Latest news with #Ophiocordyceps
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm over potentially lethal fungus that sounds straight out of 'The Last of Us': 'We're talking about hundreds of thousands of lives'
A potentially lethal group of fungi called Aspergillus could spread worldwide, with the possibility of northerly shifts to parts of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. New research suggests that rising global temperatures may drive the health hazard to previously under-exposed regions. As the Financial Times reported in early May, researchers from the United Kingdom have a preprint up at Research Square that shows how the prevalence of a potential killer fungus could increase due to human-caused climate change. A warming planet is set to accelerate fungal growth and spread. On the surface, the threat sounds like something you'd watch in an apocalyptic TV series. In fact, a sensationalized brain-infecting fungus zombifies and wipes out most of the population in the video game and HBO show "The Last of Us," though that series is based on another type of fungus called Ophiocordyceps that actually has various species that specialize in taking over the brain of specific insects and animals. There is, fortunately, no species of Ophiocordyceps that targets humans, but Aspergillus is a real concern for people around the world and not a fictional creation. The spores can cause aspergillosis, affecting especially the lungs but also potentially the brain. When infections occur, mortality rates can be high. "We're talking about hundreds of thousands of lives, and continental shifts in species distributions," preprint co-author Norman van Rhijn, from the University of Manchester, told the Financial Times. "In 50 years, where things grow and what you get infected by is going to be completely different." A news release from the university noted, "Novel projections show that in 15 years, if we rely on fossil fuels instead of clean power, we are likely to see the significant spread of certain fungal pathogens in Europe." Dangerous strains of fungus like Aspergillus can grow rapidly in hot, humid conditions. The steady overheating of our planet and resulting sea level rise, stemming from the use of dirty energy sources, may be creating the ideal circumstances for infections to spread into previously unaffected areas. Scientists have been warning the public about the global health catastrophes that could be on the horizon due to the potential for an explosion in fungal pathogens. Although microscopic, out-of-control fungi can pose significant threats to wellness and safety. People with compromised immune systems and preexisting conditions are often at the most risk of severe complications. And not only do warmer temps and wetter surroundings sponsor fungal growth but also other extreme weather events. Wildfires can exacerbate exposures, disturbing soil habitats and aerosolizing spores in smoke. Following droughts and subsequent heavy rainfall, spores can be released into the air and inhaled in nearby communities. Do you worry about the quality of the air inside your home? Yes — often Yes — but only sometimes Only when it's bad outside No — I never do Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Meanwhile, significant upticks in infection can drive resistance to treatments, which could leave vulnerable populations even more desperate. According to recent reporting from CNN, the World Health Organization "added Aspergillus flavus to its critical group of fungal pathogens in 2022 because of its public health impact and antifungal resistance risk." The outlet noted that the strain can also infect and destroy crops, jeopardizing food supplies. Scientists are working to understand fungal pathogens through initiatives like a five-year project at the University of California, Berkeley, which seeks to uncover factors that can affect the occurrence and severity of fungal infections. Research is also underway to reduce their spread and strengthen food security. The WHO issued a new report in April indicating the need for faster, more reliable, and cheaper testing methods, particularly in low- in middle-income countries, where fungal threats are an especially troublesome public health concern. Supporting pro-environment policies that not only invest in research and development to address these threats but also prioritize and center the marginalized groups disproportionately impacted by fungal infections will be key to meaningful solutions. Fungal spread could be managed in residential areas with natural fungicides. And at home, individuals can reduce some risks by practicing hygiene, properly drying skin, and strengthening their immune systems to fight infection. But since Aspergillus and other fungi could continue to pose global threats, it's global health solutions — including the mitigation of human-caused climate change — that will be most needed. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
The mystery of ‘zombie ants': How a mind-controlling fungus hijacks nature
