Parasite trickery
In honor of April Fool's Day we highlight some of the tricks that parasites play on hosts - not only one day a year, but especially worthy of recognition today
Christina Faust
Christina Faust is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Penn State University. Her research focuses on the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases. She uses field studies, genetic tools, and modelling to understand host-pathogen interactions and inform control strategies.
Latest posts by Christina Faust (see all)
- Parasite trickery - 1st April 2022
- Uncovering the diverse world of microorganisms - 4th February 2022
- Risky rodent landscapes: where will zoonotic infections become more common? - 15th October 2021
Uncovering the diverse world of microorganisms
Recent technological advancements have accelerated the discovery and characterization of microbes affecting a diversity of hosts. Scientists are using these new… Read more »
Risky rodent landscapes: where will zoonotic infections become more common?
A recent study investigated how changing land use will alter where rodent zoonotic hazard increases or decreases across the globe.
What an empty stomach means for the spread of West Nile virus
A recent study on American robins showed that birds that were starved for two days prior to infection developed heavier viral loads and longer infections when… Read more »
Can catching pregnant mosquitoes prevent disease?
A new study investigates how effective ovitraps are for the control of mosquitoes (and eventual prevention of disease) in Texas communities.
When people leave city blocks, what fills their place?
A recent study looked at the diversity of rodents and their bacterial pathogens to better understand how human disease risk changes in declining urban… Read more »
Of mice and mites (and more)
Small mammals (including mice, voles, and shrews) are found globally and many species are happy to live next door or even within the same house as humans. They… Read more »
Threadworm: underdiagnosed and underreported in Texas?
Worm infections are often associated with low and middle income countries, but mounting evidence suggests that intestinal parasites are found in some United… Read more »
Deworming achieves progress towards 2030 NTD goals sub-Saharan Africa
We would like to start the new year with good news - there has been great progress towards targets of eliminating soil-transmitted helminths in sub-Saharan… Read more »
Chlorination provides an option for controlling cercariae
A recent lab and field-based study investigated the amount and duration of chlorine needed to inactivate schistosome cercariae and prevent transmission