Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Biological Sciences
Minor
Chemistry
Institution
Northern Kentucky University
KY House District #
68
KY Senate District #
24
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Joseph Mester PhD; Alan Cohen MD
Department
Biological Sciences
Abstract
White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a newly recognized disease responsible for the rapid mass destruction of the North American bat populations. This study addressed the novel inactivation of fungal spores from Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of WNS, using ultraviolet A (UVA) light at 365nm and methoxsalen, a photosensitizer from a family of compounds known as furanocoumarins. Penicillium crustosum, an environmental fungus, was studied as a comparator.
Spore suspensions were soaked in specific concentrations of methoxsalen and subsequently exposed to UVA light. The plates were examined for both spore inactivation and resultant inhibition of colony growth. The results demonstrated that methoxsalen + UVA was an effective method for inactivating fungal spores of P. destructans and P. crustosum. The importance of this study is the potential control of WNS and other destructive environmental fungi.
Novel Inactivation of the Causative Fungus of White Nose Syndrome with Methoxsalen and Ultraviolet A Light
White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a newly recognized disease responsible for the rapid mass destruction of the North American bat populations. This study addressed the novel inactivation of fungal spores from Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of WNS, using ultraviolet A (UVA) light at 365nm and methoxsalen, a photosensitizer from a family of compounds known as furanocoumarins. Penicillium crustosum, an environmental fungus, was studied as a comparator.
Spore suspensions were soaked in specific concentrations of methoxsalen and subsequently exposed to UVA light. The plates were examined for both spore inactivation and resultant inhibition of colony growth. The results demonstrated that methoxsalen + UVA was an effective method for inactivating fungal spores of P. destructans and P. crustosum. The importance of this study is the potential control of WNS and other destructive environmental fungi.