Scientists have traced the origin of the disease Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a fungal pathogen causing the epizootic of white-nose syndrome in North American bats. The researchers used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from whole-genome sequencing and microsatellites to construct high-resolution phylogenies. White-nose syndrome was traced back to Eurasia where researchers claim the disease was present for millenia. Eurasian bats - unlike their North American cousins - are believed to have evolved a resistance to the disease. These findings provide hope for all North American bat species as researchers claim that it is possible these populations will also evolve resistance to the fungus in the future.
Article
- Louis Gorgone
No comments:
Post a Comment