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Nazia Akram and Clare Goodhill

University of Melbourne

"Chytrid double-header"

2nd July 2025
Elgin Inn Hawthorn

From 6:30 pm - Talk starts 7:30 pm

"Frogs vs Fungus: How slimy skin secrets could save amphibians from extinction"

What if the key to saving frogs from a global killer is hidden in their skin? Nazia's PhD dives into the microscopic battlefield between frogs and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)—the chytrid fungus responsible for catastrophic amphibian declines. Armed with skin-derived chemical weapons like antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and toxic alkaloids, some frogs can fight back. Nazia is using a frog cell line model (Xenopus laevis A6 cells) to track how Bd infects cells and how these natural skin secretions—and their synthetic versions—can block, weaken, or kill the fungus. By decoding these defenses, Nazia hopes to uncover new ways to protect vulnerable frog species before it’s too late.

Nazia Akram has a BS (Hons) in Zoology and is currently pursuing a PhD exploring how frog skin chemicals can fight the deadly chytrid fungus. Her research blends her passion for animals, conservation, and uncovering nature’s hidden defenses.

"Assessing the effects of fungal metabolites as a potential prophylaxis to a lethal amphibian fungus"

The novel fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and the resulting disease chytridiomycosis, have decimated frog populations globally. Recent research has shown that non-infectious substances produced by Bd (termed ‘Bd metabolites’) may enhance the resilience of certain frog species against Bd infections. Clare explored the effectiveness of Bd metabolites and how this effectiveness varied across life stages in two Australian frog species, adult Kroombit Tinker Frogs (Taudactylus pleione) and post-metamorphic and larval Green Tree Frogs (Litoria caerulea). Although all tadpoles failed to develop a Bd infection following exposure to Bd metabolites or the control, metabolite-exposed L. caerulea tadpoles exhibited suppressed growth and lasting stunted development. L. caerulea metamorphs did develop Bd infections, but exposure to Bd metabolites neither affected growth nor increased their resilience to Bd. Unexpectedly, the critically endangered T. pleione did not develop a Bd infection. Overall, there were no clear benefits in exposing amphibians to Bd metabolites. Given the negative impact on tadpoles, Bd metabolites cannot be recommended as a Bd prophylactic. Clare's findings highlight the need for tailored approaches in managing Bd infections.

Clare completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Queensland in Science. In her third year she became fascinated with the chytrid fungus infecting frogs, and conducted her honours on it in the following year. Now she is studying a PhD at the University of Melbourne also in chytrid.

All are welcome in the audience -
no RSVP/registration necessary

Join us upstairs at The Elgin from 6:30 pm for dinner and drinks (available for purchase).

Talk starts at 7:30 pm at The Elgin Inn 75 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122

Sincere thanks to our 2024 speakers:

Sam Wallace

Jessica Keem, Kevin Newman and David De Angelis

Jeff Hughes

Matt Clancy, Justine Holmes, Sue Bendel, Dan Guinto

John Gould

Ellen Cottingham and Stephen Frankenberg

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Prof Kirsten Parris - Impacts of sensory pollution on urban frogs - Frogs Vic Oct 2022

Jan 31, 2023

Dr Kirsten Parris is a Professor of Urban Ecology at the University of Melbourne and previously led the NESP Hub for Clean Air and Urban Landscapes. She loves all things frogs and is passionate about making cities more frog-friendly. In addition to her academic work, she writes both fiction and creative non-fiction pieces about ecology.

This talk explored the diverse impacts of sensory pollutants – including noise, light and chemical pollution – on urban frogs.

We have no video from this event.

Frogs Vic is currently seeking technological support - to assist with sound and video at events. Please e-mail info@frogsvic.org if you might be interested in helping.

Ben Phillips - Toads, quolls, and targeted gene flow for conservation - Frogs Vic Sept 2022

Sep 15, 2022

Professor Ben Phillips, from the University of Melbourne's School of Biosciences provides a quick tour of work his group has been conducting across northern Australia in the last five years. We will be pondering Cane Toads and how to stop their spread across the landscape, as well as quolls and how to prevent them being poisoned by toads. There will be tales from the field and lab as we ponder the idea of targeted gene flow for conservation.

Craig Cleeland - A Southern Toadlet Story - Frogs Vic August 2022

Aug 26, 2022

Join Craig Cleeland, self-confessed Southern Toadlet groupie who has been studying the species for over 20 years, for an immersion into this rapidly declining frog, with particular reference to Greater Melbourne. Craig will explore the dynamics of a population of Southern Toadlets in an effort to understand more about their breeding biology and life history. He will also report on at the results of toadlet occupancy surveys in the Shire of Nillumbik in 2018, along with data from four years of intensive surveys of the last remaining populations in the outer urban areas of Melbourne.

Spoiler alert: we're warned the ending's not great and not to expect too many answers!