Publications

Fungal entomopathogens, other parasites, and insect behavior

• Vermeulen, S., Forsman, A., de Bekker, C. (2025): Consequences of “zombie-making” and generalist fungal pathogens on carpenter ant microbiota. In: Current Research in Insect Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cris.2024.100102 

• Perlin, M.H., Poulin, R., de Bekker, C. (2024): Invasion of the four kingdoms: the parasite journey across plant and non-plant hosts. In: Biological Reviews  https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.13169 

• van Roosmalen, E., de Bekker, C. (2024): Mechanisms underlying Ophiocordyceps infection and behavioural manipulation of ants: Unique or ubiquitous? In: Annual Reviews of Microbiology  doi.org/10.1146/annurev-micro-041522-092522 

• Will, I., Attardo, G.M., de Bekker, C. (2023): Multiomic interpretation of fungus-infected ant metabolomes during manipulated summit disease. In: Scientific Reports doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40065-0

• Will, I., Beckerson, W.C., de Bekker, C. (2023): Using machine learning to predict protein-protein interactions between a zombie ant fungus and its carpenter ant host. In: Scientific Reports  doi.org/ 10.1038/s41598-023-40764-8

• Beckerson, W.C., Krider, C., Mohammad, U.A., de Bekker, C. (2023): 28 minutes later: investigating the role of aflatrem-like compounds in Ophiocordyceps parasite manipulation of zombie ants. In: Animal Behaviour  doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.06.011

• Will, I., Linehan, S., Jenkins, D.G., de Bekker, C., (2022): Natural history and ecological effects on the establishment and fate of Florida carpenter ant cadavers infected by the parasitic manipulator Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani. In: Functional Ecology doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14224

• Araújo, J.P.M., Lebert, B.M., Vermeulen, S., Brachmann, A., Ohm, R.A., Evans, H.C., de Bekker, C. (2022): Masters of the manipulator: two new hypocrealean genera, Niveomyces (Cordycipitaceae) and Torrubiellomyces (Ophiocordycipitaceae), parasitic on the zombie ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani. In: Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi 49, 171-194 doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.05

• de Bekker, C., Das, B. (2022): Hijacking time: How Ophiocordyceps fungi could be using ant host clocks to manipulate behavior. In: Parasite Immunology 44:e12909 doi:10.1111/pim.12909

• Das, B., de Bekker, C. (2022): Time-course RNASeq of Camponotus floridanus forager and nurse ant brains indicate links between plasticity in the biological clock and behavioral division of labor. In: BMC Genomics 23, 57 doi.org/10.1186/s12864-021-08282-x 

• Trinh, T., Ouellette, R., de Bekker, C. (2021): Getting lost: the fungal hijacking of ant foraging behaviour in space and time. In: Animal Behaviour 181, 165-184 doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.09.003 

• de Bekker, C., Beckerson, W.C., Elya, C. (2021): Mechanisms behind the madness: How do zombie-making fungal entomopathogens affect host behavior to increase transmission? In: mBio, e0187221 doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01872-21

• Will, I., Das, B., Trinh, T., Brachmann, A., Ohm, R.A., de Bekker, C. (2020): Genetic underpinnings of host manipulation by Ophiocordyceps as revealed by comparative transcriptomics. In: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 10(7), 2275-2296 doi.org/10.1534/g3.120.401290

• de Bekker, C. (2019): Ophiocordyceps-ant interactions as an integrative model to understand the molecular basis of parasitic behavioral manipulation. In: Current Opinion in Insect Science 33, 19-24 doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2019.01.005 

• Westwood, M.L., O’Donnell, A.J., de Bekker, C., Lively, C.M., Zuk, M., Reece, S.E. (2019): The evolutionary ecology of circadian rhythms in infection. In: Nature Ecology and Evolution 3, 552–560 doi.org/10.1038/s41559-019-0831-4

• Andriolli, F.S., Ishikawa, N.K., Isla, R.V., Cabral, T.S., de Bekker, C., Baccaro, F.B. (2019): Do zombie ant fungi turn their hosts into light seekers? In: Behavioral Ecology 30(3), 609-616 doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ary198

• de Bekker, C., Will, I., Das, B., Adams, R.M.M. (2018): The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and their parasites: effects of parasitic manipulations and host responses on ant behavioral ecology. In: Myrmecological News 28, 1-24 doi.org/10.25849/myrmecol.news_028:001

