Douglas C. Woodhams, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Ecology Group
Zoological Institute University of Zurich
Winterthurerstrasse 190
CH-8057 Zurich
Switzerland

Phone: +41 44 635-4982
Fax: +41 (0)44 63 56821
dwoodhams@gmail.com

Qualifications

Senior Research Associate
Institute of Zoology, Ecology Group, University of Zürich, Switzerland

Instructor
Department of Biology, James Madison University,
Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA

Post-doctoral Fellow
Department of Micobiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Ph.D. Zoology and Tropical Ecology
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

B.Sc. Zoology, Honors College
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

Research Interests

chytrid fungus and bacteria My research interests may broadly be described as disease ecology. This includes host-pathogen interactions, innate immune defense mechanisms, physiological responses to environmental factors, and conservation of biodiversity.

Emerging infectious diseases increasingly threaten biological diversity and human health. Microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa) are often maligned as disease-causing organisms with unrestricted global distributions, and have thus received little emphasis in terms of biodiversity conservation. However, the host does not survive apart from interactions and symbiosis with diverse microbiota. A central hypothesis guiding my research is that an integrated diversity of microbial symbionts interacts with immune defenses and acts to maintain host health.

Big Blue - chytrid Amphibian skin is a biomedical model representative of the moist epithelia of vertebrate lungs, digestive tract, and urogenital tract. Because many pathogens must first encounter mucosal surfaces of their hosts, innate defenses found in this layer are critical. A species-specific array of antimicrobial peptides are produced in amphibian skin and are potent against many viruses, bacteria, and fungi – sometimes including the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Symbiotic microbiota naturally integrated at the epithelia may also function to buffer disease risk through production of antibiotics, exclusion of exogenous pathogens, or enhancement of host immunity. Examining the micro-ecology of amphibian skin, including the interface of host defenses with symbiotic microbiota and the environment will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of the infection process at epithelial surfaces.

Recently, antimicrobial peptides from amphibian skin have been described that can inhibit the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or release insulin, or are being developed for treatment of diabetes and cancer. Many novel amphibian skin peptides remain to be described, and little is known about host defenses provided symbiotic microbiota. The diversity of amphibians and their defenses is threatened by the global trend in amphibian population declines. In recent years, the possible extinctions and population declines observed in hundreds of species of amphibians worldwide are linked to the emergence of chytridiomycosis (Lips et al. 2006, Skerratt et al. 2007). Environmental changes are often cited in relation to disease associated amphibian population declines (Kiesecker et al. 2001, Pounds et al. 2006). Is it possible that abiotic or biotic environmental changes disrupt the natural microbiota and lead to disease outbreaks (Belden & Harris 2007)? Because of the urgent global conservation need and the many unanswered questions concerning basic biology, amphibian disease continues to be a fascinating research system.

Lemur frog The amphibian diversity crisis is perhaps the greatest conservation challenge of our time (Gascon et al. 2007), and a range of management options is currently under consideration. Presently, biosecurity is increasing for science and recreation, including bleaching boots and cleaning field gear between sites and providing information about the spread of epizootics. Ex situ breeding programs such as at the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center in Panama and at zoos associated with the amphibian ark project (www.amphibianark.org, March 5, 2008) have already been successful at preserving some species in captivity (Gagliardo et al. 2008). However, repatriation is complicated because Bd is enzootic at all sites with a history of disease. Thus, development of in situ conservation management options are urgently needed to preserve amphibian diversity within natural ecosystems. One possibility in this area that my research will address includes enhancement of amphibian immunity through microbial bioaugmentation. Less risky than introducing new organisms, augmenting natural microbes on amphibian skin may boost immunity and reduce the potential for disease emergence and catastrophic amphibian population declines.

