As long as you realize The Last of Us and other shows are fiction, theres no harm done. As with most fungi, if youre healthy, Candida auris isnt likely to cause any harm. The frequency and geographic range of fungal diseases are also on the rise, due to global warming and an increase in international travel and trade. "I inhale Ophiocordyceps spores all the time because I work with them closely," said Arajo, who remains unzombified. Pic: NHS, A fly infected by a cordyceps fungus. Its a handful [of ants] that theyve evolved to figure out how to hijack their system and mess with them, said Nelsen, sporting a T-shirt with a lime green zombie ant he picked up at a mycology conference in Thailand. Next the fungus kills the host and uses it to reproduce. (This is also the reason The Last of Us writers use to explain why cordyceps can infect people.). Billions of puppets with poisoned minds, permanently fixed on one unifying goal: to spread the infection to every last human alive by any means necessary., The scientist goes on to say there are no treatments or cures for this kind of infection. Some fungi like "magic mushrooms," usually consumed recreationally, act as psychedelics, impacting the human mind. The particular fungus that inspired the video game and show, called cordyceps sometimes referred to as the zombie-ant fungus causes insects to perch on a branch until the fungus bursts out of its body and releases spores. Once theyve reached the treetops, the ants bite the stem or leaf in whats known as a death grip. The creepy infections and resulting dystopia have many viewers wondering: how realistic is this scenario and could this potentially happen in real life? The Cordyceps are "not prepared to invade, establish within and transmit spores from a human body," and "cannot even establish themselves in any mammals or non-insect animal,"Arajo toldForbes. The spores of the Cordyceps seize control of the mind and motor functions of their host, causing erratic behaviors and spurring the . In the show, a type of real fungus calledOphiocordyceps unilateralis(also known as zombie ant fungus) has evolved to withstand higher temperatures due to global warming. Is 'The Last of Us' Zombie Fungus Real? - YouTube To research scientists like Nelsen, each of the specimens tells a fascinating story. Could the 'zombie fungus' from The Last of Us exist in real life? Email him at c.mello-klein@northeastern.edu. The man, 63, was recovered from the river in the 1300 block of North Elston Avenue just before 7 p.m., Chicago police said. "There are numerous fungi infecting the brains of human beings all over the planet, often with devastating outcomes," says Professor Elaine Bignell, a world leader in the field of human fungal pathogen research. Not a Fun Guy Jan 21 / by Maggie Harrison But while the fungus is a. When it comes to real life, listen to public health. Koehler called for more fungal research funding, saying a more intense focus on finding better treatments for fungi is very important.. The consensus is that while not impossible, it is highly unlikely. With the ant locked in place, the fungus fed off its internal organs. Fungal infection from the Southwest may spread with climate change. Its interesting to get people to think about this.. The zombie-ant fungus is actually found in health supplements and used in eye cancer studies to slow tumor growth. According toscientists, there are approximately 150,000 known species of fungi, and only about 200 are known to infect humans. "But there's also very likely some sort of chemical attack on the host, either small molecules, or proteins or some other things, that end up manipulating brain behavior.". Its a popular, great TV show, but its not really a viable or realistic portrayal of what could happen., I dont think we ought to be worried, William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University, said. Above, lead characters Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Tess (Anna Torv) discover a human body that was taken over by a fungus. However, Rosengaus says fungal parasites can still provide a new lens through which to look at more common viral infections like the flu or even COVID-19. For instance, a fungus that causes valley fever, which can cause respiratory issues, grows in soil in California and southwestern U.S. People can get sick just by breathing the dust that contains the fungus. