Our Project

    Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) is a pathogenic fungus that causes White-nose syndrome (WNS), one of the most devastating wildlife diseases in modern history, responsible for mass bat mortality across North America1,2. Locally in Michigan, 5 of our 9 bat species are affected–with repercussions for biodiversity, agriculture, public health, and environmental stability3. WNS develops in bats during their hibernation period when proteolytic enzymes produced by the fungus degrade the collagen in their nose, ears, and wings1. This causes them to wake prematurely from wintertime hibernation, leading to energy depletion, lethargy, and death by starvation due to the lack of necessary resources in winter1. There are no widespread effective treatments currently4. We propose engineering Escherichia coli (E. coli) to secrete serine protease inhibitor(s) targeting the virulence factor of the fungus. These inhibitors would block collagen degradation, allowing bats to maintain uninterrupted hibernation, thus improving survival outcomes for one of our most essential, if silent allies.2.

    Figure 1: Overlap between species range and the range of white-nose syndrome (WNS) for the species affected in Michigan: Northern Long-eared Bat, Tri-colored Bat, Big Brown Bat, Little Brown Bat, Indiana Bat2.2.

Figure 2: Areas where one or more bats have been documented showing symptoms of White-Nose Syndrome. The X indicates where the first sighting occurred in the United States. Colors represent the years that area had indicated one or more bats with White-Nose Syndrome3.

Figure 3: Northern Long-Eared Bat with White-Nose Syndrome4.

Problems:

The decline in North American bat populations due to White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), has led to severe ecological and economic consequences. This includes:

  • Infected bats often wake prematurely from hibernation, depleting fat reserves in the absence of food, which often leads to starvation and eventually death3. There has been over 90% mortality of Northern Long-Eared, Little Brown, and Tri-colored bat populations in less than a decade.5
  • Ecologically, bats are critical for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem homeostasis. They function as a natural bioinsecticide, which lowers the reliance on harmful chemical pesticides and minimizes the risk of unintended harm to non-target species6. Their insectivorous appetite aids in regulating pest populations, which reduces pest infestation of crops and helps to preserve balance in ecosystems.6
  • Economically, bats provide substantial value to agriculture. In the U.S. alone, they save farmers an estimated $23 billion annually by reducing crop damage and limiting pesticide use1. The continued decline in bat populations could cost an additional $3.7 billion per year, underscoring their role as indispensable pest controllers.7

The loss of these nocturnal predators can lead to significant ecological and economic consequences.

Figure 4: infographic depicted the important roles bats play in the economy and environment.

Current Solutions:

Most current solutions are still undergoing testing to determine their effectiveness, though some data and progress toward a solution have been recorded. Two treatments that express an antigen targeting the fungus have been developed4. One is an oral vaccine developed by Dr. Tonie Rocke in collaboration with Dr. Bruce Klein and Dr. Jorge Osori4. This vaccine is administered by placing a liquid dose directly into the bat’s mouth and has shown promising early results4. The second treatment is a probiotic designed to slow the growth of the fungus on the bat’s skin, developed in partnership with McMaster University and Thompson Rivers University.4

However, both treatments are still in the early stages, and there is currently insufficient data to confirm their overall effectiveness,4. A significant limitation of both approaches is that they require individual administration to each bat. This method poses serious challenges due to the high labor costs, the frequency of treatment trips required, the inaccessibility of many bat habitats, and the difficulty of tracking bat populations—particularly in Western North America.

Goal:

Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has a critical enzyme called Destructin-1, a serine protease that allows it to degrade collagen8. This allows the fungus to create deeper infection sites on bats by destroying the skin's structural strength along with 5 other endopeptidases that break down other proteins. We aim to engineer E. coli that secrete a serine protease inhibitor(s) to prevent collagen degradation.

Specifically, the goal is to have a singular construct, a device that allows E. coli to secrete the most effective serine protease inhibitor(s) to combat Destructin-1. Secretion is achieved by using the type 1 Secretion system naturally in E. coli9. Attaching the Hly-A peptide signal to the inhibitors causes the bacteria to recognize and export through the channel complex of HlyB, HlyD, and TolC. After being exported an additional protease is generated by the device that is called TEV (tobacco etch virus) that recognizes a certain signal peptide and cleaves the protein. This allows for the separation of the Hly-A signal which will prevent unwanted confirmations of the inhibitors. These serine protease inhibitors are then free to bind to Destructin-1 and possibly other endopeptidases produced by P. destructans.

