Bacteria that Can Potentially Save Frog Species from Extinction

Amphibians such as frogs have been greatly affected by the changes in the natural world. In the UK, European common frogs are at risk of extinction because of ranavirus, a virus that can kill a large number of frogs in a short time.

Scientists are looking for ways to prevent these frogs from going extinct. Fortunately, they discovered a bacteria that dwells on the skin of frogs that could protect them from the deadly virus.

They found a link between outbreaks of the disease and the make-up of bacteria on the frogs' skin in different populations across southern England.

This gives the first demonstration that in the wild there is a correlation between populations that get disease and populations that remain disease-free, and the mix of bacteria on the skin, said Dr Lewis Campbell from the University of Exeter.

"It's a silver bullet against the virus, potentially," he said.

The researchers hope the work could help save the frog species most often seen in UK ponds.

It is said that 40% of species are in danger of being wiped out due to habitat loss and climate change, and pathogens. I hope we can still avoid that from happening.

(Image Credit: Richard Bartz/ Wikimedia Commons)