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Cordyceps, Scarlet Club · 2025 · Journal Article

Medium relevance

Neuroparasitology: Fungal effectors induce feeding in zombie silkworms.

Cordyceps militaris

Cognition & nerves
SpeciesCordyceps, Scarlet Club
JournalCurrent biology: CB
Year2025

Key points

  • Some entomopathogenic fungi hijack host behavior to increase their pathogenicity, but how they do so has largely remained a mystery
  • A recent paper shows that Cordyceps militaris fungi produce insect-like trehalase enzymes to induce perceived starvation in silkworms, leading to increased feeding and greater production of infectious spores

From the paper

Abstract

Some entomopathogenic fungi hijack host behavior to increase their pathogenicity, but how they do so has largely remained a mystery. A recent paper shows that Cordyceps militaris fungi produce insect-like trehalase enzymes to induce perceived starvation in silkworms, leading to increased feeding and greater production of infectious spores.

Citation

Beckerson WC (2025). Neuroparasitology: Fungal effectors induce feeding in zombie silkworms. Current biology: CB https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.06.069 PMID: 40763701

Open citation