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur les liens Paramtres de confidentialit et des cookies ou Tableau de bord sur la confidentialit prsents sur nos sites et dans nos applications. Thats because most viruses spread through respiratory droplets, whereas many fungal infections need skin-to-skin contact. So its not even all ants theyre going after. The organisms adaptation to warmer temperatures is thought to be the reason it now has a better chance of being able to survive in the human body. Matt Nelsen is a mycologist and evolutionary biologist who does research on fungi at the Field Museum. In general, fungi are more difficult to treat because their cells are similar to the cells in humans. There are hundreds of Ophiocordyceps the genus the zombie-ant fungus belongs to. But these are not the typical zombies were used to seeing in movies and TV shows like The Walking Dead, these zombies have been infected by fungus that invades the bodies of its hosts and takes over their minds. Said Kasson: "You dont have to think about your abdomen being consumed by fungus when youre high.". The Last of Us is set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by hordes of "infected," aggressive, zombified humans who have contracted a parasitic fungal infectionthe cordyceps brain. It's difficult to find a treatment "that targets the fungus and not the humans," says toDimitrios Kontoyiannis of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Medical Mycology Research Center. But in the real world, this is not how the fungi spread among host bugs. Let us repeat there is no danger that climate change is going to soon bring on the zombie apocalypse. "There's a long history of relationships between humans and this particular group," Dr Ramsdale tells Sky News. Another facet of The Last Of Us's foreboding speech shared by the WHO's landmark report was the influence of climate change on the nature of fungi and our relationship with it. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. We feel good about him in this role for now.. Humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction by a fungus that infects billions of people in the HBO series The Last Of Us. There are currently 19 fungal diseases that are threats to humans. The show is about how the human population fights to survive a zombie apocalypse caused by a cordyceps fungus that spreads to the brain. The Last of Us Fungus is Real. Now for some good news. In the opening scene of The Last of Us, fictional epidemiologist Dr. Neuman challenges these long accepted behaviors of fungi what if a fungus, say the zombie-ant fungus, could adapt to warmer temperatures and grow in seemingly healthy people? Those infections can spread not just to the bloodstream but also different organs, like the brain and heart. The transformation is complete: The ant begins to stumble and convulse, acting in a way that benefits cordyceps. See more podcast episodes onPodBean,YouTube,or your favorite podcast streaming service. All rights reserved. The 'Zombie Fungus' Behind 'The Last of Us' Apocalypse Is Real, But The fungus from the show and video game, which the series derived from, is based on a real-life fungus that affects ants calledOphiocordyceps unilateralis. "The biggest threat globally is climate change," said Hughes, who has shifted his research focus away from zombie ants and is now Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Global Food Security at Pennsylvania State University. One of the reasons for that is that humans are warm-blooded, Roberts said. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. ", David Hughes, one of the scientists who was consulted during the creation of The Last of Us,described it as a "real-time study in what we pay attention to and what we act on. Candida auris, which was first recognized only about 10 years ago, is already resistant to multiple drugs. Read more:Fungus unknown to science discovered in Scotland. This typically occurs near the ants colony, so its spores will have more victims to keep the cycle going. DEFINITIONS:Is climate change the same thing as global warming? 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But Chiller says the big things we should be focusing on are better ways of diagnosing fungal infections in the field and more research needs to be done to improve and develop new treatments. Thats because humans and fungi share many genes, as both evolved from a common ancestor. "In a warming world, fungi also have to adapt to a warmer climate," de Bekker said. This makes it very difficult to find a treatment "that targets the fungus and not the humans," he said. We do have zoonotic infections, Roberts said. The Last Of Us airs every Monday on Sky Atlantic and is available on streaming service NOW. This ant now resides among caterpillars, spiders and beetles that all have succumbed to a similar fate, infected by a parasitizing fungus that drained the critters of nutrients, then left them for dead. " The Last of Us ," a popular TV series based on an equally popular video game also called "The Last of Us," takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. We really only have three classes of drugs to treat severe fungal infections, he said. Fungi are one the six kingdoms of life. Eleven tornadoes have been confirmed from Wednesdays storms. "The cicada will fly around and try to mateas it spreads a sexually transmissible disease through the powder on its genitals," Kasson said. 25th Roxbury Film Festival will feature Northeastern film that chronicles devastation and