White Nose Syndrome Essay

This study compared the changes in gene expression within wing tissue of Little Brown Myostis infected with White Nose Syndrome to bats without White Nose Syndrome. As expected, Pseudogymnoascus destructans caused significant changes in gene expression within the tissue. Inflammatory responses paired with anti-fungal host responses were triggered by the introduction of Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Necessary chemokines (Small secreted proteins that induce a certain response) were produced in tissue with Pseudogymnoascus destructans, but immune cells were not recruited to combatant the pathogen. Further observations revealed hibernation doesn’t prevent inflammatory responses as a result of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, but the employment of white blood cells does not occur. The innate immune response observed would be expected to carry out a Th17 directed adaptive immune response that could possibly clear the infection, but due to energetic limits during hibernation, these adaptive immune responses could not be carried out. Many …show more content…
Destructin-1, a serine protease secreted by Pseudogymnoascus destructans was identified, that when in contact with collagen, it actively breaks down this protein. In all bat species, collagen is a major component in connective tissue and provides structure to the organism. The Destructin-1 endopeptidase secreted by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, is the reason why so many bats stricken with White Nose Syndrome display “broken” or degrading wings. This breakdown of collagen leaves many bats grounded and unable to fly, adding to the mortality of White Nose Syndrome. To identify this Destructin-1 endopeptidase, first, all hydrolytic enzymes secreted by Pseudogymnoascus destructans were identified. Then, using a novel substrate profiling technique, all active peptidases were