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What is the context of this research?

White-nose syndrome is a disease of hibernating bats, first detected in the United States in 2006. It has caused precipitous declines in hibernating bats throughout Eastern North America. The disease is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which infects the skin of bats, and disrupts their normal hibernation behavior.



The origins of the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome remain unknown. The fungus has been detected in 16 countries in Europe, but no population declines have been observed. European isolates of the fungus are genetically different from the North American strain, suggesting that Europe may not be the source. To date, no one has sampled for the fungus east of Turkey, and thus it is unknown whether the fungus is present in Asia.

What is the significance of this project?

Northern China is an important location to perform this research because it has large numbers of hibernating bats, contains cave temperatures that are similar to those in Europe and North America, and has long winters requiring prolonged bat hibernation. China shares three species of hibernating bats with Europe, and the fungus has been found on the skin of all three species.



My study will provide valuable information on whether the fungus is present in China, and if it is there, how these bats have coexisted with this deadly pathogen. My study will also provide insight into the course this disease might take in the U.S. If the fungus is not found, it is possible that Chinese bats might be vulnerable to this pathogen, and at risk if the pathogen is introduced.

What are the goals of the project?

1. Sample 15-20 caves where bats spend the winter throughout northeastern China.



2. Collect samples from soil substrate, and wall roost locations, which have been shown to be highly infected with the fungus once it is present in a site.



3. Using molecular techniques, test for presence and amount of the fungus in each sample. Sample testing will be conducted at Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China.



4. Culture and sequence the DNA of any positive samples.



5. Compare the DNA sequences to known isolates of the fungus from around North America and Europe to determine the relationship between these isolates. Sequences that are highly similar will be more closely related, and allow for determination of whether the introduced North American strain may have originated in Asia.

