Life Sciences

'Nuru' becomes African farmers' newest ally against fall armyworm
Fall armyworm larvae have caused an estimated $2.5 billion to $6.2 billion in damage annually to maize in sub-Saharan Africa since the pest arrived there in 2016. Image: John C. French Sr., Bugwood.org
Peter Hudson recognized as "Humanitarian of the Year" by Kish Bank
Peter Hudson, Willaman Professor of Biology in the Eberly College of Science and director of The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, started his career as a wildlife biologist. His interest in wildlife diseases started when he discovered that population cycles of red grouse in Scotland were strongly influenced by gut parasites. A keen conservationist, he has graduate students studying the transmission and spread of infectious diseases in wildlife all over the world. Credit: Patrick Mansell
Compound made inside human body stops viruses from replicating
A structural model of viperin, a naturally occurring enzyme in humans that is known to have antiviral effects on viruses such as West Nile, hepatitis C, rabies, and HIV. A new study led by researchers from Penn State and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine reveals the mode of action of viperin, which facilitates an important reaction that results in the production of ddhCTP, a molecule that prevents viruses from copying their genetic material.
Climate change forced zombie ant fungi to adapt
A Brazilian carpenter ant biting a leaf. Image: David Hughes
Altered body odor indicates malaria even if microscope doesn't
An Anopheles stephensi mosquito is obtaining a blood meal from a human host through its pointed proboscis. Note the droplet of blood being expelled from the abdomen after having engorged itself on its host’s blood. This mosquito is a known malarial vector with a distribution that ranges from Egypt all the way to China. Image: Jim Gathany / CDC
Penn State student Paige Laughlin receives PennACE Student of the Year Award
PennACE undergrad award winner Paige Laughlin
Squire Booker honored as an Evan Pugh Professor
Squire Booker
Hong Ma named associate dean for research and innovation in the Eberly College of Science
Hong Ma
Amie Boal receives 2018 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award
Amie Boal
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