Figure 5: An example model of a secretion device producing enzymes in bacteria and then secreting them to be used against Destructin-1.

Our ultimate goal is to develop a cost-effective bacterial spray designed for application in critical bat hibernacula—environments where bats enter a state of torpor during the winter. The spray will be applied to the hibernacula in the absence of bats to avoid disturbing their delicate hibernation cycles. The core of this treatment involves genetically engineered Escherichia coli (E. coli) that secrete serine protease inhibitors targeting Destructin-1, a key virulence factor of Pd, the fungus responsible for WNS. By inhibiting Desructin-1, we aim to prevent bats from arousing prematurely from hibernation, allowing them to conserve their energy stores and survive the winter. We also envision that bats may carry the engineered bacteria to other hibernacula, including those that are inaccessible or currently unknown to researchers, potentially expanding the treatment’s reach. To ensure environmental safety, the use of our live bacteria spray will be contingent upon the proof that it is safe to release into the environment. Thorough ecological safety assessments will need to be performed to ensure the responsible use of the bacterial spray in natural environments. Additionally, we plan to incorporate a kill switch to prevent bacterial overgrowth or any non-target ecological impacts.

Team Alma Wins Silver!

As a result of hard work and dedication, the Alma College iGEM team wins a silver medal this year, which marks a significant advancement from last year's bronze medal and highlights the growth that this team has shown. At this year's iGEM Grand Jamboree, five team members gave a formal presentation about the project in front of a panel of judges. The presenters this year have discussed the broad impact that white-nose syndrome has on bat populations in North America, while showcasing the aforementioned potential solutions that are under development. These team members also presented their project with other students from around the world during the expo sessions, receiving positive feedback. Therefore, team Alma will continue working hard to improve upon their work to pursue more goals in the future.

Figure 6: Students that attended this year's Jamboree (from left to right): Joseph Colucci, Isabell Bryans, Phoebe Ledbetter, Nayeli Santana-Venegas, Reagan Keyser.

Figure 7: The Alma iGEM team presenting their silver medal after the Grand Jamboree.

References

  1. BAT Conservation International / Ending Bat Extinctions Worldwide. (2025, September 30). Bat Conservation International. https://www.batcon.org/
  2. Cheng, T. L., Reichard, J. D., Coleman, J. T. H., Weller, T. J., Thogmartin, W. E., Reichert, B. E., Bennett, A. B., Broders, H. G., Campbell, J., Etchison, K., Feller, D. J., Geboy, R., Hemberger, T., Herzog, C., Hicks, A. C., Houghton, S., Humber, J., Kath, J. A., King, R. A., . . . Frick, W. F. (2021). The scope and severity of white‐nose syndrome on hibernating bats in North America. Conservation Biology, 35(5), 1586–1597. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13739
  3. White-Nose Response Team & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Home | White Nose Syndrome. White Nose Syndrome. https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/
  4. Vachula, L. (2024, May 23). Preventing and treating white-nose syndrome | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. FWS.gov. https://www.fws.gov/story/preventing-and-treating-white-nose-syndrome.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey. (2021, April 21). White-Nose syndrome killed over 90% of three North American bat species. USGS. Retrieved September 10, 2024, from https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/white-nose-syndrome-killed-over-90-three-north-american-bat-species.
  6. Maslo, B., & Kerwin, K. (2020, December). Ecological and Economic Importance of Bats in Integrated Pest Management. Rutgers. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1270/.
  7. Boyles, J. G., Cryan, P. M., McCracken, G. F., & Kunz, T. H. (2011). Economic importance of bats in agriculture. Science, 332(6025), 41–42. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1201366.
  8. O’Donoghue, A.J. et al. (2015) ‘Destructin-1 is a collagen-degrading endopeptidase secreted by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of white-nose syndrome’, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(24), pp. 7478–7483. doi:10.1073/pnas.1507082112.
  9. Thomas, S., Holland, I.B. and Schmitt, L. (2014) ‘The type 1 secretion pathway — the hemolysin system and beyond’, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research, 1843(8), pp. 1629–1641. doi:10.1016/j.bbamcr.2013.09.017.