Transcriptomics of Chiricahua Leopard Frog
I recently began a new project to use disease challenge experiment and comparative transcriptomics to investigate the genetic response of frogs infected with the Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (which causes the disease chytridiomycosis ). Chytridiomycosis is one of the leading causes of the global decline in amphibians. The target species of this research is the Chiricahua leopard frog which is found in the American southwest and is susceptible to Bd infection. In collaboration with masters student, Emily Nebergall from Oregon State University, we collected tissue samples and subsequently RNA, from leopard frogs exposed to the Bd pathogen and uninfected frogs. Using the Roche-454 sequencing platform we obtained sequence data from the transciptomes of these frogs and we are using this data to look for genetic responses to infection.