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)