Research: Developing electrochemical sensors for fungal pathogens

Research summary

• September 2021 to November 2022

The research aims to find cheap and easy to use methods for detecting Chytrid fungi - an essential part of efforts to protect threatened amphibian species around the world.

Chytrid can infect and seriously harm amphibians such as frogs, causing them to become lethargic, eat less, lose swimming ability, develop skin complaints and, in many cases, die.

Researchers are developing an improved electrochemical sensor to detect the pathogen.

Amphibians become infected either through direct contact with another creature or exposure to an environment contaminated by Chytrid.

Faced with the global spread of Chytrids, conservationists have been transferring some populations of threatened species to tanks designed to help them to thrive and stay free of infection.

The transferred amphibians and their environment must be checked for the presence of Chytrid. But existing testing methods need complex equipment and specialised training, can be expensive and are time consuming.

The project is developing a more efficient and cheaper detection method using electrochemical monitoring.

As part of the life cycle of Chytrid, their cells produce volatile organic compounds. Every species of fungi can produce them, but each species is likely to produce different selections of compounds, giving Chytrid a unique signature.

Our research will measure the compounds produced by Chytrid to discover this unique pattern. We will then attempt to detect and measure these signature compounds using a cheap, easy-to-use, reproducible and instant sensor technology known as screen-printed electrochemistry.

Research output

• Academic papers, reports and other research outputs will be linked from here when they are published.