Amphibian population declines are occurring worldwide. In areas experiencing limited climate change or human impacts, these declines have been linked to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the causative agent of chytridomycosis, a deadly fungal disease. Some populations and individuals persist despite exposure to Bd, in part due to symbiotic, antifungal bacteria present on their skin. Antifungal secondary metabolites produced by these cutaneous bacteria in vitro can be isolated and identified using HPLC, UV-Vis, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and NMR. Studies to examine the presence of these antifungal metabolites in vivo have led to the development of new analytical techniques for swabbing individuals and analyzing the obtained metabolites.

Chemical ecology of an amphibian-bacterial-fungal ecosystem

245th National Meeting (2013)

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