FROG'S COAT OF BACTERIAL ARMOR HELPS PROTECT IT FROM FUNGAL DISEASE

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Sept. 23 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news release:

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -The bacteria living on frogs' skin could serve a vital role in protecting the animal from a deadly fungal disease. A team of researchers led by Penn State scientists found that frogs' natural skin bacteria can help them fight disease and improve their chances of survival.

The study, recently published in the journal Animal Microbiome, draws a causal relationship between the natural bacteria inhabiting the frog's skin, called the skin microbiome, and the frog's ability to survive a deadly fungal pathogen - a major threat to wild frogs and other amphibious animals throughout the world.

"This is one of the clearest demons...