The ocean is tossing zombies-crusts: that enslaves their mind and makes you act recklessly

Researchers have found that tiny worms not only enslave the will of the amphoid, but also to change its color and make it fearless. The fauna does not cease to surprise researchers - it has a place for a variety of stories: adventures, romance, tragedies and even horror stories about zombies.

In a new study, a group of scientists from Brown's University has revealed a new creepy story about zombie-crusts that are enslaved by worms to eventually get to get to the right species of birds, New Atlas writes. It should be noted that the relationship of parasites with the owners is not something amazing - scientists know many examples.

For example, a mushroom that multiplies, infecting ants and controlling their nervous system, or the parasites that "zombug" spiders, forcing them to weave a special type of spider cocoon for their larvae, which then eat the zombie itself. In focus. Technology has appeared its Telegram channel.

Subscribe not to miss the latest and most intrusive news from the world of science! However, a new study is devoted to the Levinseniella Byrdi parasite life cycle capable of reproducing only in the intestine of some species of marsh birds. However, these tiny worms enjoy traveling before they become prudent and create a family in a cozy gut of birds. It is known that the larvae enter the environment through a bird's litter, then they are eaten by sea snails.

In it, the larvae develop, and then crawl out of snail-carrier and swim in the water column. It lasts until they meet a harmless small crustacean, known as amphibians. The larvae make it through the gills and then something strange happens. As a rule, amphoids prefer a very secret lifestyle-they are timid, and therefore spend most of the time under vegetation, where they are easy to hide due to their dull-gray or brown color.

However, after infection with the parasite, amphoid changes its color from dull to bright orange and become more fearless, preferring to spend time outside the shelter. Researchers say that both of these new features, in fact, make them simpler prey for the same birds in which the intestines seek to multiply larvae. In a new study, scientists have focused on how parasites do it. During the study, scientists have studied how the parasite makes changes to the biology of amphibians.

The study authors used RNA sequencing to identify genes in the amphibians that correspond to the main changes of the owner. As a result, scientists have found that the worms activate certain genes associated with pigmentation, which also interfere with the detection of stimuli and suppress many genes involved in immune reactions. Otherwise, these genes would allow the amphibians to fight the parasite.