A fascinating and eerily sophisticated biological puppet show unfolds deep in tropical forests worldwide. The star is Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a parasitic fungus that transforms carpenter ants into 'zombies,' manipulating them with remarkable precision to ensure its survival. The process begins when an unsuspecting ant encounters a fungal spore. The spore penetrates the ant's protective exoskeleton using a combination of enzymes and pressure. Once inside, the fungus begins its insidious takeover, spreading throughout the ant's body while carefully avoiding its brain. What happens next is both fascinating and disturbing. The infected ant abandons its normal behaviour and colony responsibilities, entering what scientists call the 'zombie phase.' As reported by The Atlantic, the fungus compels the ant to climb 'exactly 25 centimeters above the forest floor, no more and no less' — a height that provides optimal conditions for fungal growth. The ant then clamps its jaws onto a leaf vein in a death grip, where it remains until its final moments. The fungus's manipulation of its host is extraordinarily precise despite its lack of a brain or nervous system. Recent research has revealed surprising insights into how this control is achieved. According to the Library of Congress, researchers discovered that rather than attacking the brain directly, the fungus appears to control the ant's muscles. The fungus grows around the brain while infiltrating every other part of the ant's body, suggesting a sophisticated method of behavioural control that scientists are still working to understand. A post shared by Inside History (@insidehistory) The Atlantic reports an even more remarkable finding: the fungal cells work cooperatively, forming a complex network within the ant's body. As Pennsylvania State University entomologist David Hughes's research revealed, the fungal cells connect through specialised tubes, allowing them to 'communicate and exchange nutrients.' This network essentially turns the fungus into a colonial organism, much like the ants it parasitises. The grand finale of this biological horror show occurs when a fungal stalk erupts from the dead ant's head, releasing spores onto unsuspecting ants below. This strategic positioning ensures the cycle continues, as the spores rain down on foraging trails used by the ant's former nestmates. Despite its terrifying efficiency in controlling ants, O. unilateralis faces its own challenges. The Library of Congress notes that this fungus has its own parasites — hyperparasites like Niveomyces coronatus and Torrubiellomyces zombiae that may help keep its lethal effects in check, preventing it from completely decimating ant populations.
Scientific American
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scientific American
Behind the Scenes on the Science of The Last of Us
Behavioral ecologist David Hughes, who consulted on the video game that inspired the hit TV show The Last of Us, speaks about how our experience with the COVID pandemic changed the way we relate to zombie fiction By & Nature magazine The year was 2013, and the release of a hotly anticipated zombie-apocalypse video game was on the horizon. The game, called The Last of Us, invited players to explore what then seemed a fanciful scenario: a world devastated by a pandemic in which a pathogen kills millions of people. Unlike in many apocalypse fictions, the pathogen responsible wasn't a bacterium or a virus, but a fungus called Cordyceps that infects humans and takes over their brains. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. The writers at game studio Naughty Dog, based in Santa Monica, California, were inspired by real fungi — particularly Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, known as the zombie-ant fungus. The fungus infects insects and releases chemicals into the animals' brains to change their behaviour. Ahead of the game's release, Naughty Dog turned to scientists, including behavioural ecologist David Hughes, a specialist in zombie-ant fungi (he named one after his wife), to field questions from the media about the fungal and pandemic science that inspired the story. Hughes, who is at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, has since moved to studying climate change and food security. The Last of Us spawned a sequel game in 2020 and a critically acclaimed television show, the second season of which concludes on 25 May on HBO. Hughes spoke to Nature about his experience consulting on the game and why COVID-19 changed our appetite for zombies. What was your involvement with the game? Naughty Dog studios asked me and a few other people who were notable in this space, including psychologists, to talk about whether we could have a global pandemic. Of course, in the intervening period, we all learnt that the answer was yes. They asked us to go around Europe and do a series of lectures to stave off critique and provide support to the idea that infections that jump from one species into another — zoonotic infections — are not only possible, but actually they're the predominant mechanism by which humans are infected with new parasites that cause disease. I had the good fortune to go to the studios and see the artistry that was involved, and meet the team and the voice actors of the video game. What did you make of the science in the game? I was really impressed by how much the game's writers got into the science of it and started to understand things like fungi and slime moulds, and just