How parasites modify plants to attract insects
Monday, November 7, 2011 - 17:00
in Biology & Nature
A leaf hopper on a finger, watched by Dr. Akiko Sugio and Dr. Saskia Hogenhout. Pathogens can alter their hosts, for example malaria parasites can make humans more attractive to mosquitoes, but how they do it has remained a mystery. Scientists from the John Innes Centre on Norwich Research Park have identified for the first time a specific molecule from a parasite that manipulates plant development to the advantage of the insect host.