hope after hurricane in Puerto Rico, Using data about Shark Tank, study finds women are less likely to get funding when pitching innovative ideas to investors, Shes a serial entrepreneur, ironwoman and advocate for women at Northeastern and around the world, On vacation and need to rent a scooter? Cordyceps fungi are real organisms that are most at home in warm, humid climes. Creators of the franchise didn't look far for inspiration the series is based off a real-life species of fungus that performs a kind of "mind control" on its insect hosts. How the Zombies in 'The Last of Us' are Based on Real Science A fungal stalk then grew from the carcass to spread spores. Small mammals, who were able to regulate their body temperature, were able to better fend off fungal diseases. The parasitic fungus infects and takes over the mind of insects, as it does to humans in The Last Of Us. 'The Last Of Us' Zombie Infection Is RealHere's What But other kinds of fungi can have a much more dangerous effect. "And you can imagine then, if their optimal growth temperatures, therefore, become higher and closer to our body temperatures, it might be more likely that in the future, we have more fungal infections in humans than we see right now.". An EF1 twister tore through Burr Ridge with winds up to 110 mph. Could it soon jump to humans, an evolution fueled by a warming world? As a result, a drug that would target a fungus in our bodies could also destroy our surrounding cells. Most Cordyceps species are endoparasitoids, parasitic mainly on insects and other arthropods (they are thus entomopathogenic fungi); a few are parasitic on other fungi. If youre healthy, it will stay on your skin and [even] go away, but if you have lines and catheters and have had surgeries, it can cause infections in wounds, Roberts said. While the chances of a zombie apocalypse are low, fungal infections are a growing concern. The newfound public interest is instead thanks to HBOs new hit show, The Last of Us, based on a video game of the same name. The threat of such an emergency is posed at the outset of the hit TV series, The Last Of Us, which begins in the 1960s with a bleak speech by an epidemiologist on the danger of fungi. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. But over time, an infected ant begins to behave erratically, wandering around in random directions and eventually convulsing, according to Nelsen. Is the zombie fungus dangerous to humans? Fungus produces the ethanol in beer, which can make us tipsy and affect our behavior, said Hughes. Follow him on Twitter @Proelectioneer. This makes it highly unlikely that a single fungus could spur the same kind of global pandemic we see with viruses. Threadlike growths, known as mycelia, start growing inward and eventually take over the insects brain, which start producing neurotransmitters that affect brain function. NBC Universal, Inc. These fungal parasites act as puppeteers, commanding, and positioning the zombies to infect entire communities. These co-op students went to Kenya to find ways to prevent one of the worlds most deadly tropical diseases, The verdict is in: Northeastern program helps judges better understand the forces that affect peoples health, The Supreme Court struck down affirmative action. All it would take is for one gene in a fungus to mutate and suddenly it could become capable of burrowing into our brains taking control not of millions but billions of us, he says. In the world of The Last of Us, those words are prophetic. Subscribe to the weekly Climate Point newsletter, Latest climate change news from USA TODAY, CDC warns Valley fever fungal infection could spread across US thanks to climate change. Read the full transcript of the EMSL Podcast "Bonding Over Science" on the EMSL website. Everyone wants to believe they'd survive a zombie apocalypse - that they could scavenge supplies, find a safe house, load a rifle and outrun the shambling hordes. Then the ant climbs off the ground the parasite nearly victorious over its zombielike host and clings to a leaf or branch where it dies. There are thousands of species of cordyceps and most are specifically designed to infect a particular species typically insects turning its victims into a zombie. Among the fungi deemed most high-risk was Aspergillus fumigatus, a common mould that is widespread in the environment in homes and outdoors, which can cause "chronic and acute lung disease" and can be deadly. Candida species, which are behind complaints like thrush and skin rashes, are also one of the leading causes of bloodstream infection in intensive care patients. In "The Last of Us," a fungus violently . A man was shot and is in critical condition. 