant inhibition of P. destrucans in our other sites. To learn more about the microclimate in which the bats roost and to test whether the microclimate is appropriate for the growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, we will install temperature/relative humidity loggers to gather data in roosting areas of PARA and four backcountry PARAs that previously tested positive for the presence of close relatives of P. destructans. We will also photo-document this research to provide interpretive materials for PARAâ¿¿s staff to promote public education and outreach on WNS and its impact on bats. Much remains to be learned about PARA's bats, their microbiota, the microclimate of their roosting sites, and climate change impacts. This funding will allow us to expand our dataset to a statistically adequate level and to compare results from PARA bats to our other four sites.

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