Identification and Characterization of Control Candidates for Pseudogymnoascus Destructans, the Fungus that Causes White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

Abstract

Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in hibernating bats, has caused unprecedented declines of bat populations in eastern North America and continues to threaten new populations. P. destructans can grow in the bat hibernaculum environment, which likely contributes to the spread and severity of the white-nose syndrome epidemic. In this thesis, we focus on the identification and characterization of candidate control agents for environmental P. destructans. We first identify microbes that are strongly inhibitory to P. destructans in bioassays. We then conduct preliminary analyses of the antifungal mode of action of the microbially-produced volatile compounds 2-methyl-1-butanol, 1-pentanol, propionic acid, and nonanal. We simulate the hibernaculum environment with soil microcosms to assess the inhibitory activity of volatile compounds and microbial antagonists under hibernaculum-like conditions. Finally, we test the metabolites and volatile compounds that were inhibitory to P. destructans against a library of agricultural plant pathogens.