'Zombie fungus' in 'The Last Of Us' why it (probably) can't happen Earth may be starting a new geological chapter. Cordyceps The all-consuming fungus must zombify ants in order to live. Part of what amazed him was how understudied fungi are. Could the Zombie Fungus in TV's The Last of Us Really Infect People Theres intent and purpose behind where infected antsand their fictional counterpartsroam. Contact Amanda Gardner at mandyabq@gmail.com. Fungal infection from the Southwest may spread with climate change. Its not like we need to look for things to worry about. There's a new post-apocalyptic zombie video game-turned-HBO series that your distant acquaintances are talking about and for good reason. That's true of the infectious fungus Candida auris, which was discovered in 2009 and has since been found in more than 30 countries. They start twitching and become hyperaggressive and overly energetic. The fungal pandemic obliterates civilization, leaving a post-apocalyptic world that at times may feel a bit too plausible for viewers just emerging to some semblance of post-COVID-19 normalcy. MyPillow auctions off equipment amid massive cancellation, CEO Lindell Oppenheimer exits: Damon, Blunt, Murphy walk out of premiere as strike starts. In some instances, fungal infections are becoming more of a problem because of climate change, researchers have shown, as some fungi adaptto warmer temperatures. The Real Zombie Fungus That Inspired HBO's 'The Last of Us' Humans will probably never face a fungal apocalypse, but in the insect world, mind-controlling fungi can pose a serious threat. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The fungus from The Last of Us is based on a real fungus that exists in nature today and is called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, or cordyceps. For starters, the main premise is pure science fiction: Humans are immune from the type of fungus that causes mind control in ants officially called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis and it would take extreme adaptations for that to change. And while scientists aren't worried about that particular scenario, they say climate change could usher in a new wave of fungal infections in humans. Zombie fungus: Could 'The Last of Us' happen in real life? | CNN Zombie fungus is one of the top searches on Google for 2023thanks to the popularity of the hit HBO show "The Last of Us.". You can imagine a dome of death which is surrounding the colony that the ants have to pass through every day, and this is why the fungus is winning.. Put aside the gore, violence and downfall of human civilization, and scientists say the show highlights legitimate vulnerabilities. The Last of Us is set 20 years after a fungal pandemic topples society. "It would take millions and millions of years of optimization over evolutionary history," he said. Thats because as humans, we have an incredibly advanced immune system to help protect us and a much higher body temperature than the cordyceps prefer. Its not likely because they have evolved to control precisely the ants behavior, controlling the motor neuron system, said Hughes. This manifests in a behavior called summiting. We also need to be more aware of how a changing climate affects global health. Is this whats next for us? Often viruses and sometimes even fungi can be in another species and jump to other humans, but it usually needs progressive jumping back and forth [between humans and animals].. Joo Arajo, an assistant curator and researcher in mycology at the New York Botanical Garden, said it's "very unlikely" that the fungus would be able to infect humans. Once the fungus has completely taken over, it releases spores to trap other victims. "The whole thing is a real-time study in what we pay attention to and what we act on," he said. Theyre crucialto the environment because they decompose things, breaking down dead plants and animals so they can go back into the soil food web. In this take on the apocalypse, we see a post-pandemic world thats been taken over by zombies. HBO'sThe Last of Usdepicts a "zombie fungus" which has led the world into ruin. "If their optimal growth temperatures, therefore, become higher and closer to our body temperatures, it might be more likely that in the future, we have more fungal infections in humans than we see right now," remarkedde Bekker. By Tom Acres, technology reporter Monday 23 January 2023 12:47, UK Humans' immunity to Ophiocordyceps is evident in how many interactions with the fungi have so far proved harmless. We often picture them as mushrooms, yeasts, lichen or sometimes even athletes foot. Then, the spores start raining down again and the cycle repeats. They take over the minds of ants as well as certain spiders, moths, locusts, and other arthropods, but thankfully, not humans. If youre immunocompromised or otherwise in frail health, though, they can cause severe infections and that can even be potentially life-threatening. Now the unlucky insects are part of the Field Museums sizable collection of more than 200,000 fungal specimens collected from all continents, sometimes a century or more ago. Prof Bignell says the impact of global heating will be "profound" for all microbes on our planet. For decades, science fiction writers