Disciplines
Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology | Fungi | Organic Chemicals
Abstract (300 words maximum)
White-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, is responsible for the extensive mortality of bats in the United States. In an effort to develop tools to reduce bat mortality attributed to WNS, an in vitro experiment was conducted to quantify the inhibitory effects of select volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as explore potential synergistic activities. The experiment involved exposing mycelial plugs of P. destructans to various concentrations of B23 as well as B23 and decanal together at equimolar ratios. Measurements of the plugs were taken over the course of the 13 day experiment allowing the quantification of the P. destructans mycelial growth when exposed to VOCs. The results were favorable and suggest these compounds may be effective at mitigating the impact of WNS on impacted bat species.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Chemistry and Biochemistry
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Christopher Cornelison
Additional Faculty
Kyle Gabriel. Research, kgabrie5@kennesaw.edu
Included in
Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons, Fungi Commons, Organic Chemicals Commons
Evaluating Volatile Organic Compounds for Contact-Independent Antagonism of Pseudogymnoascus destructans
White-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, is responsible for the extensive mortality of bats in the United States. In an effort to develop tools to reduce bat mortality attributed to WNS, an in vitro experiment was conducted to quantify the inhibitory effects of select volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as explore potential synergistic activities. The experiment involved exposing mycelial plugs of P. destructans to various concentrations of B23 as well as B23 and decanal together at equimolar ratios. Measurements of the plugs were taken over the course of the 13 day experiment allowing the quantification of the P. destructans mycelial growth when exposed to VOCs. The results were favorable and suggest these compounds may be effective at mitigating the impact of WNS on impacted bat species.