First steps taken with our data set: let the searching for important genes begin!

May 21, 2014

190

First steps taken with our data set: let the searching for important genes begin!

Claudia Karen Tynes, Matthew, and 9 others like this.

3 comments

Join the conversation!Sign In

Curt AckleyBacker

Truly fascinating stuff, Charissa! The idea of a total fungus brain still keeping control of ant functions-- walking, biting down, albeit non-normal behavior-- has become a bit of an ear worm for me. The fungus invented its own public transit! Hard to imagine how the evolution of this parasitism developed, given there are so many steps involved to get to the desired evolutionarily successful conclusion. Can't wait to read more as all this unfolds!

May 22, 20141

garyBacker

I'd be curious to know when the fungus gets inside the body what is the initial reaction of the host. Are they aware initially or does the fungus shut down the nervous system creating an anthesiatic effect so the host does not know what going on?

May 22, 20140

Charissa de BekkerResearcher

Interesting question Gary. We can't say for sure of course since we never specifically tested this, but we get the idea from the experiments we do in the lab that the ants don't notice and carry on with their business until the fungus takes control. Even the other ants in the nest don't seem to know, while normally sick ants would be kicked out of the nest (as part of their social immunity). This makes us think the fungus is pretty good at hiding out until it's time to manipulate.

May 22, 20140

John Scott TynesBacker

Well, that's disturbing. When you wrote that almost 4000 transcripts are up regulated, did you mean to write that they are differentially expressed?

May 21, 20140

Charissa de BekkerResearcher

Hi John! Good catch! I indeed meant to say differentially expressed. I'll change it. Thanks!

May 22, 20140

About This Project

How does a parasite create zombie-like behavior?

Penn State University

Some parasites are able to manipulate the behavior of their hosts. One striking example is the "zombie ant" phenomenon, where ants infected by a parasitic fungus are manipulated to bite into vegetation followed by death and fungal growth out of the ant's neck. This research project aims to unravel how this parasite establishes zombie-like host behavior by discovering the genes that are important.