trying to think about the ways in which these organisms do their business. They really took it by themselves and incorporated those elements into the game. I think they were even mail-ordering slime moulds so they could just leave it out on a petri dish and examine it. And you see that throughout the game. And now in the TV programme, in the intros, they have these slime balls. The writers were geeky, and understanding fungi is not complex, so they ran with it. Did you play the games? I tried and I failed miserably! I'm just a typical hopeless scientist. Is the idea of a Cordyceps pandemic realistic? It is not unrealistic that fungi can infect humans if they come from animals. It is unrealistic to think that they could cause the behavioural changes in humans. The writers took liberties. They had different stages about how the infection changes over time. That's all fanciful, of course. Looking at the second season of the TV show, it was interesting that they have this communicative nature of the spores or the fungal hyphae. That's interesting because we know fungi are connected like that over many kilometres — for example, the mycorrhizal fungi, which are underneath root systems in trees, do that effectively. Have you been impressed by the science in the TV show? I often find that's the wrong question, because I dont think the job of the entertainment industry is to impress scientists. Scientists are highly problematic individuals. It's called the Carl Sagan effect. The more you popularize science, the less good your science is. It's an inverse relationship. I think it doesn't really matter. Science belongs to society, and people should tell stories about that. And, you know, snooty scientists saying, 'Oh, you didn't get this exactly right,' — like, who cares? What was your reaction when the COVID-19 pandemic happened? I told you so! In The Last of Us lectures, I talk about the same thing. I said, the problem is not whether we'll have zombie-ant fungi manipulating humans. It's not going to happen. The problem is if we lose 5% of our population, and the global economy shuts down, which we saw. Do you think the COVID-19 pandemic changed our appetite for zombie-apocalypse media? It's very interesting. You build a game about a dystopian future based on a pandemic, you live through a pandemic, and then what's the relevance of the game or the movie? I think our appetite for being scared by pandemics has receded because we all have PTSD. Or, we don't have PTSD and realized that some of us just don't care about other people. So it's interesting to look at the history of zombie lore. Back in the 1950s and 60s, it was all about nuclear weapons, because we were all collectively fearful of that. And then it moved into diseases, because we had an over-populated society. Then we had a pandemic, and we shrugged and moved on. So the fascinating thing is, The Last of Us is nice, but it's not what it used to be. first published on May 23, 2025.
National Geographic
09-05-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
The surprising real world uses of zombie fungi
Parasitic fungi have adapted to hijack some insects and nourish others. By learning their secrets, we may be able to use them to attack harmful pests. Even the largest insect bodies offer no refuge from parasitic fungi. This cicada, now a husk, has been consumed by a fungus. The specimen is part of the growing collection curated by mycologist João Araújo at the University of Copenhagen, where researchers are uncovering the immense diversity—and potential—of these microorganisms. Photographs by Roberto García-Roa Zombie fungi have become notorious in pop culture and from videos of them bursting through ants, but it's time for their redemption arc. Scientists know very little about how zombie fungi work, but they and closely related fungi could help farmers kill costly pests like mealybugs and aphids. These pests are wreaking increasing havoc on the world's crops as climate change helps pests spread. João Araújo, a mycologist at the University of Copenhagen, wants to learn more about these mysterious, parasitic fungi in the hopes of one day using them as a precision weapon against some of the world's most nefarious farm pests. Armed with a new 1.2 million-euro grant from Villum Fonden, a Danish foundation that funds scientific research, and a team of collaborators located around the world in fungi hotspots from Brazil to Borneo, Araújo is ready to plumb the depths of tropical forests to collect as many infected insects as he can. He'll document and sequence their genomes to search for signs of fungal invaders, research that could pioneer a new way of killing dangerous pests from the inside out. Clinging to a leaf in the Peruvian Amazon, a moth becomes host to a fungal takeover. Ophiocordyceps humberti, an entomopathogenic fungus, erupts from the insect's lifeless form in slender filaments known as stromata. Lepidopterans—moths and butterflies—are among the most frequent victims of these silent forest parasites. Zombie fungi (a kind of Ophiocordyceps) have a morbid reputation for a reason. The fungus infects an ant and lies in wait, silently unleashing biochemical warfare. When environmental conditions are right, the fungus compels the infected insect to climb high, to where the light is just right (often at noon), latch onto a leaf, and wait for the fungi to shoot a fruiting body out of the ant's head, releasing spores that find new hosts and continue the cycle. Many ants can be infected at the same time. 