Wasps are rarely regarded as endearing creatures, but perhaps none less so than parasitoid wasps. Parasitoid wasps are a large family of wasp species that implant their eggs or larvae in or on the bodies of certain insect hosts, eventually leading to the death of that insect. This implantation becomes […]
Epidemics can isolate people from one another, negatively affect the health of people across the world and cause economic declines that take countries months to years to recover from. Avoiding these epidemic impacts can be essential to preserving human wellbeing, but it remains extremely difficult when there is little understanding […]
The Versteria genus includes two species of tapeworm, the Versteria mustelae, and an unnamed species that has been implicated in the fatal infections of various intermediate host species across North America. Given that relatively little is known about this unnamed species, researchers are interested in further characterizing the tapeworm and […]
As urbanization continues to expand globally, wild animals like foxes, coyotes, Anolis lizards and many songbirds are increasingly found in urban areas. Changes in the behavior of individual animals that allow them to thrive in cities and suburbs can result in habitat specialization, where some individuals almost exclusively use urban […]
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are an iconic species in the United States known for their distinctive appearance, production of honey and unique social structure that prioritizes the wellbeing of the group as a whole rather than as individuals. This unusual approach to survival results in honey bees investing in group […]
Whether due to improved surveillance or an increasing rate of emergence, our awareness about the number of viruses that can infect humans continues to increase. Viral zoonoses are a predominant reason why infectious diseases continue to increase in human populations. Zoonotic viral pathogens have the potential to jump from animal […]
Monarch butterflies have captivated the public and scientists for years. Their lengthy annual migrations across states and countries have been a focal point for research. Exclusively feeding on milkweed plants, monarchs evolved to sequester cardenolide toxins from the plants that are converted into a predator defense mechanism. However, because of […]
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death around the world. Despite the fact that TB is preventable and treatable, it is estimated that approximately 25% of the world’s population has a latent infection that might progress to TB disease. Furthermore, this disease seems to have male-bias — […]
The majority of emerging human diseases are anticipated to occur from zoonotic events – Ebola hemorrhagic fever and salmonellosis are examples of infectious diseases that began when pathogens jumped from wild animals into humans. Most modern outbreaks are quickly brought under control and result in fewer than 100 cases. However, […]
Vitamin B2 deficiency because of the decay of riboflavin is a major driver for the requirement of gut microbiota in the survival of mosquitos. Gut microbiota are major players in the health of animals, but because of diverse diets, large multi-member microbial groups make them difficult to study. To account […]
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