Malaria molecule attracts blood seeking mosquitoes
A molecule produced by the malaria parasite makes its host more attractive to mosquitoes and affects mosquito physiology in ways that may enhance its… Read more »
Hilary Hurd
Editor at BugBitten
Hilary is Professor Emeritus of Parasitology at Keele University, UK, having retired at the end of 2013. Her research interests have revolved around parasites transmitted by insects and their interactions with their vectors. She was Director of the Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology at Keele for over ten years and served as President of the British Society for Parasitology.
Latest posts by Hilary Hurd (see all)
- A new perspective on nuptial gifts from male mosquitoes - 5th August 2022
- Eye disease eliminated from The Gambia - 20th May 2022
- Being afraid of the dark may be useful - 25th February 2022
Searching for a transparent parasite
Barramundi are often plagued by small transparent flatworms that live on their surface, causing epidermal damage resulting in economic losses to the fish… Read more »
An insect hormone with potential for malaria control
A steroidal hormone mimic applied to the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae reduces its reproductive fitness and its ability to transmit malaria.
Now it’s worms controlling mosquito behaviour
In addition to viruses such as Dengue and Zika, Aedes mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting roundworms that can cause elephantiasis. New work has shown… Read more »
Penguins dying of malaria
September this year saw announcements by two zoos in the UK that their penguins had become infected with malaria and many had died. Thankfully, bird malaria is… Read more »
Tapeworm eggs on fresh produce in a province of Poland
The discovery that 23% the samples of fresh fruits, vegetables and mushrooms collected in a region of Poland were contaminated with eggs of a highly pathogenic… Read more »
Ticks infest a third of UK dogs
The Big Tick Project has recently published the results of a large scale survey of tick infestation in UK dogs which found a considerable increase in… Read more »
Afraid of malaria? Get a chicken
An understanding of the blood feeding behaviour of biting insects such as mosquitoes is a major tool in the fight to control, and eventually eliminate, insect-… Read more »
Tomato plants fight a parasite
Cultivated tomato plants are able to resist attack by the hair-like stems of dodder plants, whereas wild tomato plants cannot. New research has identified how… Read more »
A new niche for sleeping sickness parasites
Before moving to the brain, the parasites that cause sleeping sickness are found in the bloodstream and fluid between the cells of several organs. A major… Read more »