Cordyceps is a fungus that grows on ants, spiders and other arthropods. It has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries to treat fatigue, sickness and kidney disease.

However, could this fungus also infect humans? It’s possible, says Bryn Dentinger, a professor of biology at the University of Utah.

Introduction

If you've ever watched the video game or HBO show The Last of Us, you might be familiar with a real-life fungus that essentially turns insects into zombies. That fungus is called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, or cordyceps for short.

It's a parasitic fungus that infects ants, spiders, and other insects. Once it enters the insect, it drains its host of all nutrients and fills it with spores that will let the fungus reproduce. It then forces the insect to climb up a plant or tree, clamping onto its surface, until it eventually dies.

These spores are then released into the environment and can infect other insects, turning them into zombies as well. The spores Can cordyceps evolve to infect humans . travel long distances, spreading across the earth.

The fungus is also popularly known as the "zombie-ant fungus." It's a fascinating, terrifying phenomenon.

One reason it's popular is because it can help to treat conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Cordyceps is thought to lower blood sugar levels by mimicking the way insulin works in the body.

It also may have antitumor properties. Some test-tube and animal studies suggest it can protect against cancer and reduce the side effects of some chemotherapy drugs.

Cordyceps may also have antioxidant effects, which can help to prevent cell damage and fight inflammation. It's also believed to improve circulation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It may also decrease cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels in the blood.

Overview of Cordyceps Biology

The fungus Cordyceps is known as a zombie-like parasite that infects insects. The fungus then feasts on its hosts’ flesh, using their bodies as all-you-can-eat buffets. Once the fungus has fully grown and matured, it releases spores, which can infect other insects.

The Cordyceps family includes a variety of saprotrophic and symbiotic species (Clavavicipitaceae; Hypocreales) that live in soil or on insect pathogens. These genera are deeply rooted in phylogenetic trees and are considered to be the most primitive members of the family.

While the evolutionary history of these fungi is well documented, little is known about their biology. However, a recent study found that the fungus contains some therapeutic compounds.

These compounds include cordycepin, a bioactive compound that acts as an adenosine analog. It is found in both the fungus and its spores, and can increase energy levels.

In addition, it has been shown that it boosts immune function. It has been used to treat a range of conditions, including fatigue and asthma.

Cordyceps also has antioxidant properties. In fact, it can inhibit superoxide production and reduce the amount of lipid peroxidation in the liver.

A recent study found that the fungus can even boost immune function in humans. It also has been reported to improve kidney function, and enhance sexual dysfunction. In Chinese medicine, it is used to treat a wide range of health conditions.

How Cordyceps Could Adapt to Infect Humans

The fictional Cordyceps in the video game and HBO show The Last of Us is based on a real-life fungus called Ophiocordyceps unilateratis, better known as “zombie-ant fungus.” These parasitic fungi infect insects, draining their hosts' bodies and replacing nutrients with spores that allow the fungus to reproduce. The fungus also performs a kind of “mind control” on its insect host, compelling it to climb to higher heights and stay there until it expels its spores, spreading the infection as far as possible.

While some fungi are actually good for humans — like the Cordyceps subsessilis used in organ-transplant drugs and Ophiocordyceps militaris and Ophiocordyceps senensis, which are considered health supplements — others pose serious threats to human health. The number of fungal species that kill people in the world has been on the rise, and experts believe climate change could play a role in their spread.

Researchers have studied the way Cordyceps communicates with its host, which appears to involve sending electrical impulses from its roots through a network of underground tubes called mycelium. This communication network appears to resemble a human vocabulary of about 50 words, according to a recent study published in the Royal Society Open Science journal (O’Brien et al., 2005).

While scientists don’t know whether or not Cordyceps is able to infect humans, they believe it is unlikely that the fungus will make the move any time soon. The fungus is not well adapted to invade a human host, and it would likely have trouble adapting to an immune-compromised human body.

The Evolution of Cordyceps Fungus

The fungi that inspired the video game and HBO series "The Last of Us" have a long history of infecting insects, but humans are not their natural host. That could change in the future if climate change causes other animals to migrate into areas of high human population density, a study suggests.

