Bacterial community in the skin microbiome of frogs in a coldspot of chytridiomycosis infection

Chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease, caused by the pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), has caused declines in amphibian populations worldwide. In Asia, frogs have been shown to be less susceptible to Bd caused mortality or morbidity, and it is a coldspot of infection. Cutaneous bacterial composition and the presence of anti-Bd bacteria in sixfrog species from India was examined using skin swabs. Using DNA isolated from skin microbes,next-generation sequencing was performed and it revealed 18944 bacterial sequences. The bacterial community was dominated by Proteobacteria. Anti-Bd bacterial community dominated the skin microbiome of the frogs. The frog skin microbiome in Bd resistance in the coldspots of infection are being investigated.