Not all zombies look like the walking dead, at least when it comes to plants. Normally, this Arabidopsis
plant would sport a wealth of white flowers. But after being infected
with bacteria, it makes only leaves and lives to do nothing but help its
bacterial master.
JIC Photography
22 comments:
I think that Hogenhaut's team has uncovered an amazing discovery with the knowledge that the bacteria SAP54 is hijacking plants reproductive systems and is forcing them to make only verdant green leaves, no flowers. The plants are helpless against this plague, as once the bacteria gets inside, the plants proteins start dying and soon SAP54 has complete control over parts of the plant. I think that if we can find a cure for this, than it will be much easier to stop the spread of bacteria in rural and urban areas alike. Everywhere that has plants could be effected by SAP54 carrying deadly bacteria through insects. Especially in poor areas in tropic climates, such as favelas in Brazil, will be affected by this. The copious amount of lush greenery in these areas makes SAP54's job a lot easier, and with insects abound and unprotected humans without medical care, this disease could go to far. I think that we could stop this by putting a powder on the plants in the area that is hit the hardest. This powder would consist of pheromones that deter insects, and would have a milky white coloring. The white would send insects away even more, as the bacteria only thrives because of chlorophyll's green color in the leaves. The problems with this solution might be that we wouldn't have enough manpower to coat the plants, and that making insects not come to plants might disrupt the ecosystem more than SAP54 is.
I'm amazed at how these parasites function. They must have evolved/adapted so much to get to the point where they can completely take over the plant and still spread to new plants. Also, the fact that they can keep spreading makes me wonder how they can be stopped by the plants themselves. It is such an interesting subject, and I will rate this article 10 out of 10.
These parasites truly are very amazing. It is so interesting that they can take over other organisms. I am sure they can take over small animals or insects as well. They must have adapted a lot to be able to infect other organisms and make them do work for you. They definitely should make a cure for this so that whole farmlands aren't destroyed.
I think that this discovery of the "Zombie Plant" is fascinating. I also think that it is really interesting how the bacteria was spread through the bug's saliva. If SAP54 really spreads from plant to plant, I think that it is important for scientists to come up with a way to stop it from poisoning plants.
It is just so cool how the plants turn into zombie plants, and the way the insects bite it and their mouth cary it to a new plant is just like in the zombie movies. I think them being zombie plants is not an understatement given the facts that the plants only purpose after the fact is to serve their master. I wonder if the original Idea of a zombie movie was any bit based on these plants. After learning about this I discovered how important it is to stop this so it doesn't infect whole fields of crops. Zombie plants who would of thought.
Ayden, I personally disagree with your claim about them being able to take over small animals and insects. I think that you are exaggerating on the part about SAP54 taking over the plant, because all it is really doing is hijacking the reproductive organs. This disease can spread through these insects, but surely cannot take them over. Remember, insects (while unintelligent life) are sentient, and therefore their actions cannot be controlled by a disease such as this one. If SAP54 made it so that the insects became aggressive, that would be controlling them, but insects do not have anything like reproductive organs. All the disease does is change the way the plants reproduce, which is not truly taking over their actions. I know it sounds like some sort of mind control, and I know I'm repeating myself, but I have to stress that this is NOT some kind of DNA altering disease. I only say this so much because if it was, humanity would be in MUCH bigger danger than it is. With a disease that can literally control things, who knows what chaos could ensue? Just making sure you know that this is not that bad.
I disagree, Conor. The only apparent loser in this mostly symbiotic relationship is the plant. So why doesn't the bacterium have the right to live? It is just carrying out its natural instinct to survive. And this is not a huge problem. So far, the evidence has only been found in one type of plant that no farmers cultivate, so so far, it is not a threat.
Also, Ayden, in my opinion, the bacteria would not be able to infect animals and insects. The protein SAP54 is specializing in destroying plant reproductive capabilities, it would have to evolve or mutate further to gain this new skill.
My overall opinion on this article is that it was written in an engaging manner about a fascinating topic. If I had to rate this article, I would gie it a ten out of ten.
Arggghhh! I repeat again, the article exaggerated. I give it 8/10, because while informative, it talked to much about how the plant only served it's master. These plants are not living to serve their bacterial master, as Hunter had said. Read the article carefully, and you will see what I am talking about. I also did some external research, going onto this sight. Scroll down to the results section, and you might begin to understand what is going on. Here is the link:
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001835
P.S. Sorry if I am offending you with my disagreement, I am just trying to inform all of you.
Apologies, I spelled site wrong. My bad! Here is the link again, if you missed it the first time.
