Direct Detection of Fungal Siderophores on Bats with White-Nose Syndrome via Fluorescence Microscopy-Guided Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Author

Samantha J. Mascuch
Wilna J. Moree
Cheng-Chih Hsu

Files

Publication Date

March 2015

Abstract

White-nose syndrome (WNS) caused by the pathogenic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans is decimating the populations of several hibernating North American bat species. Little is known about the molecular interplay between pathogen and host in this disease. Fluorescence microscopy ambient ionization mass spectrometry was used to generate metabolic profiles from the wings of both healthy and diseased bats of the genus Myotis. Fungal siderophores, molecules that scavenge iron from the environment, were detected on the wings of bats with WNS, but not on healthy bats. This work is among the first examples in which microbial molecules are directly detected from an infected host and highlights the ability of atmospheric ionization methodologies to provide direct molecular insight into infection.

Keywords

Wns, Pseudogymnoascus Destructans, Myotis, Microbial Molecules, Ionization

Document Type

Article

Notes

PLoS ONE, Vol. 10, no. 3 (2015-03-17).

Identifier

K26-00013

Recommended Citation

Mascuch, Samantha J.; Moree, Wilna J.; and Hsu, Cheng-Chih, "Direct Detection of Fungal Siderophores on Bats with White-Nose Syndrome via Fluorescence Microscopy-Guided Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry" (2015). KIP Articles. 1240.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/1240