have taken basic ideas to an extreme. While there is no threat of such an apocalypse in real life, experts say the potential threat posed by the world's fungi should not be ignored. Mpox is a good example. January 25, 2023 / 2:15 PM There are well over 100 known Ophiocordyceps species that infect a wide variety of insects, including butterflies, moths, and beetles, and at least 35 that perform "mind control" on their hosts. And based on the response to the opening episode of The Last Of Us, people were quick to see the parallels. A fungus could also increase their melanin, which would allow them to withstand hotter, drier climates. Here's everything you need to know: Actually, yes. "A number of fungal species are quite prominent pathogens and kill hundreds of thousands of people every year - it's just that the public is not well aware of this.". The Real Zombie Fungus That Inspired HBO's 'The Last of Us' In HBO's new hit series "The Last of Us," a deadly fungus sweeps the planet turning humans into killer zombies. What is the Anthropocene. If you're like me, you've had a long withstanding date with the couch on Sunday nights to watch HBO's breakout show The Last of Us. "The Last of Us" raises the point that climate change could spur on fungal adaptations to hotter habitats. Some of his work focuses on emerging fungi decimating crops. Yet over the past few years, Casadevall has been investigating how climate change could bring new fungal infections to mammals, including people. zombies inspired by a real-life fungal ant parasite. While fungal infections are becoming more common, the idea of a fungal apocalypse is still the stuff of science fiction, Hughes and Rosengaus agree. "Most fungi in the environment are suited to growing in more temperate conditions, and it places quite a strain on any microorganism to counteract an immune response in a human body and cope with the high temperature.". It also has people reaching out to scientists at the Environmental . In the meantime, if you do happen to see anyone that looks like they're covered in mushrooms and feasting on a member of their family - best steer clear. Each of the known Ophiocordyceps species preys upon a particular insect, and that specificity is a double-edged sword. In the video game and HBO show The Last of Us, humans struggle to survive after an infectious fungus turns ordinary people into zombies. The ants are forced every day to go out looking for food, so as they go out, they walk underneath a snipers alley of their dead siblings, which are hanging underneath the underside of the leaf, producing spores, Hughes says. They may seem like a minor nuisance to the average healthy human, but the kingdom attacks insects and plants in horrifying ways. Experts Say the Zombie Fungus From 'The Last of Us' Is Real Thats why a lot of drugs that were thought perhaps to be useful antifungals ended up being eliminated from consideration because theyre toxic in humans, too, said Koehler, a pediatric infectious-disease specialist at Boston Childrens Hospital. In the fictional world of The Last of Us, a fungus has destroyed the world.The new hit TV show highlights Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, an actual "zombie ant" fungus, which compels an infected . Similarly, the shows infected humans lose all ability to speak and, instead, scream and shriek in rage and pain. I know that were going to see more of these fungi move into humans and into animals, Chiller told the Hill. Dcouvrez comment nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles dans notre Politique de confidentialit et notre Politique relative aux cookies. In this scenario, the fungus spores burrow into the spider, spreading its wispy tendrils known as mycelium throughout the spiders body. Although the 2013 video game featured spores as a method of infection, HBOs adaptation of the The Last of Us has done away with them, marking the biggest departure from its scientific inspiration. Cordyceps is often referred to as the "zombie-ant fungus" because it primarily infects ants and other insects such as spiders. Fungi are also more self-sustaining than viruses, which need to infect a host to live. Want to know how your actions can help make a difference for our planet? There are some 150,000 identified species of fungi in the world, well short of the millions estimated to exist, and few have what it takes to cope with the 37C temperature and other stresses imposed by the human body. One fungus called Candida auris, which causes serious infections including in the blood stream, simultaneously emerged on different continents. For instance, Hughes explains, some fungi could adapt by altering the expression of different proteins that allow them to withstand higher heat. The spores dispersed by the cordyceps sit in the soil and attach to the bodies of insects. In the TV show, the parasitizing fungus spreads through human contact mainly biting.
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