Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Biology

Abstract

Bats serve a valuable role within the environmental and human world. They are responsible for a multitude of beneficial processes, such as aiding in the control of disease, pollination, and agricultural influence. Since its emergence in 2006, white-nose syndrome (WNS) has caused a large decline in bat populations. Interestingly, some bat species experience illness from Pseudogymnoascus destructans while other species do not. Could it be the microbiome plays a role in protecting bats? Both external and internal microbiome composition have a large effect on defenses against pathogens and overall health of individuals. With WNS presenting such an invasive fungal pathogen to the bats, we aimed to collect and characterize bacteria from the microbiome of Indiana bat ( Myotis sodalis ) and identify any chitinase-producing bacteria that may have the ability to break down the chitin exterior of the fungal pathogen. We collected samples from the M. sodalis via swabs of the surface skin in the oral, wing, and genital regions of ten bats caught by harp trapping and mist netting in Missouri and Indiana. The characterization of the microbiome and identification of chitinase-producing bacteria are performed through isolation and various differential hands-on lab techniques. Bacteria were identified down to genus. Results gathered from this work will be beneficial to aid in the relation of bats and their microbiomes influence on possible disease susceptibility or defense. With the detrimental decline of bat populations, especially within the endangered North American species, research to broaden what we know is bound to become more urgent.

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