Cat parasite Toxoplasma tricked to grow in a dish
Cat-only life-cycle stage cultured in vitro, and the mysterious giant proteins that might turn bacteria into killers
Download the Nature Podcast 13 December 2023
In this episode:
00:48 A new way to grow a tricky parasite in the lab
Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes the zoonotic disease toxoplasmosis, has a complex, multi-stage life cycle. Some of these stages will only grow in the intestines of cats, making it difficult to study. Now, a team has found a way to grow one of these stages in vitro for the first time, which they hope will help researchers learn more about this parasite, estimated to have infected around 30% of the world’s population.
Research Article: Antunes et al.
08:50 Research Highlights
The tiny VR goggles designed for mice, and how a squirt of water could give coffee a bigger kick.
Research Highlight: Wee VR googles give mice a true immersive experience
Research Highlight: Why coffee particles clump and make a mess during grinding
11:25 Briefing Chat
Genetic searches reveal a potential super-sized protein, and the rise of ‘non-stop’ authors who publish a science paper every five days.
Nature News: The world’s largest proteins? These mega-molecules turn bacteria into predators
Nature News: Surge in number of ‘extremely productive’ authors concerns scientists
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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-04016-z
This story originally appeared on: Nature - Author:Nick Petrić Howe
