Deadly parasite’s rare sexual dalliances may help scientists neutralize it

For years, microbiologist Stephen Beverley has tried to get the disease-causing parasite Leishmania in the mood for love. In this week’s Science, he and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health report that they may have finally found the answer: Cram enough Leishmania into the gut of an insect known as the sand fly, and the parasite will have sex.

Rirkrit Tiravanija: Chew the Fat at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum May 8 to July 27

Rirkrit Tiravanija creates spare yet provocative installations designed to blur lines between art and life, transforming galleries and museums into ephemeral social spaces for cooking meals, playing music and hanging out. Beginnin in May the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum at Washington University in St. Louis will showcase one recent project with its exhibition Rirkrit Tiravanija: Chew the Fat, a multifaceted video installation that together profiles a loose-knit group of 12 internationally known artists.

Heartburn medications do not ease asthma symptoms

The predominance of heartburn among asthma sufferers led many specialists to suspect that acid reflux could be a trigger for the coughing, wheezing and breathlessness of asthma. In fact, it has become standard practice to prescribe heartburn medication to people with poorly controlled asthma, even if they don’t have overt acid reflux symptoms. But a new study shows that heartburn medication does not help control asthma symptoms.

Banerjee wins Stalker prize

Somalee Banerjee is the winner of the 2009 Stalker Award. The prize is named in the honor of the late Harrison D. Stalker, Ph.D., who was professor of biology; a leading evolutionary biologist, geneticist and inspired teacher; and a true enthusiast of the fine arts. The award is given to the graduating senior in biology […]

Five recognized as Ethic of Service winners

The recipients of the 2009 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award will be recognized during a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the Knight Center. Founded during WUSTL’s sesquicentennial year, the Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award annually recognizes a select group of University community members which exemplifies a […]