Friendly Bacteria: A Boon For Frogs

There has been a huge decline in the number of species in recent years, among those frogs and amphibians are also the ones that have been hit hard by the adverse situations. These situations include many changes in the natural world, adverse climatic changes, habitat loss and also due to pathogens. According to studies it has been witnessed that up to 40% of species in the world are near to dying due to these changes and conditions. Frogs and amphibians die a lot due to diseases caused by various pathogens; several steps have been taken for the same. It has also been known according to a research frogs are leveraged to have a bacteria living on their skin. This bacterium helps a lot and protects the frog against a deadly virus that can cause harm to it.

Many scientists all over the globe work for same and have come up for solutions. Scientists of University of Exeter and also Zoological Society of London can help species like European common frog from getting wiped out from the environment, which may get vanished due to diseases.

The British scientists saw that how easily the frogs are coping with ranavirus. They also discovered link between the outbreaks of the disease caused on the frogs. Also along with the complete details about the disease the scientists also coined the make-up of bacteria on the skin of the frog in various different populations all over the southern England. The bacteria are a boon for saving lives of frogs. Dr Lewis Campbell said that the bacteria are a silver bullet against the virus.

It is not just limited to this but there have also been growing evidences that these skin bacteria’s may also protect the amphibians from chytrid fungus that is yet another deadly disease for frogs. These diseases are common among frogs all over the world and thus the discovery and study has led to various advantages. Furthermore steps are now been taken regarding this, scientists are now working on and are about to develop cocktails of this friendly bacteria that is sure to save lives of many frogs.

Another scientist from the University of Exeter said, “Our work suggests that given enough effort and research, similar probiotic therapies may be effective against ranavirus."

By: Prerana Sharma

Content: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48707650#share-tools