Pathogenic fungi have substantial effects on global biodiversity, and 2 emerging pathogenic species-the chytridiomycete Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which causes chytridiomycosis in amphibians, and the ascomycete Geomyces destructans, which causes white-nose syndrome in hibernating bats-are implicated in the widespread decline of their vertebrate hosts. We synthesized current knowledge for chytridiomycosis and white-nose syndrome regarding disease emergence, environmental reservoirs, life history characteristics of the host, and host-pathogen interactions. We found striking similarities between these aspects of chytridiomycosis and white-nose syndrome, and the research that we review and propose should help guide management of future emerging fungal diseases.
Keywords: Ascomycota; Chytridiomycota; adaptive immunity; amphibians; bats; biodiversity; fungi; host-pathogen interactions; immunocompromised hosts; immunology; infectious disease outbreak; infectious disease reservoirs; infectious disease transmission; innate immunity; pathogenicity factors; species extinction; virulence factors.