• Solá-Gracia, E., de Bekker, C., Russell, J., Manlove, K., Hanks, E., Hughes, D.P. (2018): Within the fortress: A specialized parasite is not discriminated against in a social insect society. In: PLoS ONE 13(2): e0193536 doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193536

• de Bekker, C., Will, I., Hughes, D.P., Brachmann, A., Merrow, M. (2017): Daily rhythms and enrichment patterns in the transcriptome of the behavior-manipulating parasite Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae. In: PLoS ONE 12(11): e0187170 doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187170

•  de Bekker, C., Ohm, R.A., Evans, H.C., Brachmann, A., Hughes, D.P. (2017): Ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps genomes reveal a high diversity of potential behavioral manipulation genes and a possible major role for enterotoxins. In: Scientific Reports 7(1):12508 doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-12863-w

• Hughes, D.P., Araújo, J.P.M., Loreto R.G., Quevillon, L.E., de Bekker, C., Evans, H.C. (2016): From so simple a beginning: the evolution of behavioral manipulation by fungi. In: Advances in Genetics 94, 437-469 doi.org/10.1016/bs.adgen.2016.01.004

• de Bekker, C., Ohm, R.A., Loreto, R.G., Sebastian, A., Albert, I., Merrow, M., Brachmann, A., Hughes, D.P. (2015): Gene expression during zombie ant biting behavior reflects the complexity underlying fungal parasitic behavioral manipulation. In: BMC Genomics 16:620 doi.org/10.1186/s12864-015-1812-x

• Chetouhi, C., Panek, J., Bonhomme, L., ElAlaoui, H., Texier, C., Langin, T., de Bekker, C., Urbach, S., Demettre, E., Missé, D., Holzmuller, P., Hughes, D.P., Zanzoni, A., Brun, C., Biron, D.G. (2015): Cross-talk in host-parasite associations: what do past and recent proteomics tools tell us? In: Infection, Genetics and Evolution doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2015.04.015

• de Bekker, C., Quevillon, L.E., Smith, P.B., Fleming, K.R., Ghosh, D., Patterson, A.D., Hughes, D.P. (2014): Species-specific ant brain manipulation by a specialized fungal parasite. In: BMC Evolutionary Biology 14:166 de Bekker, C., Merrow, M., Hughes, D.P. (2014): From behavior to mechanisms: An integrative approach to the manipulation by a parasitic fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l.) of its host ants (Camponotus spp.). In: Integrative and Comparative Biology 54(2), 166-176 doi.org/10.1093/icb/icu063

• de Bekker, C., Smith, P.B., Patterson, A.D., Hughes, D.P. (2013): Metabolomics reveals the heterogeneous response of entomopathogenic fungi in ex vivo cultured insect tissues. In: PLoS ONE 8(8):e70609 doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070609

Other Publications

• Hedge, S., Khanipov, K., Hornett, E.A., Nilyanimit, P., Pimenova, M., Saldanã, M.A., de Bekker, C., Golovko, G., Hughes, G.L. (2024): Interkingdom interactions shape the fungal microbiome of mosquitoes. In: Animal Microbiome  6,11  https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-024-00298-4

• Hughes, M.E., Abruzzi, K.C., Allada, R., Anafi, R., Arpat, A.B., Asher, G., Baldi, P., de Bekker, C., Bell-Pedersen, D., Blau, J., Brown, S., Ceriani, M.F., Chen, Z., Chiu, J.C., Cox, J., Crowell, A.M., DeBruyne, J.P., Dijk, D.-J., DiTacchio, L., Doyle, F.j., Duffield, G.E., Dunlap, J.C., Eckel-Mahan, K., Esser, K.A., FitzGerald, G.A., Forger, D.B., Francey, L.J., Fu, Y.-H., Gachon, F., Gatfield, D., de Goede, P., Golden, S.S., Green, C., Harer, J., Harmer, S., Haspel, J., Hastings, M.H., Herzel, H., Herzog, E.D., Hoffmann, C., Hong, C., Hughey, J.J., Hurley, J.M., de la Iglesia, H.O., Johnson, C., Kay, S.A., Koike, N., Kornacker, K., Kramer, A., Lamia, K., Leise, T., Lewis, S.A., Li, J., Li, X., Liu, A.C., Loros, J.J., Martino, T.A., Menet, J.S., Merrow, M., Millar, A.J., Mockler, T., Naef, F., Nagoshi, E., Nitabach, M.N., Olmedo, M., Nusinow, D.A., Ptáček, L.J., Rand, D., Reddy, A.B., Robles, M.S., Roenneberg, T., Rosbash, M., Ruben, M.D., Rund, S.S.C., Sancar, A., Sassone-Corsi, P., Sehgal, A., Sherrill-Mix, S., Skene, D.J., Storch, K.-F., Takahashi, J.S., Ueda, H.R., Wang, H., Weitz, C., Westermark, P.O., Wijnen, H., Xu, Y., Wu, G., Yoo, S.-H., Young, M., Zhang, E.E., Zielinski, T., Hogenesch, J.B. (2017): Guidelines for Genome-Scale Analysis of Biological Rhythms. In: Journal of Biological Rhythms xx(x):1-14

