A tapeworm’s extended phenotype reaches further than its host
The tapeworm Anomotaenia brevis not only changes the appearance and behaviour of the ants it infects but spreads its reach to the whole ant colony.
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)
Halting malaria invasion of red blood cells
The recognition that a previously known anti-malarial, the antibiotic azithromycin, has an additional novel mode of action, that of inhibiting invasion of red… Read more »
Good news from Mexico: river blindness elimination confirmed
A report of the latest surveillance study confirms that Mexico has met WHO criteria for the declaration of the elimination of onchocerciasis.
BugBitten is recruiting additional editors
BugBitten began in October 2013 as a blog for the parasite and vector- borne diseases community; hosted by Parasites and Vectors. The blogs we post highlight… Read more »
Sandfly love songs leading to speciation
Variations in the copulation songs that male sandflies sing to their mates determines whether or not insemination is successful
Smart phones assist parasite diagnosis
The mobile phone has rapidly morphed into a device with multiple uses and is set to become a useful tool for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases.
Getting to the bottom of resistance to artemisinin antimalarials
New advances in the understanding of the biochemical targets of artemisinin anti-malaria therapy and the development of artemisinin resistance have been made… Read more »
Mosquito sex and infection: benefits and costs
Mosquitoes have been called the most dangerous animals in the world because of their role in the transmission of so many deadly diseases. An understanding of… Read more »
News of Neglected Tropical Diseases
What are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)? Mathew Baylis gives his definition at the annual ISNTD Bites meeting held in London this month. “I see it as… Read more »
Rats are exonerated as reservoir hosts for the Black Death
Most British school children are familiar with the story of the Black Death and subsequent plague epidemics that decimated the population of Europe in the… Read more »