Bacteria found to prevent amphibian kills

U.S. scientists have found probiotic bacteria that seem to repel a fungus believed responsible for massive, worldwide amphibian deaths and extinctions.Although the research is in its early stages, Professor Reid Harris and colleagues at James Madison University and Duke University said they are encouraged by results that could aid the survival of threatened amphibian species.The research has shown Pedobacter cryoconitis -- bacteria found naturally on the skin of red-backed salamanders -- wards off the deadly chytridiomycosis fungus that is imperiling up to one-third of the Earth`s amphibian populations.'The exciting aspect is that we identified at least one bacterium from the skin that in both the (petri) dish and on the salamander aids the healing process -- one species of bacteria which you could tentatively view as a probiotic,' said Harris.The research was presented Wednesday in Toronto during the 107th general meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.United Press International,Lynn