A BIOMARKER FOR SALAMANDER SKIN FUNGAL DISEASE

The fight against Bsal isn’t slowing down, and neither are we. Our team is closing in on new answers with our latest publication. The study shows how the composition of skin sugars is linked to host susceptibility.

Alpine Newt, Mesotriton alpestris (© Eduardo Fernández Meléndez)

A deadly skin fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), has been decimating salamander populations in Europe. While some species, succumb quickly, others appear to resist infection. Researchers at WHG are now investigating the underlying reasons for this variation in susceptibility. 

For the fungus to cause infection, its spores must first attach to the skin. Previous research showed that these spores bind to terminal sugars. To investigate further, we tested various lectins (proteins that recognise particular sugars) to map sugar patterns on salamander skin and examine their relationship to disease susceptibility. 

The key Findings of this study:

• Salamanders and newts with higher levels of terminal galactose on their skin are more susceptible to Bsal and this can only be detected by the lectin RCA1.

• This relationship is consistent among individuals within the same species. 

In summary, the sugar composition of salamander skin can predict susceptibility to infection, making galactose a potential biomarker of vulnerability. 

Why does this Matter? By linking disease risk to a measurable skin characteristic, these findings enable the development of targeted conservation strategies. For example, identifying or supporting resistant individuals could help safeguard salamander populations against Bsal. For more information about this study, you can read the full scientific article here. This research was conducted as part of the GLOSSI project. If you want to learn more about the project, you can visit the GLOSSI website.