Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00114
The Microbial Defense Against WNS in Bat Microbiota opportunity is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) cooperative agreement focused on understanding and potentially harnessing naturally occurring microbes on bats to help defend against white-nose syndrome (WNS). WNS is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans and has been responsible for major bat declines in the United States. The core idea behind the project is that western bat populations, including those in and around Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument (often abbreviated as PARA), offer a valuable setting to study the bacteria and fungi living on bats skin and fur (their external microbiota) and to determine whether some of those microbes can inhibit the WNS fungus.
The proposed work builds on field sampling already conducted from 2013 to 2015, when researchers captured and swabbed five target bat species at both cave sites and surface sites within PARA. The sampling design intentionally included species thought to be more susceptible to WNS as well as species thought to be less susceptible, which helps researchers look for patterns that might explain differences in vulnerability. Early next-generation sequencing results from DNA extracted from these swabs suggest that bats caught on the surface versus those associated with cave environments in PARA carry different microbial communities. Another key preliminary finding is that some bat species appear to host relatively high levels of Actinobacteria, a group well known for producing antibiotic compounds, including antifungals. The team also reports having already identified some Actinobacteria isolates at other study sites that significantly inhibit P. destructans, which provides a strong rationale for expanding isolation and testing efforts in PARA.
A major component of the project is to expand the microbiome dataset to a statistically adequate sample size across five or more bat species, using a combination of next-generation sequencing (to profile overall microbial communities) and microbial culturing (to isolate specific organisms). The culturing work is especially aimed at isolating Actinobacteria from bat swabs and then testing those isolates in lab assays for antifungal activity against P. destructans. If successful, this approach could help identify naturally occurring microbes that might serve as candidates for future biocontrol or mitigation strategies, or at least clarify whether certain microbiome signatures are associated with reduced disease risk.
In parallel, the project also addresses the environmental side of WNS risk by characterizing roost microclimate conditions. Because P. destructans growth depends heavily on temperature and humidity, the researchers plan to install temperature and relative humidity data loggers in bat roosting areas within PARA and in four backcountry areas that previously tested positive for close relatives of P. destructans. Collecting these microclimate data helps determine whether local roost conditions are suitable for the fungus to persist and spread, and it also supports broader questions about how climate and climate change could influence disease dynamics in these bat habitats.
Beyond research outputs, the project includes a public communication and outreach element. The team will photo-document the field and lab work to develop interpretive materials for PARA staff, supporting education efforts about WNS, why bats matter, and how the disease can affect park ecosystems. Taken together, the project aims to fill key knowledge gaps about PARA bats, their skin-associated microbiota, the microclimates of their roost sites, and how these factors interact with emerging disease threats.
Administrative details of the opportunity indicate it was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00114) under the Natural Resources activity category (CFDA 15.945). Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The opportunity anticipated a single award with a ceiling of $35,000, created on March 10, 2017, with an original closing date of March 17, 2017. The funding was intended to enable the researchers to broaden and strengthen their dataset and to compare PARA findings with results from four other sites, improving the ability to draw robust conclusions about microbial defenses and environmental suitability for WNS in western bat populations.Apply for P17AS00114
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Microbial Defense Against WNS in Bat Microbiota" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 17, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Microbial Defense Against WNS in Bat Microbiota" opportunity?
This opportunity is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) discretionary cooperative agreement focused on understanding the naturally occurring microbes found on bats and whether some of those microbes could help defend bats against white-nose syndrome (WNS).
Which agency is offering this cooperative agreement?
The opportunity is offered by the National Park Service (NPS), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What is the main problem this project is trying to address?
The project targets white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease that has caused major bat declines in the United States. WNS is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans.
What is white-nose syndrome (WNS) caused by?
WNS is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans.
Why study bat microbiota in relation to WNS?
The central idea is that bacteria and fungi naturally living on bats' skin and fur (their external microbiota) may influence whether bats are more or less vulnerable to WNS. The project aims to determine whether certain microbes can inhibit the WNS fungus and whether specific microbiome patterns are associated with reduced disease risk.
Where is the study focused?
The work focuses on western bat populations in and around Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, commonly abbreviated as PARA.
What does PARA stand for?
PARA refers to Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument.
What prior work does this project build on?
The proposed work builds on field sampling conducted from 2013 to 2015, when researchers captured and swabbed five target bat species at both cave sites and surface sites within PARA.
