White-nose syndrome (WNS) caused by the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has killed millions of North American insect-eating bats. Currently, methods to prevent the disease are limited. We conducted two trials to assess potential WNS vaccine candidates in wild-caught Myotis lucifugus. In a pilot study, we immunized bats with one of four vaccine treatments or PBS as a control and challenged them with Pd upon transfer into hibernation chambers. Bats in one vaccine-treated group, that received raccoon poxviruses (RCN) expressing Pd calnexin (CAL) and serine protease (SP), developed WNS at a lower rate (1/10) than other treatments combined (14/23), although samples sizes were small. The results of a second similar trial provided additional support for this observation. Bats vaccinated orally or by injection with RCN-CAL and RCN-SP survived Pd challenge at a significantly higher rate (P = 0.01) than controls. Using RT-PCR and flow cytometry, combined with fluorescent in situ hybridization, we determined that expression of IFN-γ transcripts and the number of CD4+ T-helper cells transcribing this gene were elevated (P <0.10) in stimulated lymphocytes from surviving vaccines (n=15) compared to controls (n=3). We conclude that vaccination with virally-vectored Pd antigens induced antifungal immunity that could potentially protect bats against WNS.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent disease estimated to have killed over five million North American bats. Caused by the psychrophilic fungus Geomyces destructans, WNS specifically affects bats during hibernation. We describe temperature-dependent growth performance and morphology for six independent isolates of G. destructans from North America and Europe. Thermal performance curves for all isolates displayed an intermediate peak with rapid decline in performance above the peak. Optimal temperatures for growth were between 12.5 and 15.8 degrees C, and the upper critical temperature for growth was between 19.0 and 19.8 degrees C. Growth rates varied across isolates, irrespective of geographic origin, and above 12 degrees C all isolates displayed atypical morphology that may have implications for proliferation of the fungus. This study demonstrates that small variations in temperature, consistent with those inherent of bat hibernacula, affect growth performance and physiology of G. destructans, which may influence temperature-dependent progression and severity of WNS in wild bats.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent disease estimated to have killed over five million North American bats. Caused by the psychrophilic fungus Geomyces destructans, WNS specifically affects bats during hibernation. We describe temperature-dependent growth performance and morphology for six independent isolates of G. destructans from North America and Europe. Thermal performance curves for all isolates displayed an intermediate peak with rapid decline in performance above the peak. Optimal temperatures for growth were between 12.5 and 15.8 degrees C, and the upper critical temperature for growth was between 19.0 and 19.8 degrees C. Growth rates varied across isolates, irrespective of geographic origin, and above 12 degrees C all isolates displayed atypical morphology that may have implications for proliferation of the fungus. This study demonstrates that small variations in temperature, consistent with those inherent of bat hibernacula, affect growth performance and physiology of G. destructans, which may influence temperature-dependent progression and severity of WNS in wild bats.

These data are the collection of generalized linear mixed models run for AIC comparison of the pre- and post-White-nose Syndrome bat mist-net captures and percent juveniles in capture by year, time since White-nose Syndrome at collection set, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service designated geographic units, states or NABAT grid cell, collection site mean temperature, collection site temperature range and collection site elevation. Models are inclusive of data from 1999-2019 for the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) and the tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus).

These data are the collection of generalized linear mixed models run for AIC comparison of the pre- and post-White-nose Syndrome bat mist-net captures and percent juveniles in capture by year, time since White-nose Syndrome at collection set, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service designated geographic units, states or NABAT grid cell, collection site mean temperature, collection site temperature range and collection site elevation. Models are inclusive of data from 1999-2019 for the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) and the tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus).

White-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that has caused catastrophic population declines of bats in eastern North America, is rapidly spreading across the continent and now threatens previously unexposed bat species in western North America. The causal agent of WNS, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, can infect many species of hibernating bats, but susceptibility to WNS varies by host species. Predicting which western bat species will be most susceptible to WNS would be of great value for establishing conservation priorities. We previously reported that certain traits of the skin microbiome of bat species in eastern North America were strongly associated with tolerance to WNS. Using these traits, we developed a model to predict WNS susceptibility of 13 species of western North American bats. Based on the model, only two bat species, Myotis velifer and Eptesicus fuscus, were predicted to be WNS-tolerant. If accurate, a greater proportion of western bat species will be susceptible to the disease compared to eastern bat species, indicating that WNS may pose a significant conservation threat in western North America.

