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PARASITES "have a predilection for the ‘immunologically privileged’ site of the central nervous system because it shelters them from the full fury of the host’s immune system. However, this location also provides a parasite with direct ‘access to the machinery’ to alter host behaviour." The brain, eye and testes are also immunologically privileged sites. https://lnkd.in/evYSDdS View in LinkedIn

CO-EVOLUTION. "Many parasite-induced behavioral changes may be the product of coevolution between hosts and parasites, but the extent to which specific alterations can be considered adaptive is frequently debated. The evolutionary arms race between parasites and hosts involves a series of adaptations and counter-adaptations. Parasite-induced behavioral changes in a host are considered adaptive when the behaviors have evolved to increase the fitness of either the host or the parasite." https://lnkd.in/e4MsheB View in LinkedIn

PARASITIC HACKING. "Parasitic manipulation can be defined as the alteration by the parasite of a host phenotypic trait in a way that enhances the parasite’s probability of transmission and survival." Lovely review of biochemistry and genetics of parasite manipulation of host behavior. https://lnkd.in/e4DPgex View in LinkedIn

EXTENDED PHENOTYPE. "In an evolutionary context, changes in host behaviour upon parasite infection are examples of an extended phenotype, a concept introduced by Dawkins (1982). He stated that the observed host phenotype is a consequence of a parasite’s gene being expressed." https://lnkd.in/e4DPgex View in LinkedIn

"PARASITIC INFECTIONS are often followed by changes in host behaviour. Numerous and exquisite examples of such behavioural alterations are known, covering a broad spectrum of parasites and hosts." https://lnkd.in/eMBtiKq View in LinkedIn

"PARASITES often have profound effects on the animal hosts they invade by affecting development, physiology, morphology, evolution and ecology. In many cases, host behaviour is also altered upon parasitic infection. These changes range from slight alterations of already existing behavioural traits to the exhibition of completely new activities." https://lnkd.in/e4DPgex View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE for the next two weekends looks at the remarkable extent to which parasites can control their host's behaviors, often totally changing it to further the success and life cycle of the parasite. The biochemical mechanisms underlying the parasitic control, and the types of host defenses are quite intriguing. But more, it shows how deeply parasites can hack their hosts. View in LinkedIn

Humans have destroyed a tenth of Earth's wilderness in 25 years – study http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/08/humans-have-destroyed-a-tenth-of-earths-wilderness-in-25-years-study?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other View in LinkedIn

'Galactic fossil' of early Milky Way discovered http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/08/us/ancient-galactic-fossil-milky-way/index.html View in LinkedIn

"RNA STEM-LOOP SWARMS and viral quasi-species. RNA social membership is essential but basically indefinable." https://lnkd.in/eUYvi8e View in LinkedIn