Pd Surveillance DNA Extraction by Sample Type Experiment Data Release

These data were collected as part of a research project to compare commonly used DNA extraction methods for subsequent detection of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the causative fungus of white-nose syndrome in bats, from bat guano samples, skin swabs, and environmental/sediment swabs. Swab samples were used to evalute DNA extraction protocols based on either a MagMAX™ Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit or PrepMan™ Ultra Sample Reagent. Guano samples additionally included the use of a DNeasy PowerLyzer PowerSoil Kit-based DNA extraction protocol. Data_Average_Standard_Curve_v2.csv includes qPCR results (Cq values) from standard curves included on 274 reaction plates. Standards were created from 1:10 dilution series containing 85.296 to 8,529,575 copies of Pd gBlock (i.e., synthetic, double-stranded DNA that contains a near-identical sequence to the intergenic spacer region of the type strain for Pd). A new dilution series was created from a stock aliquot of Pd gBlock at least for each date, but reaction plates processed on the same date may have used the same dilution series. The qPCR methodology for each plate followed that described by Verant et al. (2016). These data were used to create an averaged standard curve, which was used to convert Cq values to copy numbers of target DNA for the remaining datasets in this research project, in which the same qPCR methodology was used. Data_Inoculated_Samples_v2.csv contains qPCR results from a laboratory experiment where guano samples and sediment-coated swabs were inoculated with between 10 and 100,000 Pd conidia and extracted with either a PrepMan, MagMAX, or PowerLyzer-based DNA extraction method. Data_Field-collected_Env_Swabs_v2.csv contains qPCR results from environmental substrate swabs that were collected as part of national Pd surveillance efforts from underground and above-ground bat roosts that were naturally infected with Pd. These environmental swabs were extracted with a PrepMan-based method and qPCR was conducted on both undiluted and a ten-fold dilution of extract from each swab. Data_Bat_Skin_Swabs_v2.csv contains qPCR results from skin swabs collected from bat carcasses that had previously been submitted for diagnostic evaluation of white-nose syndrome infection and were re-sampled for this research project. These skin swabs were extracted with either a PrepMan or MagMAX-based method.