Editor’s Selections: Viral hacking, mind-controlling beetle parasite, and viral etiquette tips
December 2nd, 2011 Editor's Selections 9 CommentsVincent Racaniello selects several notable posts each week from molecular and cellular biology and virology. He unravels viruses at virology blog.
- Chemokines produced by a variety of cells attract monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils to sites of infection. The importance of such communication proteins is underscored by the evolution of viral counterstrategies, exemplified by the many approaches carried out by vaccinia virus.
- Ground beetles may be parasitized by nematode-like hairworms. Like other parasites, the worm controls host behavior: it compels the terrestrial beetle to seek out water, then drown itself.
- Here are three etiquette tips for the modern virus: don’t interrupt your host’s epigenome event plans, silence is golden, and bring your hostess a gift.
I’ll be back next Friday with more selections.