The zombie mushroom from the series “The Last of Us” is able to take total control of its host by dictating its every move. In reality, this fungus only attacks ants.
- Cordyceps has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine.
- Adaptogen, it is a major ally to fight against stress, fatigue and improve sports performance, according to numerous studies.
In “The Last Of Us”, HBO’s latest event series and broadcast on Premium Videoa mutant fungus of the genus Cordyceps begins to infect humans, transforming the majority of humanity into zombie and cannibalistic monsters… This disaster scenario is all the more frightening because it is inspired by real events.
Cordyceps infects the organism of certain species of ants
Indeed, the Cordyceps fungus, or more precisely Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, exists, without presenting a threat to humans. It is often called the “zombie-ant mushroom” and it is mainly found in tropical forest ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, explain the scientists.
Using imagery, they discovered how it proceeds to take control of certain species of ants. Without touching the brain, the fungus infiltrates the entire body of the ant, including its head. It then totally controls its host: it pushes the insect to leave its nest and climb on a nearby plant.
According to The Atlanticthe fungus stops the ant at a height of about 25 centimeters, where the correct temperature and humidity allow the fungus to thrive.
Cordyceps fungus poses no risk to humans
In its final stage of development, Cordyceps will force the ant to bite a leaf and stay in that position: “Then the fungus begins to produce spores from the ant’s head directly above the colony. He then releases the spores to rain down on any other unsuspecting victim below.‘”, say the authors.
It was while watching a documentary on the subject broadcast by the BBC in 2006 that the creators of the series had the idea of a fungus ravaging the human species, indicates Slate.
Luckily for us, reality does not exceed fiction. The scientists want to be reassuring: it is impossible that we will be faced with a situation similar to that of “The Last of Us” in the near future.