This dataset includes data used to summarize trends and identify best-fit models to explain patterns in presence-absence and abundance of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) in environmental substrates and on bats within six bat hibernacula at different stages of white-nose syndrome (WNS). Data relating to environmental substrates include: dates and relative spatial locations of samples collected within study hibernacula, presence and quantity of Pd in samples based on qPCR analysis, and daily temperature parameters at each sample location on the days samples were collected. Data relating to bats include: dates and relative spatial locations of hibernating bats that were sampled, species, sex, weight(g), forearm length(mm), body mass index (weight/forearm), proportion of the wing with visible fungus or fluorescence characteristic of WNS under hand-held UVA light and presence and quantity of Pd in wing-skin swab samples based on qPCR analysis. Measures of time since first detection of WNS at each study hibernaculum are also included in the dataset.

North American bats have experienced catastrophic population declines from white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). Although Pd can infect many hibernating bat species, population-level impacts of WNS vary by host species. Microbial skin assemblages, including the fungal component (mycobiome), can influence host resistance to infectious diseases; however, little is known about the influence the skin mycobiome of bats may have on susceptibility to WNS. We sampled ten bat species in the eastern United States that are known to be either susceptible, tolerant, or resistant to WNS by swabbing their wing skin. We then cultured fungi from the swabs, isolated morphologically distinct colonies of fungi, and identified the fungi through DNA sequencing. Using this culture-based approach, we compared skin mycobiome characteristics. The mycobiomes of WNS-susceptible bat species had significantly lower alpha diversity and abundance compared to WNS-tolerant species. Overall mycobiome structure did not vary based on WNS-susceptibility, but several yeast species were differentially abundant on WNS-tolerant bat species. Multi-locus phylogenies and scanning electron microscopy suggest that some yeasts likely represent novel taxa which may be adapted to colonizing bat skin. Further exploration of interactions between Pd and components of the mycobiome may prove useful for predicting susceptibility of bat populations and for developing effective mitigation strategies for WNS.

We experimentally challenged wild Mexican free-tailed bats (TABR) with SARS-CoV-2 to determine the susceptibility, reservoir potential, and population impacts of infection in this species. Of nine bats oronasally inoculated with SARS-CoV-2, five became infected and orally excreted moderate amounts of virus for up to 18 days post inoculation. These five subjects all seroconverted and cleared the virus before the end of the study with no obvious clinical signs of disease. We additionally found no evidence of viral transmission to uninoculated subjects. These results indicate that while TABR are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, infection of wild populations of TABR would not likely cause mortality.

These data were collected as part of a voluntary initiative to create a White-Nose Syndrome Diagnostic Laboratory Network among laboratories participating in research and surveillance for Pseudogymonascus destructans (Pd) - the fungal pathogen causing White-Nose Syndrome in bats. Pd_qPCR_InterlaboratoryLODdata.xlsx is raw qPCR data from multiple laboratories running serial dilutions of Pd gBlock in known concentrations for the collectively used Muller (2013) Pd qPCR assay. Pd_qPCR_InterlaboratoryResults_LOD.xlsx contains the data output for each laboratory from running a generic LOD/LOQ calculator script. the generic LOD/LOQ calculator script is available at:https://github.com/cmerkes/qPCR_LOD_Calc. Pd_qPCR_InterlaboratoryPTResults_PanelData.xlsx contains the raw qPCR data from multiple laboratories running blinded samples spiked with known concentrations of Pd conidia. Each sample was extracted once and run in triplicate using the Muller (2013) assay. Pd_qPCR_InterlaboratoryPTResults_PanelResults contains the results of the blinded samples in each laboratory panel as both qPCR Ct values per replicate, and final overall sample result according to the WNS Case Definition. Pd_qPCR_InterlaboratoryPTResults_Standards.xlsx contains the results of the standard curves run by each laboratory in conjunction with the blinded sample panel.