Research news on white-nose syndrome

White-nose syndrome is an infectious wildlife disease topic focused on a cutaneous mycosis of hibernating bats caused by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. It is characterized by fungal colonization of muzzle, ears, and wing membranes, disrupting epidermal integrity, water balance, and gas exchange, and inducing frequent arousals from torpor that deplete critical fat reserves. Research on this topic addresses host–pathogen interactions during hibernation, environmental reservoirs in caves and mines, transmission dynamics within and among colonies, population-level impacts on bat community structure, and implications for ecosystem processes such as insect predation, as well as the development of surveillance, diagnostic, and management strategies to mitigate disease spread.