'The creepy thing is, they congregate together, so we get these graveyards,' said Charissa de Bekker, a mycologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands not working with Araujo. 'We don't really know why.' Evolution has uniquely paired each species of zombie fungus with a single species of insect. This relationship is mostly seen in ants, but a group of scientists, including Araújo, recently learned that fungi can create zombie spiders and wasps. 'Zombification of arthropods by fungi might be more common and diverse than we think,' Araújo said. But in 2018, scientists uncovered a secret: sometime in the past, some Ophiocordyceps made an evolutionary one-eighty and became an asset for their host, supplying them with amino acids instead of filling their heads with fungus. It's this surprising ability to switch from parasite to symbiont that's at the heart of Araújo's research. If the host insect is a pest, like an aphid, killing the fungi would kill the insect. Farm managers could apply a fungicide that would only target the fungus, leaving other organisms untouched. Preserved within the Natural History Museum of Denmark, this ant carries the legacy of one of the most iconic fungi ever documented: the Ophiocordyceps 'zombie-ant fungus'. First noted by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859, the fungus infiltrates the nervous system of ants, compelling them to climb to elevated perches—ideal launch points for its infectious spores. 'The same fungal linage can be a host-killing parasite and a nutritional symbiont,' Araújo said. 'This is really mind-blowing.' But this tool will require years of research to develop. There are at least 320 species of Ophiocordyceps; not even two dozen of those have been studied in detail, and scientists are still learning how those work. How would it work? Aphids, so-called sap-sucking insects, began relying on symbiotic bacteria to get essential nutrients and proteins from plants at least 300 million years ago. At some point after that, their bacterial partners were replaced with Ophiocordyceps. But the fungi didn't kill them. Instead, they were helpful symbionts. 'Without these symbionts, the insects die,' Araújo said. His idea is simple: kill the fungus, kill the pest. The perfect weapon, designed by nature and time. Because Ophiocordyceps aren't immune to being invaded by other parasitic fungi, researchers could theoretically use parasitic fungi to kill the beneficial fungi, which were once parasitic themselves. 'It's parasites all the way down,' de Bekker said. Doing so would skip the use of chemical fungicides and insecticides, which can degrade soil health and pollute nearby bodies of water. Another option could be siccing zombie fungi on problematic insects. This is appealing in part because each fungus can only attack one species, reducing the likelihood of unintended ecological effects. True bugs (Hemiptera) benefit from fungi. They survive on sap, a nutrient source rich in sugar and water but critically deficient in amino acids. To compensate, Hemiptera rely on symbiotic relationships—typically with bacteria—that synthesize the essential amino acids they need to survive. In some cases, Ophiocordyceps fungi have replaced these bacterial symbionts. The texture of a leaf blends seamlessly with the protrusions formed by a fungus from the Akanthomyces group along the dorsal section of a moth. Frozen in time after its final flight, the moth remains completely adhered to the last leaf that witnessed it alive. Early results for fungi attacking pests are promising. Spores from Cordyceps, closely related to Ophiocordyceps, reduced the lifespans and reproduction in mealybugs, which invade cotton fields. They inhibited larval development of diamondback moths, which cause billions of dollars of damages to cruciferous crops such as broccoli. Cordyceps has also shown potential in fighting whiteflies, aphids, caterpillars, spider mites, and other insects. But these findings were in laboratories. To use zombie fungi and their relatives to our advantage in the real world, scientists have to understand how they work, and there's a long way to go. We know what fungi do, but very little about how they do it. 'Everything we have currently is just hypotheses,' de Bekker said. Caught between life and decay, this grasshopper, discovered in Peru's Tambopata rainforest, was overtaken by a fungus. A long exposure photography emulates the invisible effect of the wind that helps spread the fungal life cycle from one host to the next. Araújo's new grant will explore the diverse world of both parasitic and beneficial Ophiocordyceps fungi in sap-sucking insects found near agricultural sites like coffee, maize, and beans. 'We need more studies on biodiversity … of these fungi to develop smarter ways to fight climate change impacts,' he said. 'We just have the tip of the iceberg.' He and his team will spend at least 10 months scouring tropical forests for insects, starting with Brazil, Kenya, Borneo, and Japan, collecting as many specimens as they can. