LRMoore Prokaryote template
Geomyces Destructans Contents • 1 Classification o 1.1 Higher order taxa o 1.2 Species • 2 Description and significance • 3 Genome structure • 4 Cell and colony structure • 5 Metabolism • 6 Ecology • 7 Pathology • 8 References [edit] Classification [edit] Higher order taxa Scientific classification Kingdon: Fungi Subkingdom: Dikarya Phylum: Ascomycota Subphylum: Pezizomycotina Class: Leotiomycetes Order: Helotiales Family: Myxotrichaceae Genus: Geomyces Species: Geomyces destructans
[edit] Description and significance Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important. Geomices destructans is a fungus thought to be responsible for the large number of bat deaths in New England over the last several years. It first presented in the US in 2006 and then in Europe specifically France in 2009. Until recently G. destructans was thought to be a normal resident inhabiting bats around the world. Further research links this to “white nose syndrome,” and even more recent research shows a 100% match between the DNA of G. destructans and the fungus found on the dead bats. (Chaturvedi et al) Further study is needed on this subject; reachers do not seem to be sure if the fungus is stemming from pest control measures or how and why this has recently devastated bats around the world. Since first observation near Albany, NY in 2006, white nose syndrome has decimated populations of cave-hibernating bats in the northeastern United States, with mortality rates of 75-95%. In 2009, the infection area extended from northeastern New Hampshire to southwestern Virginia and expanded into Tennessee and Canada in 2010. Outside of North America, G. destructans has also been observed in colonized bats across Europe. It is not yet obvious how the infection is influencing population in Europe.
[edit] Genome structure Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? A total of 9075 genes coding for proteins have ben sequenced for Geomyces destructans using 29,706,106 base pairs to code for them. (NCBI) Liner mitochondrial DNA has also been sequences but little information is available on genetic specifics at this time.
[edit] Cell and colony structure Ideal growth in a lab was observed when isolated at 12C on a nutrient rich media. No growth was observed at 24C or above. This shows that the fungus grows optimally around the temperatures which bats are typically hibernating in. Sabouraud dextrose agar is used as the nutrient rich medium to isolate the fungus. At 14C G. destructans will produce 8mm colonies. They are white around the margins, with white overgrowth in the centers of the colonies. Conidia that grow out of the center of to colonies will sometimes be pigmented grey, grey-green, or slightly olive. (Gargas et al 2009) When isolated, the fungus will form hyaline, irregularly branched conidiophores. These identifying reproductive structures bear intercalary, lateral and terminal arthroconidia which appear smooth under a light microscope (Kubatova et al.) Conidia are thin-walled, narrow, 1.5–2 μm wide by 35–90 μm or more in length. (Gargas et al) They are slightly pigmented. They branch at ninety degree angles. (Courtin et al 2010) There are also shorter chains of conidia which are truncate at both ends. These distinctly curve at maturity. Lateral and terminal conidia grow singly or in circular arrangements that grow from an axis, and are truncate at the base. They are apically rounded, curvature is often not distinct (Kubatova et al.)
[edit] Metabolism
Fatty acid ω-oxidation in Geomyces destructns was researched by metacyc. Geomyces, along with other industrial yeasts are capable of using fatty acids and alkanes as carbon sources. The methyl group at the end of the molecule is initially oxidized to a hydroxyl group, then to an oxo group, and terminally to a carboxyl group. The long chain of dicarboxylates derived from ω-oxidation then go into the β-oxidation pathway for further breakdown.
In the environment, polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically linoleic and a-linolenic acid, are important for hibernating animals. Bats severely affected by White Nose Syndrome have been shown to exhibit higher amounts of a-linolenic acid in their white adipose tissue. (SITE) Contrariwise, bat species’ not heavily afflicted by WNS have higher amounts of linoleic acid in their white adipose tissue. In order for G. Destructans to survive it must utilize the a-linolnic acid as a carbon source. Dietary fatty acids can be excreted through sebaceous glands on the bat, which the fungus comes into contact with. G. destructans is unable to metabolize linoleic acid as a carbon source but may metabolize a-linolenic acid. If bats differ in their relative ratios of fatty acids this may play an important role in species, diet, and range specificity to WNS and hence bat survival. (SITE) Energy source(s); external electron donor(s) (=reductant source(s)); carbon source(s); oxygen classification; important molecules it produces.
[edit] Ecology Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment. metagenomic data link
White nose syndrome in bats was initially observed in 2006 at a single cave near Albany, New York. WNS has since been found in 14 states and 2 Canadian provinces, spreading up to 800 miles in 2009 (Turner and Reeder 2009). This is of particular concern to scientists due to many bat species important role in their ecosystems. Not only does the decreasing umber of bats affect the environment but it also impacts humans. Bats are responcible for consuming large amounts of insects. A single Little Brown bat can consume one thousand insects in a night. In the US, farmers spend significant amounts of money attempting to control pests, and with the decline of the bat population, farmers will be forced to take more drastic measures to regulate their crops and herds. This also increases the risk to humans from insect borne disease. Bats also feed the members of the microenvironments in caves. To eliminate the intake of nutrients in a cave, it would destroy the ecosystem o the cave. G. Destructans is also known to speed between heavily visit caves without the help of bats. Spores of G. Destructans have been transferred from cave to cave through human contact as well as animal. (Turner and Reeder 2009). Other related species are commonly found in the soil and air and do not usually elicit an immune response in humans.
