Zombie Ants VR Exhibition

"Zombie Ants" is the name used to describe ants that have been infected by Ophiocordyceps, a fungal pathogen capable of altering the behavior of their hosts! These fungi secrete biomolecules that interact with the nervous system in the ant, causing them to act in peculiar ways. Infected ants are made to abandon their nest, climb nearby plants, and bite down to ensuring that the ant does not fall from its elevated position. The fungus then emerges from the back of the ant’s head, forming a mushroom containing the next generation of spores! These behavioral modification are important for the lifecycle of the fungi, because getting the host up high helps the fungi spread their spores using the wind! To help students learn about this amazing system and important biological topics like coevolution and disease transmission, the de Bekker lab at Utrecht University has created a virtual reality video game about…