Secondary metabolites of bacterial and amphibian origin found on the skins of amphibians may help impart resistance to pathogens such as the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Detecting and characterizing these antifungal compounds previously required euthanizing amphibian specimens in order to directly extract compounds from their skins. We have developed a non-lethal technique to directly isolate (using polyurethane foam-tipped swabs) and detect (by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) secondary metabolites found on the skins of amphibian specimens. In addition to the obvious benefits of this nonlethal method to the amphibian specimen, this approach will now allow us to observe and monitor a metabolite profile for a given specimen over time in order to correlate it with such factors as habit, morbidity, and mortality.

Nonlethal detection and characterization of natural products found on amphibian skins

245th National Meeting (2013)

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