Diversity, multifaceted evolution, and facultative saprotrophism in the European Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans epidemic

Moira Kelly (), Frank Pasmans, Jose F. Muñoz, Terrance P. Shea, Salvador Carranza, Christina A. Cuomo and An Martel ()
Additional contact information
Moira Kelly: Ghent University
Frank Pasmans: Ghent University
Jose F. Muñoz: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Terrance P. Shea: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Salvador Carranza: Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-UPF)
Christina A. Cuomo: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
An Martel: Ghent University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract While emerging fungi threaten global biodiversity, the paucity of fungal genome assemblies impedes thoroughly characterizing epidemics and developing effective mitigation strategies. Here, we generate de novo genomic assemblies for six outbreaks of the emerging pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). We reveal the European epidemic currently damaging amphibian populations to comprise multiple, highly divergent lineages demonstrating isolate-specific adaptations and metabolic capacities. In particular, we show extensive gene family expansions and acquisitions, through a variety of evolutionary mechanisms, and an isolate-specific saprotrophic lifecycle. This finding both explains the chytrid’s ability to divorce transmission from host density, producing Bsal’s enigmatic host population declines, and is a key consideration in developing successful mitigation measures.

Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27005-0 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27005-0

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27005-0

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().