[edit] Pathology G. destructans is a psychrophilic dermatophyte. This type of fungus can grown in cold conditions and cause infection of the skin due to it’s keratin obtaining ability. This fungus can attack the skin of muzzles, ears or wing membranes, and fills hair follicles, sebaceous glands and sweat glands. G. destructans negatively influences water balance, thus disrupting energy consumption. Infection with the fungus may also disrupt blood circulation and gas exchange through the skin. (Cryan 2010) Hyphae and white conidia powder have been found on bats, but the fungus elicits no immune response or inflammation when infected. (Gargas et al) While the bats are hibernating, the fungus infects the designated areas and begins to replace and digest the living skin or tissues. Studies show that while bats are hibernating, their metabolism slows to a crawl, their body temperature decrease, and their immune system is depressed. (Jaeger 1963) These conditions leave the bats susceptible to G. destructans which grows optimally at 1-15C.
[edit] References [Sample reference] Sylvie Cousin, Marie-Laure Gulat-Okalla, Laurence Motreff, Catherine Gouyette, Christiane Bouchier, Dominique Clermont, and Chantal Bizet. Lactobacillus gigeriorum sp. nov., isolated from chicken crop. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol February 2012 62:330-334; published ahead of print March 18, 2011.} [doi:10.1099/ijs.0.028217-0.
Geomyces destructans, phenotypic features of some Czech isolates.ALENA KUBÁTOVÁ1*, ONDŘEJ KOUKOL1, ALENA NOVÁKOVÁ2. CZECH MYCOL. 63(1): 65–75, 2011
Geomyces destructans sp. nov. associated with bat white-nose syndrome A. Gargas1, M.T. Trest2, M. Christensen3 T.J. Volk4 & D.S. Blehert5* Volume 108, pp. 147–154 April–June 2009
Wing pathology of white-nose syndrome in bats suggests life-threatening disruption of physiology. Paul M Cryan1, Carol U Meteyer2*, Justin G Boyles3 and David S Blehert.November 2010 Serological, hematological and immunological research on hibernating bats. Jaeger R Experientia 1963, 19:596-598. Wibbelt G, Kurth A, Hellmann D, Weishaar M, Barlow A, Veith M, Pruger J, Gorfol T, Grosche L, Bontadina F, et al: White-nose syndrome fungus (Geomyces destructans) in bats, Europe. Emerg Infect Dis 2010, 16:1237-1243.
White-nose syndrome fungus (Geomyces destructans) in bat, France. Emerg Infect Dis Puechmaille SJ, Verdeyroux P, Fuller H, Ar Gouilh M, Bekaert M, Teeling EC 2010 Feb
Morphological And Molecular Characterizations Of Psychrophilic Fungus Geomyces Destructans From New York Bats With White Nose Syndrome (WNS) Vishnu Chaturvedi - Deborah J.Springer - Melissa J.Behr - Rama Ramani - Xiaojiang Li - Marcia K.Peck - Ping Ren - Dianna J.Bopp - Britta Wood - William A.Samsonoff - Calvin M.Butchkoski - Alan C.Hicks - Ward B.Stone - Robert J.Rudd - Sudha Chaturvedi - Eleftherios Mylonakis - PLoS ONE - 2010
Increasing Incidence of Geomyces destructans Fungus in Bats from the Czech Republic and Slovakia Natália Martínková1,2*, Peter Bačkor3, Tomáš Bartonička4, Pavla Blažková5,6, Jaroslav Červený7, Lukáš Falteisek8, Jiří Gaisler4, Vladimír Hanzal9, Daniel Horáček10, Zdeněk Hubálek1, Helena Jahelková8, Miroslav Kolařík11, L'uboš Korytár12, Alena Kubátová11, Blanka Lehotská13, Roman Lehotský14, Radek K. Lučan8, Ondřej Májek2, Jan Matějů8,15, Zdeněk Řehák4, Jiří Šafář16, Přemysl Tájek5, Emil Tkadlec1,17, Marcel Uhrin18, Josef Wagner19, Dita Weinfurtová8, Jan Zima1, Jan Zukal1,4, Ivan Horáček8 Pathologic Findings and Liver Elements in Hibernating Bats With White-Nose Syndrome F. Courtin1,W. B. Stone2, G. Risatti1, K. Gilbert1 and H. J. Van Kruiningen1 2010 Caspi et al., 2012, "The MetaCyc Database of metabolic pathways and enzymes and the BioCyc collection of pathway/genome databases", Nucleic Acids Research in publications resulting from its use. http://metacyc.org/
Turner GG, Reeder DM. 2009. Update of White Nose Syndrome in Bats, September 2009. Bat Research News 50(3):47-53. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2958029/
Edited by student of Dr. Lisa R. Moore, University of Southern Maine, Department of Biological Sciences, http://www.usm.maine.edu/bio Category: Uncurated Pages
