CellBioNewsMay 20, 2023

Examining puppeteer #fungus' targeted takeover of #zombie #flies.

#parasite #Entomophthora #hormones #signalling

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-puppeteer-fungus-takeover-zombie-flies.html

Examining puppeteer fungus' targeted takeover of zombie flies

In a new study published in eLife, lead author Carolyn Elya, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, reveals the molecular and cellular underpinnings behind the parasitic fungus, Entomophthora muscae's (E. muscae), ability to manipulate the behavior of fruit flies.

Phys.org
Rob KnellApr 30, 2023
Life and death on the underside of a nettle leaf: foreground left an #aphid gives birth to a live nymph. Behind her is a #fly recently killed by an #entomopathogenic #fungus, probably #Entomophthora muscae. The posture of the fly is typical for one killed by this fungus: on the underside of the leaf, abdomen stuck out, wings forwards. This is all #BehaviouralModification by the fungus to enhance the spread of the sticky infectious spores that are being released from the abdomen.