Why were both cave sites and surface sites included in sampling?
Early next-generation sequencing results suggest bats caught on the surface versus bats associated with cave environments in PARA can carry different microbial communities. Including both types of sites supports comparisons that may help explain patterns in microbial community differences.
How many bat species were sampled previously, and how does species selection relate to WNS?
Five target bat species were sampled. The sampling design included species thought to be more susceptible to WNS as well as species thought to be less susceptible, enabling researchers to look for patterns linked to differences in vulnerability.
What types of microbes are of special interest in this project?
Actinobacteria are a key focus. They are well known for producing antibiotic compounds, including antifungals, and some bat species in preliminary findings appear to host relatively high levels of Actinobacteria.
What evidence suggests Actinobacteria might help against the WNS fungus?
The project description notes that the team has already identified Actinobacteria isolates at other study sites that significantly inhibit Pseudogymnoascus destructans in testing, supporting the rationale to expand isolation and testing efforts in PARA.
What research methods will be used to study the bat microbiome?
The project plans to expand the microbiome dataset using a combination of next-generation sequencing (to profile overall microbial communities) and microbial culturing (to isolate specific organisms from swabs).
Why is microbial culturing part of the project, in addition to sequencing?
Culturing allows researchers to isolate specific organisms (especially Actinobacteria) from bat swabs and then directly test those isolates in lab assays for antifungal activity against Pseudogymnoascus destructans.
What does the project mean by a "statistically adequate sample size"?
Based on the description, the project intends to expand sampling so the dataset is large enough to support robust statistical comparisons across five or more bat species and across site types (such as caves versus surface environments).
How will the project test whether bat-associated microbes can inhibit the WNS fungus?
The plan includes isolating microbes (with emphasis on Actinobacteria) and testing those isolates in laboratory assays for antifungal activity against Pseudogymnoascus destructans.
Is the project aiming to develop a biocontrol strategy for WNS?
The project aims to identify naturally occurring microbes that might serve as candidates for future biocontrol or mitigation strategies. Even if a direct biocontrol application is not immediate, the work is also intended to clarify whether certain microbiome signatures correlate with reduced disease risk.
What environmental factors related to WNS are included in the project?
The project includes characterizing roost microclimate conditions, since Pseudogymnoascus destructans growth depends heavily on temperature and humidity.
What microclimate data will be collected, and how?
The researchers plan to install temperature and relative humidity data loggers in bat roosting areas within PARA and in four backcountry areas that previously tested positive for close relatives of Pseudogymnoascus destructans.
Why install data loggers in areas positive for close relatives of P. destructans?
Collecting microclimate data in those locations helps evaluate whether local roost conditions may be suitable for the WNS fungus to persist and spread and supports broader questions about how climate and climate change could influence disease dynamics in these habitats.
How does climate or climate change relate to this project?
The microclimate monitoring component is intended to support questions about how climate and climate change could influence conditions in bat roosts that may affect fungal persistence and spread.
Does the project include public outreach or education?
Yes. The project includes photo-documenting field and lab work to develop interpretive materials for PARA staff to support education about WNS, why bats matter, and how the disease can affect park ecosystems.
What kinds of deliverables are implied by the outreach component?
Based on the description, deliverables include photo documentation and interpretive materials intended for PARA staff to use in communication and education efforts.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this award?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P17AS00114.
What type of funding mechanism is this opportunity?
It is described as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What is the activity category and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is under the Natural Resources activity category and lists CFDA 15.945.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What was the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling was $35,000.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on March 10, 2017, and the original closing date was March 17, 2017.
What was the funding intended to support?
The funding was intended to help broaden and strengthen the dataset, including expanding the microbiome work to a statistically adequate sample size, isolating and testing microbes (especially Actinobacteria) for antifungal activity, collecting roost microclimate data, and enabling comparison of PARA findings with results from four other sites.
Why compare PARA results with other study sites?
Comparing PARA findings with results from four other sites was intended to improve the ability to draw robust conclusions about microbial defenses and environmental suitability for WNS in western bat populations.
What are the main knowledge gaps this project aims to fill?
The project aims to fill key knowledge gaps about PARA bats, their skin-associated microbiota, the microclimates of their roost sites, and how these factors interact with emerging disease threats like WNS.
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