Biologist Invents Frog Saunas to Fight Deadly Fungus

Anthony Waddle spent his childhood catching tadpoles in the Mojave desert, and now he's using that same curiosity to save the creatures he's always loved.

The 35-year-old biologist has become the first line of defense against chytrid fungus, a deadly pathogen that's already eliminated 90 frog species and threatens 500 more. His weapon of choice? Tiny saunas made from masonry bricks and greenhouse covers.

Working from his Australian lab during the pandemic, Waddle stacked bricks "like a Jenga tower" to create warm shelters for endangered green and golden bell frogs. The goal was simple: raise their body temperature enough to fight off the cold-loving fungus that spreads rapidly in winter.

It worked. Frogs that spent winter in the heated shelters were less likely to get infected and showed resistance when exposed to the fungus again.

But Waddle knew brick saunas couldn't save every threatened species. So he pushed further into immunization and genetic technology, raising hundreds of frogs for vaccination and wild release in what he calls "probably the largest input of frogs in that population in a decade."

For species that can't be vaccinated, like the critically endangered southern corroboree frog that no longer breeds in the wild, Waddle's team is trying something unprecedented. They're creating the first transgenic frogs in Australia, using gene replacement to help them survive the fungus.

The Ripple Effect

Saving frogs isn't just about preserving cute creatures. Amphibians consume countless insects that carry human diseases, making them crucial to public health. Their unique skin also shows promise as a source for new painkillers that could be less addictive than opiates and help fight antibiotic resistance.

Waddle's work represents a new frontier in conservation, though it's not without controversy. Synthetic biology raises ethical questions about unintended consequences, but with over 40% of amphibian species threatened with extinction, he believes the research is essential.

Australian herpetologist Dr. Jodi Rowley calls his innovations "a ray of hope in amphibian conservation" and exactly the kind of cutting-edge strategy needed to turn things around. If the gene replacement technique works across multiple Australian species with different ecologies and conservation needs, Waddle plans to share it globally.

From a kid with a net in the desert to a scientist making the first transgenic frogs in Australia, Waddle's journey shows how childhood wonder can grow into world-changing science.