A highly specialized fungus can infect the brains of ants, turning them into zombies – which do whatever it wants. How does that fungus do that and what does that teach us about the brain and animal behavior? Jop de Vrieze and Josta Bosma ask microbiologist Charissa de Bekker, the global expert on this subject. She received a large European research grant to continue her work at Utrecht University.
Also: what (even more) can the COP28 climate conference deliver? Dutch research with bactericidal viruses, mosquitoes that sting frogs in the nose and an unwanted side effect of space travel.
Sources:
ERC Consolidator grant for Charissa de Bekker:
https://www.uu.nl/nieuws/erc-consolidator-grants-voor-zeven-utrechtse-onderzoekers
Climate conference COP28:
https://www.cop28.com/
First success of climate conference: compensation fund opened:
https://nos.nl/collectie/13963/artikel/2499788-eerste-succes-op-klimaattop-akkoord-over-klimaatschadefonds
Experts: ‘phage research in the Netherlands not possible’
https://www.umcutrecht.nl/nieuws/nederlands-onderzoek-faagtherapie-niet-mogelijk
Doctors of tomorrow about phage therapy:
https://npo.nl/start/serie/dokters-van-morgen/seizoen-3/bacteriofagen_1/afspelen
First Dutch phage study:
https://nieuws.umcg.nl/w/umcg-onderzoek-bacteriofagen-gewichtsprothese-infectie
Mosquito bites frog in the nose:
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/australian-mosquitoes-target-frog-nostrils-blood
Lab website Charissa de Bekker:
https://www.debekkerlab.com/home
Charissa de Bekker at NTR’s De Nacht:
https://www.nporadio1.nl/fragmenten/de-nacht-van/09d347cc-8a2a-4344-b910-e606b86ce1b5/2023-09-14-zombiemieren-horrorfilm-of-wetenschappelijk-onderzoek-in-gesprek-met-microbioloog-charissa-de-bekker-uu
Erection problems in ‘space traveling’ rats:
https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1096/fj.202300506RR
Kennis en Co is made by NTR Science and NOS
Host: Jop de Vrieze
Editorial staff: Rob Ramaker, Josta Bosma, Bouwe van Straten and Jop de Vrieze
Technique: Jop de Vrieze
Final editing: Gerda Bosman
To ask? Email the editor: science@ntr.nl
mailto:kennis@ntr.nl
Would you like to stay informed about our programs? Subscribe to the NTR Science Newsletter here
2023-12-01 16:30:34
#Kennis #Listen #Turning #ants #zombies.. #fungus #Podcasts