• Wang, F., Krijgsheld, P., Hulsman, M., de Bekker, C., Müller, W.H., Reinders, M., de Vries, R.P., Wösten, H.A.B. (2014): FluG affects secretion in colonies of Aspergillus niger. In: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Journal of Microbiology 107(1), 225-240

• Wösten, H.A.B., van Veluw, G.J., de Bekker, C., Krijgsheld, P. (2013): Heterogeneity in the mycelium; implications for the use of fungi as cell factories. In: Biotechnology Letters 35, 1155-116411

• van Veluw, G.J., Teertstra, W.R., de Bekker, C., Vinck, A., van Beek, N., Muller, W.H., Arentshorst, M., van der Mei. H.C., Ram, A.F.J., Dijksterhuis, J., Wösten, H.A.B. (2013): Heterogeneity in liquid shaken cultures of Aspergillus niger inoculated with melanised conidia of pigmentation mutants. In: Studies in Mycology 74(1), 47-5710

• de Bekker, C., Bruning, O., Jonker, M.J., Breit, T.M., Wösten, H.A.B. (2011): Single cell transcriptomics of neighboring hyphae of Aspergillus niger. In: Genome Biology 12:R719

• Ohm, R.A., de Jong, J.F., de Bekker, C., Lugones, L.G., Wösten, H.A.B. (2011): Transcription factor genes of Schizophyllum commune involved in regulation of mushroom formation. In: Molecular Microbiology 81(6), 1433-14458

• de Bekker, C., van Veluw, G.J., Vinck, A., Wiebenga, L.A., Wösten, H.A.B. (2011): Heterogeneity in Aspergillus niger micro-colonies in liquid shaken cultures. In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology 77(4), 1263-12677

• de Bekker, C., Vinck, A., Ossin, A., Ohm, R.A., de Vries, R.P., Wösten, H.A.B. (2011): Heterogenic expression of genes encoding secreted proteins at the periphery of Aspergillus niger colonies. In: Environmental Microbiology 13(1), 216-2256

• de Jong, J.F., Ohm, R.A., de Bekker, C., Wösten, H.A.B., Lugones, L.G. (2010): Inactivation of ku80 in the mushroom forming fungus Schizophyllum commune decreases transformation efficiency and increases the relative incidence of homologous recombination. In: FEMS Microbiology Letters 310(1), 91-955

• de Bekker, C., Wiebenga, A., Aguilar, G., Wösten, H.A.B. (2009): An enzyme cocktail for efficient protoplast formation in Aspergillus niger. In: Journal of Microbiological Methods 76(3), 305-3063

• van Peer, A.F., de Bekker, C., Vinck, A., Wösten, H.A.B., Lugones, L.G. (2009): Phleomycin increases transformation efficiency and promotes single integrations in Schizophyllum commune. In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology 75(5), 1243-12472

• Levin, A.M., de Vries, R.P., Conesa, A., de Bekker, C., Talon, M., Menke, H.H., Van Peij, N.N.M.E., Wösten, H.A.B. (2007): Spatial differentiation in the vegetative mycelium of Aspergillus niger. In: Eukaryotic Cell 6(12), 2311-23221

• Sivanathan, V., Allen, M.D., de Bekker, C., Baker, R., Arciszewska, L.K., Freund, S.M., Bycroft, M., Sherratt, D.J. (2006): The FtsK gamma domain directs oriented DNA translocation by interacting with KOPS. In: Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 13(11), 965-972