Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Strains from Skin of Terrestrial Amphibians
05:19

Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Strains from Skin of Terrestrial Amphibians

Published on: June 17, 2025

1.3K

Common Cutaneous Bacteria Isolated from Snakes Inhibit Growth of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola

Aubree J Hill1, Jacob E Leys2, Danny Bryan3

  • 1Department of Biology, Tennessee Technological University, 1100 North Dixie Avenue, Box 5063, Cookeville, TN, 38505, USA. aubreehill@tntech.edu.

Ecohealth
|November 15, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Snake fungal disease (SFD) threatens snakes. This study identified beneficial skin microbes, including bacteria from timber rattlesnakes and black racers, that inhibit the pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in vitro.

Area of Science:

  • Herpetology
  • Microbiology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Snake fungal disease (SFD), caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo), poses a significant threat to snake populations in the eastern USA.
  • The snake cutaneous microbiome's role in defense against pathogens like Oo is poorly understood.
  • This study investigates the composition and immune function of the snake skin microbiome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the culturable cutaneous microbiome of timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) and black racers (Coluber constrictor).
  • To identify potential probiotic bacteria that inhibit the growth of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in vitro.
  • To understand the snake microbiome's role in combating SFD.

Main Methods:

  • Skin swabs were collected from eight timber rattlesnakes and four black racers in Arkansas and Tennessee.
  • Bacterial and fungal strains were isolated, identified using Sanger sequencing, and tested for inhibition of Oo growth in vitro.
  • Real-time qPCR and histopathology were used to detect and confirm SFD.

Main Results:

  • Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola was detected in five snakes, with SFD confirmed in one black racer, marking the first case in Tennessee.
  • Fifty-eight bacterial and five fungal strains were isolated and identified.
  • Fifteen bacterial strains from rattlesnakes and one from a racer demonstrated in vitro inhibition of Oo growth.

Conclusions:

  • The culturable skin microbiome composition did not significantly differ between the studied snake species.
  • Certain bacterial strains isolated from snake skin exhibit potential as probiotics against SFD.
  • Further research into the snake microbiome could reveal novel strategies for managing SFD.
Keywords:
Cutaneous microbiomeDermatophytic fungiEmerging fungal pathogensWildlife disease

More Related Videos

Chemical Isolation, Quantification, and Separation of Skin Lipids from Reptiles07:55

Chemical Isolation, Quantification, and Separation of Skin Lipids from Reptiles

Published on: February 7, 2019

11.6K
Methods to Inhibit Bacterial Pyomelanin Production and Determine the Corresponding Increase in Sensitivity to Oxidative Stress11:00

Methods to Inhibit Bacterial Pyomelanin Production and Determine the Corresponding Increase in Sensitivity to Oxidative Stress

Published on: August 31, 2015

8.7K

Related Concept Videos

Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
5.8K
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria01:30

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria

Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
704
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
3.0K
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
740
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes01:30

Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes

Spirochetes, unique bacteria in the phylum Spirochaetes, are gram-negative, motile, tightly coiled, slender, and flexible. They inhabit aquatic sediments and animals, with some causing diseases like syphilis. Spirochetes are classified into eight genera based on habitat, pathogenicity, phylogeny, and characteristics.Their distinctive motility arises from endoflagella, located within the cell’s periplasm. These endoflagella anchor at the cell poles and extend along the cell length, encased...
903
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
3.0K