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The Science of Zombies: Zombie Bugs

Accompanying LibGuide for the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library's Science of Zombies Exhibit.

Orb-weaver Spider

Spider photo

Example of an orb-weaver spider (Araneidae). Orb-weaver spiders tend to build spiral, wheel-shaped webs as pictured above. Photo retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.

Modified Web

Spider web

Modified web spun by an orb-weaver spider under the influence of a tropical wasp parasite. Note the “linear stabliment” in the center that camoflages the wasp cocoon. Photo retrieved from Smithsonian Science. Used with permission.

Zombies in Film

White Zombie movie poster

Halperin, V. (Director). (1932). White Zombie [Motion picture]. USA: United Artists.

Young love, a witch doctor, and a zombie slave!

"Scientific" cause depicted: A zombie potion.

Zombie Bugs

Zombie banner

Exhibit Sources

Ackermann, H.W., Gauthier, J. (1991). The ways and nature of the zombi. The Journal of American Folklore, 104 (414), 466-494. 

Aguzzi, A., & Heikenwalder, M. (2006). Pathogenesis of prion diseases: current status and future outlookNature Reviews Microbiology(10), 765-775.

American Scientist Interviews: Wade Davis on zombies, folk poisons, and Haitian cultureAmerican Scientist,  75 (4), 412-417.

Barash, D.P. (2012, October, 6). Who's in charge inside your head? The New York Times

Booth, W. (1988). Voodoo Science. Science, 240 (4850), 274-277.

Corbet, B. (1990) [Review of the book Passage of darkness: the ethonobioloy of the haitian zombie]. Bob Corbets Home Page

Davis, W. (1985). The serpent and the rainbow. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Davis, W. (1988). Passage of darkness: The ethnobiology of the Haitian zombie. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

Fuks, J.M., Arrighi, R.B.G., Weidner, J.M., Mendu, S., Jin, Z., Wallin, R.P.A....Barragan, A. (2013). GABAergic signaling is linked to a hypermigratory pehnotype in dendritic cells infected by Toxoplasma gondii. PLOS Pathog. 8 (12).

Gajdusek, D. C. (2008). Early images of kuru and the people of Okapa.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences363 (1510), 3636.

Gajdusek, D. C. (2008). Kuru and its contribution to medicinePhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences363 (1510), 3697-3700.

Gal, R., Rosenberg, L. A. and Libersat, F. (2005). Parasitoid wasp uses a venom cocktail injected into the brain to manipulate the behavior and metabolism of its cockroach preyArchives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 60, 198–208. 

Hahn, P.D. (2007) Dead man walking: Wade Davis and the secret of zombie poison. Biology Online

Harmon, K. (2012). Zombie creatures: what happens when animals are possessed by a parasitic puppet master?. Scientific American

Liberski, P. P. (2009). Kuru and D. Carleton Gajdusek: a close encounterFolia Neuropathol47, 114-137.

Littlewood, R., Douyon, C. (1997). Clinical findings in three cases of zombification. Lancet, 350, 1094-1096. 

Mathews, J. D. (2008). The changing face of kuru: a personal perspective.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences363 (1510), 3679-3684.

McAuliffe, K. (2012). How your cat is making you crazyAtlantic309, 36-44.

Milius, S. (2013). Little mind benders: Parasites that sneak into the brain may alter your behavior and healthScience News183 (2), 24-28.

Reid, L. M. H. (2008). Memories of kuru while at Okapa, Papua New Guinea in 1957Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences363 (1510), 3657-3659.

Stitz, L., & Aguzzi, A. (2011). Aerosols: An underestimated vehicle for transmission of prion diseases?Prion(3), 138-141.

Yan, J. (2013). Psychiatrist hunts for evidence of infection theory of schizophrenia. Psychiatric News, 48 (3), 17. 

Zimmer, C. (2006). The wisdom of parasites. Discover Magazine

Zimmer, C. (2011). How a zombie virus became a big biotech business. Discover Magazine

Zimmer, C. (2012). Your guide to zombie parasite journalism. Discover Magazine

Zimmer, C. (2012, December, 5). How to control an army of zombies. The New York Times

Zivkovic, B. (2011). Revenge of the zombifying wasp. Scientific American

Additional Resources Available Through USC Libraries

Emerald Cockroach Wasp

Wasp photo

Close-up of Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa). While the wasp larvae develops in a cockroach, it secretes a blend of isocoumarins and lactones as protection against bacteria. Photo retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.

Emerald Cockroach Wasp

Cockroach

An Emerald Cockroach Wasp, or Jewel Wasp, “zombifies” a much larger cockroach. Photo taken by Frederic Libersat. Retrieved from Scientific American. Used with permission.

Lancet Liver Fluke

fluke

Stained specimen of mature Lancet Liver Fluke, a flatworm parasite of cattle. Photo taken by Alan R Walker. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.