# From specialist to generalist: biotic and abiotic reservoirs of fungal pathogens

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA · 2022 · $26,356

## Abstract

Project Summary
Many fungal pathogens have broad host ranges, long-lived environmental stages, and the
potential for saprotrophic growth. New models are needed for this type of pathogen, in order to
improve our ability to understand the dynamics and impacts of this unique, diverse, and
abundant group of pathogens. The overall aim of this project is to expand our understanding of
the dynamics of emerging fungal pathogens both amongst and outside of their hosts. Laboratory
and field experiments and field surveys will be conducted to develop and fit disease models,
utilizing the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), as the primary
model system. Recent evidence that Bd can infect a wide diversity of organisms (in addition to
amphibians), and that Bd has the ability to form biofilms (which may enhance its potential for
environmental persistence), makes this an ideal model system for this project.
Fungal disease models will be developed and parameterized, including generalist pathogens,
external pathogen reservoirs (including the possibility of incorporation of the pathogen into
biofilms), and the potential for saprotrophic pathogen growth. The models will be used to
explore the implications of these features of fungal pathogens on pathogen prevalence and
disease severity in target host species, in the both the amphibian/Bd system and in other
emerging fungal pathogen systems. Specifically, the research team will (1) perform an in-depth
analysis of alternative hosts and environmental reservoirs where Bd may persist outside of the
host, (2) test experimentally the role of these alternative hosts and environmental reservoirs on
survival and reproduction of Bd, persistence of Bd in the environment, and in transmission of the
pathogen to amphibians, (3) test how Bd biofilm formation affects Bd persistence and
reproduction, (4) explore how Bd biofilms persist in extreme environments (i.e., temperatures)
and if this affects the infectiousness of Bd using novel approaches (metagenomics,
metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics), (5) improve the fungal-based disease model to include
an ecosystem-centric approach using Bd as a case study, and (6) create an emerging fungal
database, conduct a metanalysis, and fit our disease models to other emerging fungal diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10523778
- **Project number:** 3R01GM135935-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA
- **Principal Investigator:** CHERYL J BRIGGS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $26,356
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-01-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10523778

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10523778, From specialist to generalist: biotic and abiotic reservoirs of fungal pathogens (3R01GM135935-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10523778. Licensed CC0.

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