Researchers found that the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as zombie-ant fungus or caterpillar fungus, can manipulate its insect host to move from low to higher altitude and clamp down on a vein in its body, forming a "death grip." This behavior, called parasite manipulation, is crucial for increasing parasite fitness and the probability of further infection.

In addition, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis oozes spores that will allow the fungus to reproduce. This process drains the ant's nutrients, leaving it with no food and no place to stay. The fungus then compels the insect to seek height and stay there, before expelling spores that infect nearby insects.

Another study found that Ophiocordyceps unilateralis can alter the way the ants perceive pheromones, changing their behavior to spread the infection. That's a big departure from how cordyceps behaves in nature, where it steers clear of the brain and uses chemical signals to control its hosts.

In addition to controlling its host's behavior, Cordyceps fungus can reduce inflammation in the airways of mice. This can help alleviate symptoms of asthma and other respiratory diseases. It also may improve heart health in people with diabetes, according to research.

Can Cordyceps Fungus Infect Humans

The fungi Cordyceps Fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) can parasitize the brains of insects like ants and spiders. Once it seizes control of the insect's mind and motor functions, it tries to move it up higher on a plant or tree, where the warmer weather can create conditions for the spores to grow.

The resulting infection causes the insect's erratic behavior and impedes its motor functions. Eventually, it dies and the fungus bursts from its head to release spores that will claim its next host.

Infections by these fungi are uncommon in healthy humans; they often occur in immunocompromised people or patients who have undergone medical treatments that weaken the immune system. But when the fungi develop a resistance to antifungals, they can cause serious health problems.

This includes invasive aspergillosis, a severe lung disease caused by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus that can kill people with no previous history of a fungal infection and is highly resistant to most antifungal drugs. It can also cause serious sinusitis and brain abscesses in immunosuppressed people with phagocyte defects, such as those who have chronic granulomatous disease or rheumatoid arthritis.

While an outbreak of Cordyceps fungi could make for a terrifying TV show, experts say it is unlikely that it would affect humankind. There are many other threats to the world, including a swarm of deadly viruses, climate change, and natural disasters. In the meantime, we should be prepared for whatever comes our way.

Conclusion

The brain-altering zombies of HBO's new blockbuster series The Last of Us are inspired by a real-life fungal parasite called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. Often referred to as the zombie-ant fungus, it spawns spores that attach themselves to insects like ants or spiders and take over their minds.

The fungus drains its host completely of nutrients, then fills it up with spores that let it reproduce. It then compels its host to seek out a higher location, where warmer temperatures create prime conditions for spawning more spores. Once the fungus has completed its work, it dies and bursts from the host's body to release its spores on to their next victim.

Cordyceps is actually a very old fungus, and it's been around for thousands of years. It's a popular tonic food and herbal medicine in East Asian cultures, with purported energy-increasing, immunity-boosting, and anti-inflammatory properties.

While it's unlikely that the apocalyptic effects of the zombie-ant fungus could ever happen on a scale comparable to its depiction on the show, climate change is equipping some fungi with the ability to infect humans. In addition, aging populations and the increased use of antibiotics may make these diseases more common.

The fungus has also been spotted in test-tube and animal studies as having potential as a cancer treatment, and it's even been shown to boost blood levels of leukocytes (white blood cells) after radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatments. Unfortunately, the science behind this is still not fully understood, and the effect hasn't yet been replicated in human trials.

FAQ’s

 

Q: What is Cordyceps fungus?

Answer: Cordyceps is a type of parasitic fungus that infects insects and other arthropods, such as ants and caterpillars. The fungus grows inside the host's body, eventually killing it and releasing spores that can infect other insects.

 

Q: How does Cordyceps fungus infect ants?

Answer: Cordyceps spores attach themselves to an ant and germinate, growing into the ant's body and consuming it from the inside out. The fungus then manipulates the ant's behavior, causing it to climb to a high place and attach itself to a leaf or branch, where the fungus can release its spores.

 

Addeshion Resources

1. https://www.eversiowellness.com/blogs/news/the-last-of-us-can-cordyceps-infect-humans.