PdPV-1 Infection

 

By: Karen Rodriguez

Extraction of P.destructans nucleic acids with indicated enzymes. Figure taken from Ren et al. (2020).

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent disease and the root of bats' deaths throughout North America at an increasing rate. Earlier studies have discovered that the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans is responsible for the uprising of WNS. Although the cause of this disease has been determined, many other countries have located this fungus in their area but have found no correlation between P.destructans and the death of millions of bats. This study concentrated on the isolation of P.destructans and demonstrated the molecular characterization and infection of a mycovirus known as Pseudogymnoascus destructans partitivirus 1(PdPV-1). This is important because humans and the ecosystem rely on bats to partake in their role as pollinators in our environment. They consume many insects and pests that affect plant growth, they transport and disperse seeds that allow us to consume various fruits, but most importantly aid in expanding our biodiversity. Therefore, developing a solution to avoid this mycovirus from infecting the fungus that causes WNS is crucial to gradually decrease the death of bats. The continuous research of the infection of PdPV-1 could expand the knowledge of fungal activity and help prevent the extinction of one of most important assets on our planet.

Original Article:

Ren, P., Rajkumar, S.S., Zhang, T. et al. A common partitivirus infection in United States and Czech Republic isolates of bat white-nose syndrome fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Sci Rep 10, 13893 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-70375-6