ORF Feature: Research on Fire Salamanders and their Microbiome
CeMESS researcher Marie-Therese Fischer (DOME) is investigating the microbiome of fire salamanders in collaboration with Tiergarten Schönbrunn. An ORF film team accompanied her on a sampling trip to highlight efforts to protect these endangered amphibians from a deadly fungal disease. The feature aired on Mayrs Magazin – Wissen für alle on May 9, 2025.
The highly infectious, parasitic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans was first detected in the Netherlands in 2013. It has since caused mass die-offs of fire salamanders in Belgium, the Netherlands, and recently in Germany.
Marie-Therese studies the skin microbiome of amphibians, which may serve as a first line of defense – particularly if it includes microorganisms that produce compounds inhibiting fungal growth. The absence of the fungus in Austria has been confirmed by a long-term monitoring program led by scientists at Tiergarten Schönbrunn since 2016, established to enable early detection and facilitate timely conservation measures. Through her collaboration with this program, Marie-Therese aims to better understand factors that influence the protective role of fire salamanders’ skin microbiota and the success or failure of probiotic treatments. This knowledge is critical for developing more effective strategies to prevent future disease outbreaks.
