Parasite Affects Instinctive Fear

A common single-cell pathogen (Toxoplasma gondii) removes the instinctive fear of predators (cats) in rodents, possibly permanently modifying a specific brain function as an evolutionary adaptation for the parasite, which can only reproduce sexually within the cat gut.

Antimicrobial Eye Proteins

Researchers have found small fragments of keratin proteins in the human eye have remarkably strong and versatile antimicrobial properties, possibly providing an easily manufactured and biocompatible line of low-cost therapeutic drugs.

"Immortal" Tasmanian Devil

DNA analysis shows that the bizarre communicable cancer threatening the Tasmanian devil populations can be traced back to a single "immortal" female who lived about 16 years ago and who lives on through the infection, revealing possible leads for a potential vaccine.