Parasites are capable of doing some reasonably unbelievable things to their host ’s behaviour . You might have translate of late that there ’s a link between theToxoplasma gondiiparasite , often transmitted to man via cats , and the determination tofollow a vocation in business .
If you think that was wild , you should hear about theMassosporafungus and its despicable behavior towards the cicala .
New Scientisthas derive across a particularly fascinating inquiry composition on thepre - print waiter bioRxivthat explicate how this parasitic fungus sends cicada into a mad sex activity binge , including male - on - male person action , by getting them high on drugs . In bout , this rampant romping increase strong-arm contact between individuals and avail the parasite spread out to new hosts . deadly mavin .
The drug of pick are cathinone , an amphetamine , and psilocybin , the well - known psychoactive chemical found in wizardly mushroom-shaped cloud . The researchers found traces of these chemical in the “ jade ” of the cicada . This is a blank ontogenesis that sprouts on the belly of the insect after it becomes infected by the fungal spores .
However , it ’s not all fun and games for the cicala . This plug can often cause the worm ’s venter and genitalia to snap off during intimate intercourse , thereby make it unfertile . Nevertheless , the dirt ball continue undeterred and still seek to go at it , fueled by their intoxication , do even more damage and ultimately death .
The researchers concluded their review of this gonzo gender - frantic range of life by explaining that this family relationship could actually hold some existent - world benefits for humans .
“ We foresee these find will further a renewed interest in early diverging fungus and their pharmacologically important secondary metabolite , which may serve as the next frontier for novel drug discovery and pave the way for a system biological science approach for obligate fungal pathogen span the known diverseness of Kingdom Fungi , ” the report writer write .
While we ’re on the guinea pig of mind - controlling parasites , a burgeoning field called neuro - parasitology , you ’ll no doubt be concerned to hear how the fungiCordycepsinvade ant ' brainpower , basically turning them into zombi . Scientists have known about this toxic kinship for some clock time , however , just recently they have act out the highly specific mechanisms through which this takes blank space . you may find oneself out more about thatright here .
