Identification of antibiotics for use in selection of the chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans

PLoS One. 2020 Oct 20;15(10):e0240480. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240480. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Global amphibian populations are being decimated by chytridiomycosis, a deadly skin infection caused by the fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal). Although ongoing efforts are attempting to limit the spread of these infections, targeted treatments are necessary to manage the disease. Currently, no tools for genetic manipulation are available to identify and test specific drug targets in these fungi. To facilitate the development of genetic tools in Bd and Bsal, we have tested five commonly used antibiotics with available resistance genes: Hygromycin, Blasticidin, Puromycin, Zeocin, and Neomycin. We have identified effective concentrations of each for selection in both liquid culture and on solid media. These concentrations are within the range of concentrations used for selecting genetically modified cells from a variety of other eukaryotic species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amphibians / microbiology*
  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Batrachochytrium / drug effects*
  • Batrachochytrium / genetics
  • Batrachochytrium / growth & development*
  • Bleomycin / pharmacology
  • Cinnamates / pharmacology
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Hygromycin B / analogs & derivatives
  • Hygromycin B / pharmacology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mycology / methods*
  • Neomycin / pharmacology
  • Puromycin / pharmacology
  • Pyrrolidinones / pharmacology
  • Selection, Genetic

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Cinnamates
  • Pyrrolidinones
  • blasticidin A
  • Bleomycin
  • Zeocin
  • Hygromycin B
  • hygromycin A
  • Puromycin
  • Neomycin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (IOS 1827257), awarded to Lillian K Fritz-Laylin (LFL). https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505480 The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.