Framing Conservation Biology
Although commonly thought to be the arena of science journalists, what responsibilities do biologists share in framing science for the public? By definition, conservation biology is a discipline with two goals: one is scientific, to obtain knowledge of the natural world, and the other is ethical, to preserve or restore biodiversity (see the Society for Conservation Biology website). Is ethically goal-oriented conservation biology a pure science? Aldo Leopold (1949) and others suggest that ethical standing is increasingly extended beyond family and nation to encompass all humanity, sentient organisms, and eventually to ecosystems and the biosphere. The purity of conservation biology is clear when the ethic of biodiversity conservation is acknowledged as one among several principles essential to the integrity of the acquisition of knowledge by the naturalistic process of inquiry. Other recognized pillars of the scientific method include experimentally eliminating hypotheses (Platt 1964), limiting animal suffering, medical patient consent, honest reporting, and peer review of results.

red eye treefrog Agalychnis calladryas Since science occurs within a value-laden political and social context, carefully framing scientific results does not reduce the purity or rigor of the scientific method, rather, the frame is merely a decoration to draw attention to the picture. Some conservation biologists have suggested that science, at the interface with the public, be presented in understandable and socially-relevant terms, making it interesting, appealing and valuable to non-scientists. For example, focal species concepts such as flagship, umbrella, indicator, and keystone species are often used surrogates for ecosystem integrity and subsequent conservation management. The publicity generated from charismatic species may provide an avenue for environmental education and conservation. The term “ecosystem health” is another example of linking biological definitions of ecosystem function and integrity to a more generally understood value of health. Environmental stewardship is a framework found in the sacred texts of religions worldwide (Callicott 1994), and may appeal to a large segment of the population.

Doug in Panama Framing the amphibian biodiversity crisis for comprehension by the general public may be essential for conservation efforts to be successful. The time is approaching when the broader significance sections of federal grant proposals may read: amphibians are not only important for utilitarian, human-centered benefits, but also for innate and theocentric values that integrate biological understanding with societal conviction in the moral virtue of biodiversity conservation. Rolston (1988) suggests, “Like music and the fine arts, natural science is an intrinsically worthwhile activity, but scientists find this difficult to say and, sometimes with much ingenuity, sell their study short by retreating to some utilitarian subterfuge.”

“Frogs of Panama”

Travel to the depths of the Panamanian jungle with Dr. Douglas C. Woodhams as he explores the brilliant diversity of amphibians and the impact of disease on their ecology and populations. This photo journal published by blurb.com contains over 100 color photographs of frogs and amphibian research biologists in action. All proceeds are donated to amphibian conservation.

Teaching

Conservation Biology
Disease Ecology
See teaching statement here.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

1. Woodhams DC, JP Costanzo, JD Kelty, & RE Lee, Jr. 2000. Cold hardiness in two helminth parasites of the freeze-tolerant wood frog, Rana sylvatica. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78:1085-1091.

2. Woodhams DC, RA Alford, & G Marantelli. 2003. Emerging disease of amphibians cured by elevated body temperature. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 55:65-67.

3. Woodhams DC & RA Alford. 2005. The ecology of chytridiomycosis in rainforest stream frog assemblages of tropical Queensland. Conservation Biology 19:1449-1459.

4. Rollins-Smith LA, LK Reinert, CJ O’Leary, LE Houston, and DC Woodhams. 2005. Antimicrobial peptide defenses in amphibian skin. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 45:137-142.

5. Woodhams DC, LA Rollins-Smith, C Carey, LK Reinert, MJ Tyler, & RA Alford. 2006a. Population trends associated with antimicrobial peptide defenses against chytridiomycosis in Australian frogs. Oecologia. 146:531-540.

6. Rollins-Smith LA, DC Woodhams, LK Reinert, VT Vredenburg, CJ Briggs, PF Nielsen, & JM Conlon. 2006. Antimicrobial peptide defenses of the mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa). Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 30:831-842.

7. Woodhams DC, J Voyles, KR Lips, C Carey, & LA Rollins-Smith. 2006b. Predicted disease susceptibility in a Panamanian amphibian assemblage based on skin peptide defenses. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 42:207-218.

