Genome Sequence of Frog-killing Fungus Released
Contact: Joyce Longcore (207) 581-4396; David Munson (207) 581-3777
ORONO, Maine — Researchers around the world now have a valuable new tool for studying the deadly Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis fungus, thanks to the efforts of scientists at the Broad Institute, Timothy James of Duke University and UMaine researcher Joyce Longcore.
The fungus’ genome sequence was recently released to the public. Consisting of more than 20 million base pairs, the sequence offers scientists new insights into the genetic nature of the fungal pathogen.
One of only a handful of researchers with expertise in identifying and culturing the unusual group of fungi collectively known as chytrids, Longcore provided the diploid strain of B. dendrobatidis that was recently sequenced by the Broad Institute’s Fungal Genome Initiative team. James extracted the DNA from Longcore’s cultures.
Implicated in amphibian declines around the world, B. dendrobatidis is the first chytrid to be sequenced. Longcore was the first to isolate a pure culture of the pathogen nearly a decade ago. Her current research is focused on the relationships between chytrid species, and her lab on the UMaine campus continues to serve as the world’s leading repository for numerous strains of chytrid fungi.