Projects
Chytridiomycosis in amphibians: Designing a efficient treatment protocol and defining the mechanisms of host-specificity Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp
SRP (Groeiers): Evolutionary innovations in amphibians: from ecology to molecules Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Theme 1. - Natural History and Evolution - Research leader: Prof. Dr. Franky Bossuyt Majortechnicalspecialization:molecular phylogenetics
Theme 2. - Amphibian Toxinology - Research leader: Prof. Dr. Kim Roelants Major technical ...
Unraveling the adaptive role of amphibian antimicrobial peptides in the immune system and antipredator defense. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Coemergence of two lethal chytrid fungi threatening European amphibian diversity Ghent University
The numerous essential services provided by biodiversity to society render the current sixth mass extinction event a major societal challenge, which is exemplified by a global and massive loss of amphibian diversity. The fungal amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, which is caused by two chytrid fungi, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bs), is regarded the greatest infectious threat ever recorded to biodiversity. The ...
Development of biologically-based models in environmental risk assessment to assess the impact of chemicals and pathogenic fungi on amphibian and reptile populations Ghent University
The present proposal aims at progressing in the evaluation of risks associated with multiple stressors, namely pesticides and pathogens, for European amphibians and reptiles through the development, calibration and validation of biologically-based models that allow for extrapolating individual- and, eventually, field-level effects. With this purpose, we will compile and analyse the available information regarding toxicity of pesticides to ...
Amphibian nutrient metabolism as a clue for their sensitivity to chytridiomycosis Ghent University
By means of comparative studies across vertebrate classes and among amphibians, the typical traits of nutrient metabolism in amphibians is unraveled. Based thereon, we will investigate if nutrition and nutritional status plays a role in the sensitivity for chytridiomycosis, the main cause of death for amphibians.
The role of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis secreted aminopeptidases in amphibian skin interface disturbance Ghent University
Chytridiomycosis is a fungal disease, disturbing the skin functions of amphibians and thus resulting in death and amphibian decline. The mechanism by which the skin is disturbed is not known. In this project, we will study the role of secreated aminopeptidases in amphibian skin interface disturbance.
Understanding the adaptation of emerging infectious diseases to novel environments: can Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans evolve fast enough to establish maintenance in European amphibian communities? Ghent University
The recent globalisation of travel and trade has increased the international spread of diseases into
naïve ecosystems, with often-disastrous consequences. This was seen in the current European
outbreak of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, an Asian amphibian pathogen, which has
decimated populations of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra). Seven years on from its
introduction, with few susceptible populations ...
Mitigating an amphibian pandemic by embedding biodiversity conservation in contaminant exposed agricultural landscapes Ghent University
Urgent measures are necessary to mitigate the impact of the fungal amphibian skin disease chytridiomycosis, which is emblematic for global disease driven loss of biodiversity. Here we aim at steering chytrid epidemiology towards a state of host-pathogen co-existence instead of epidemics by exploiting micropredator community dynamics in a context of aquatic eutrophication and contamination.