Early maturation of host antimicrobial peptide defences is associated with host–pathogen coexistence

peer-reviewed · Nature Chemical Biology · 2026

peer-reviewed · Nature Chemical Biology · 2026. Phillip A. Jervis et al. Epizootic outbreaks of invasive pathogens, such as the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)…
Date 2026-07-15
Type peer-reviewed
Venue Nature Chemical Biology
Publisher Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Contribution downstream-application
DOI 10.1038/s41589-026-02254-6
Citations (OpenAlex) 0

Abstract

Epizootic outbreaks of invasive pathogens, such as the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), are increasingly recognized as a global threat to biodiversity. However, not all susceptible host populations are equally impacted by these disease outbreaks. While some populations persist despite intense infections and high mortality rates, others can transition to enzootic coexistence with the pathogen. Here, we use comparative peptidomics to identify differences in antimicrobial peptide (AMP) maturation in Bd-susceptible common midwife toads (Alytes obstetricans) through metamorphosis. Here, we show that animals that metamorphose before AMP immune maturation display a low-diversity AMP phenotype deficient in anti-Bd AMPs. Where a high incidence of postmetamorphic animals occur with immature AMPs, populations are associated with epizootic disease dynamics. Conversely, populations associated with mature AMPs are stable following invasion of the pathogen. Our results show that even intrinsically susceptible amphibian species can possess the tools that allow populations to recover following a severe Bd epizootic.

Authors

  1. Phillip A. Jervis · Imperial College London, University College London, Zoological Society of London
  2. Gonçalo M. Rosa · Instituto Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad, University of Lisbon, Zoological Society of London
  3. Kieran A. Bates · Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Zoological Society of London
  4. Kersti Karu · University College London
  5. Aamina Murtza · University College London
  6. Thomas Defuentes · University College London
  7. David Firer · McGill University, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
  8. Sam Edwards · University of Copenhagen, University of Exeter, Wageningen University & Research
  9. Kevin Hopkins · Zoological Society of London
  10. François Le Mauff · McGill University, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
  11. Christopher J. Michaels · Zoological Society of London
  12. Tresai Jordine-Morgan · Zoological Society of London
  13. Christina Nylander · University College London
  14. Christopher Sergeant · Zoological Society of London
  15. Emily J. Skelly · Imperial College London, Zoological Society of London
  16. Tam T. Bui · King’s College London
  17. Donald Sheppard · McGill University, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
  18. Xavier A. Harrison · University of Exeter
  19. Johanna Rhodes · Imperial College London, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Birmingham
  20. Benjamin Tapley · Zoological Society of London
  21. Jaime Bosch · Instituto Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad
  22. Trenton W. J. Garner · North-West University, Zoological Society of London
  23. Matthew C. Fisher · Imperial College London
  24. Alethea B. Tabor · University College London

Methods and tools

  • Midwife toad skin AMP maturation peptidomics: Compared skin antimicrobial peptide repertoires across life stages of Alytes obstetricans, identifying AMPs from de novo sequences matched to AMP and transcriptome databases.

Methods it uses

  • PEAKS: Commercial DP-based de novo

Data deposited

  • Skin-secreted peptides of the Common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) across larval and post-metamorphic life stages — as deposited · PXD069814

Cites (1)

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