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001835
It's amazing how parasites can transform plants to their advantage. It's also amazing that parasites have almost manipulated bugs into helping them out. And Connor's right, if we found the cure to this we could stop the spreading of all sorts of different germs.
Plants aren't the only zombified organisms out there, either. A parasitic fly called the Apocephalus borealis has been infecting honey bees, causing them to behave strangely and, eventually, die. Check out the link below!
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029639
SAP54. Not a typical plant story. Hijacking other plants and making them so that they can't make flowers is crazy. Just crazy! Deadly bacteria taking over plants is an abnormal thing and it's very interesting. I would rate this 9 out of 10
Conor, I did some research and I found that parasites can also infect insects and small animals. Baby wasps carry around parasites, which is why wasps lay their eggs on spiders. The parasites take over the spiders and make them spin a cocoon for the baby wasps. Parasites can also take over snails. The parasites make the snail's antenna look appealing to birds, so the birds will eat the snails. Then, the parasites can reproduce inside the bird's stomach. Parasites can also take over ants and mice.
I think that it is very interesting that there are some parasite bacteria that will take control of a host plant then use it to unnaturally attract an insect or bird to eat the plant or pollinate it letting it take a ride on the insect or bird where it will be pooped out ant spread to another plant. It also does not allow the plant to reproduce by changing it's flowers. This bacteria does not sound natural to me and sound like it was made in a lab. this bacteria sound very dangerous and seems like it may take over the world someday. Plants would be affected and animals too. Researchers found parasites that hijack insects too and force them to do odd things like ant zombification. It begins when an Ophiocordyceps fungus shoots spores onto an insect. The parasitic fungus gradually takes over the ant's brain and directs the insect to a cool, moist location. The fungus then kills the ant, and fruiting bodies erupt from the ant's head and spread more spores. I have also heard that a parasite can take over a grasshopper. Spinochordodes tellinii is a nematomorph hairworm that infects grasshoppers and crickets. As adults, the parasitic worms live in water and form writhing masses to breed. Grasshoppers and crickets eat the worms' microscopic larvae when they drink the infested water.
The hairworm larvae then develop inside of the insect host. Once grown, they release powerful mind-controlling chemicals that sabotage the insect's central nervous system. The evil hairworms force the insect to jump into the nearest body of water, where it subsequently drown. Yes, the hairworms actually cause their hosts to commit suicide. The parasites then escape their deceased host and the cycle begin anew.
Conor, I like your perspective, but SAP54 is not disrupting the ecosystem at all. If it is there now, there is hardly a chance that they were new when Hogenhaut's team discovered them. The only way humans could get sick because of them is by starvation.
I think that Hogenhaut's team is incredible in the way that they can find the "parasite" SAP54 and learn how it takes over other plants. I had some few questions though that did not get answered. One of them was, Why do they only take over plants and why does it only leave the flower? How is this hijacking considered being controlled by a zombie? I think that this article explained what the bacteria did but not how it worked?
I find that this is very interesting. I wonder if this bacteria turns the flowers into leaves that create food through photosynthesis, or if they become leaf-like structures that don't serve a purpose for the plant. Also I wonder why the insects would be attracted to a plant with no flowers.
This discovery really fascinates me. I think that it's really awesome that the parasites can travel to another host plant by using bugs, and that the plant eventually becomes completely green, with no flowers and just leaves. I can't believe that the parasite actually takes control of the plant. I didn't know that that was possible. I also agree with Eli. These parasites must have adapted a lot to be able to control plants. I hope that it's true that scientists think they can make a cure for this.
I wonder if on some areas the plants have developed a defense against the parasites. It would be very hard for the plants to survive if they had absolutely no defense, so some plants probably developed a defense after getting a warning chemical (from the Talking Plants article). I like how both of the articles match.
Mina, that sight was really interesting. And Conor, I guess that Ayden was right, and that they can take over bugs. I guess it's not really taking over, but you get the point. Anyway, I think that it's awesome that those bugs can control other organisms. How is that possible?!
I agree, Eli. There must be some kind of adaptation that the plants use to ward away the parasites, even for a short period of time.
Sorry everybody! I accidentally hit Anonymous!
I find this subject very interesting that parasites have found out a way to make a plant so green animals always come to it. Then the parasite goes on the animal, then that starts the plant circle of moving and his moves around kinda like a gipsy, but a lot quicker. This is very smart using the plant as its master its kinda like a disguise just for the parasite to find new hosts. Though my real question is, what do plants do after the parasite leaves onto a different animal. Hopefully they will add more research on my choice of interest for this cycle.
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