tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341686541622227200.post4912877305406094589..comments2024-02-08T12:10:38.282+00:00Comments on Life of a Lab Rat: Guest post - Microbes and MadnessLab Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07962574174521597312noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341686541622227200.post-65165229720652546532010-12-15T19:43:02.674+00:002010-12-15T19:43:02.674+00:00I understand part of the lack of "diseases ch...I understand part of the lack of "diseases changing behavior in humans for spread" thing is our brains are so complicated bacteria/viruses aren't realy evolved to deal with that kind of complexity. For example, I recall toxoplasmosis can manipulate rodent activity for increasing spread (making them "braver" so they're more likely to get eaten and spread the germs along) but in humans there's just association with schizophrenia. So while it can screw up our thinking, it hasn't evolved to actually alter behavior in humans because our big complex brains are a bit much for it to handle specific changes to.<br /><br />In theory I imagine a germ could manage to evolve to manipulate our behavior, but in practice I suspect the required evolutionary steps are as hard or harder than evolving some other mechanism of survival/spread (like becoming non-pathogenic or getting a better coating or just targeting more potential hosts) so nothing ever evolves that way.MadDogMikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341686541622227200.post-11078517314955525602010-12-13T00:02:28.053+00:002010-12-13T00:02:28.053+00:00@Labrat
You may know who I am, you may not. It'...@Labrat<br />You may know who I am, you may not. It's all part of the mystery. :D<br /><br />Also, yes, it is a very creepy fungus. And you thought my pokemon obsession was just innocent fun. :PRet_mutanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00742291675693421480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341686541622227200.post-37479650797970191572010-12-10T11:24:40.818+00:002010-12-10T11:24:40.818+00:00Thank you for the comments.
@Liz:
I suppose patho...Thank you for the comments.<br /><br />@Liz:<br />I suppose pathogens do manipulate some simple behaviours in humans to increase the chance of their propragation. For example, coughing and sneezing technically are simple behaviours. However, due to the complexity and heterogeneity of the human neocortex, complex goal-orientated behaviour would be difficult to manipulate consistently for this purpose. Hence, the psychiatric presentations of bacterial infection are extremely diverse and polymorphic. A fish's behaviour would be easier to manipulate consistently, because it is simpler, less heterogeneous, and involves a simpler central nervous system. In terms of complexity, it lies between the coughing reflex and goal-orientated human behaviour.<br /><br />@Hannah Waters:<br />Kuru is an interesting disease to look at if you're looking for biological explanations for zombies. It is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy caused by prions, and was endemic in Papua New Guinea among cannabilistic tribes. A person would become infected after eating the brain of an infected person. The disease presents with progressive neurological and cognitive decline. However, transmission only occurs via the ingestion of the brains of infected people, and so the behavioural symptoms of kuru do not make the disease more likely to be propagated.Hane Maunghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01931811914184250055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341686541622227200.post-46112980663457274762010-12-10T08:33:53.852+00:002010-12-10T08:33:53.852+00:00@Ret_mutant: I have a feeling I know who you are.....@Ret_mutant: I have a feeling I know who you are... :p Cool name! And that is a seriously disturbing fungi...Lab Rathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07962574174521597312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341686541622227200.post-17199039544886678272010-12-09T23:40:07.244+00:002010-12-09T23:40:07.244+00:00There's a fantastic parasitic fungus which con...There's a fantastic parasitic fungus which controls ant brains.<br /><br />"Cordyceps unilateralis, which infects a particular species of ant, Camponotus leonardi. The fungus spreads through its host, but doesn't kill it straight away. It restricts itself to consuming the ant's non-vital tissues, until the time comes to release spores. At this point, it spreads into the ant's brain and alters the creature's perception. The ant is compelled to climb to the top of a tall stalk, and clamp on with its jaws. The fungus then finally kills its host, leaving it frozen in position. When the fruiting body emerges, the ant will have taken it into a prime position to release spores... and spread them to as many other ants as possible. "Ret_mutanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00742291675693421480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341686541622227200.post-65066655617743389972010-12-09T20:25:31.295+00:002010-12-09T20:25:31.295+00:00Ooh, cool. I remembered reading something about pa...Ooh, cool. I remembered reading something about parasites affecting behaviour in fish, so I looked it up (http://fuschmu.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/to-kill-a-killifish/) - they manipulate the fish's behaviour to increase their chances of being passed on to their next host. I can't really think of a case of that applying to human pathogens, though...Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05125426393573478711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341686541622227200.post-66578076639232170022010-12-09T19:02:28.354+00:002010-12-09T19:02:28.354+00:00Very cool post! It's nice to have the differe...Very cool post! It's nice to have the different ways listed and explained so simply.<br /><br />Nice touch on the "rage" virus. I'm always looking for biological explanations for zombies - see how much of the sci fi is science and how much is fiction. My best bet at this point is the cordyceps fungus family. Any thoughts?Hannah Watershttp://culturingscience.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com