Research Interests

Photo by A. Catenazzi

I am interested in disease dynamics involved in emerging infectious wildlife diseases. I am particularly interested in Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), one of the main responsible for amphibian declines worldwide. My research is focused on understanding how the interactions between host and pathogen affect disease dynamics. I have been studying tropical frogs that coexist with Bd to determine which factors may explain their survival despite the lethal effects of pathogen. I have been working with the genus Atelopus, one of the most threatened groups of toads worldwide. I have found that species that are infected with Bd harbor skin bacteria that inhibit the growth of the chytrid fungal pathogen, which may explain why some species belonging to this threatened group coexist with the pathogen. Such work is essential for the development of ‘probiotic’ strategies that may help other endangered species to fight chytridiomycosis. I am also interested in determining the effect of captivity on the community of bacteria present in amphibian skin, considering that the long-term goal of ex situ conservation programs is to return the animals to their habitat. Also, in collaboration with many research groups in Colombia, we are aiming to describe the distribution of Bd in the country, and which environmental conditions may be more suitable for the establishment of the pathogen, prioritizing these areas for study as they can be considered more vulnerable to population declines. 

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