8. Woodhams, DC, LA Rollins-Smith, CJ Briggs, VT Vredenburg, MA Simon, D Billheimer, B Shakhtour, Y Shyr, & R Harris. 2007a. Symbiotic bacteria contribute to innate immune defenses of the threatened mountain yellow-legged frog, Rana muscosa. Biological Conservation. 138:390-398.

9. Woodhams, DC, K Ardipradja, RA Alford, R Harris, G Marantelli, LK Reinert, & LA Rollins-Smith. 2007b. Resistance to chytridiomycosis varies by amphibian species and is correlated with skin peptide defenses. Animal Conservation. 10:409-508.

10. Woodhams, DC, LA Rollins-Smith, RA Alford, MA Simon, & RN Harris. 2007c. Innate immune defenses of amphibian skin: antimicrobial peptides and more. Animal Conservation. 10: 425-428.

11. Conlon, JM, DC Woodhams, H Razaa, L Coquet, J Leprince, T Jouenne, H Vaudry, LA Rollins-Smith. 2007. Peptides with differential cytolytic activity from skin secretions of the Lemur leaf frog Hylomantis lemur (Hylidae: Phyllomedusinae). Toxicon. 50:498-506.

12. Woodhams, DC, DG Boyle, AD Hyatt, & LA Rollins-Smith. 2008. The northern leopard frog Rana pipiens is a widespread reservoir species harboring Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in North America. Herpetological Review. 39(1):66-68.

13. Woodhams, DC, RA Alford, CJ Briggs, M Johnson, & LA Rollins-Smith. 2008. Life history trade-offs influence disease in changing climates: strategies of an amphibian pathogen. Ecology. 89(6), 1627-1639.

14. Abdel-Wahaba, YHA, GJ Powera, PR Flatta, DC Woodhams, LA Rollins-Smith, & JM Conlon. A peptide of the phylloseptin family from the skin of the frog Hylomantis lemur (Phyllomedusinae) with potent in vitro and in vivo insulin-releasing activity. Peptides. 29:2136-2143.

15. Woodhams, DC, VL Kilburn, LK Reinert, J Voyles, D Medina, R Ibáñez D., AD Hyatt, DG Boyle, JD Pask, DM Green, & LA Rollins-Smith. 2008. Chytridiomycosis and amphibian population declines continue to spread eastward in Panama. EcoHealth. 5:268-274.

16. Woodhams, DC. 2009. Converting the religious: putting amphibian conservation in context. BioScience. 59(6):462-463.

17. Conlon, JM, A Demandt, PF Nielson, J Leprince, H Vaudry, DC Woodhams. 2009. The alyteserins: two families of antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretions of the midwife toad Alytes obstetricans (Alytidae). Peptides. 30:1069-1073.

18. Rollins-Smith, LA, JP Ramsey, LK Reinert, DC Woodhams, LJ Livo, & C Carey. 2009. Immune defenses of Xenopus laevis against Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Frontiers in Bioscience (Scholar Edition). 1:68-91.

19. Harris, RN, RM Brucker, JB Walke, MH Becker,CR Schwantes, DC Flaherty, BA Lam, DC Woodhams, CJ Briggs, VT Vredenburg, KPC Minbiole. 2009. Skin microbes on frogs prevent morbidity and mortality caused by a lethal skin fungus. The ISME Journal. 3:818-824.

20. Tennessen, JA, DC Woodhams, P Chaurand, LK. Reinert, D Billheimer, Y Shyr, RM Caprioli, MS Blouin, LA Rollins-Smith. 2009 in press. Variations in the expressed antimicrobial peptide repertoire of northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) populations suggest intraspecies differences in resistance to pathogens. Developmental and Comparative Imunology. 33:1247-1257.

Click here to see my resume.

Thanks for visiting my page!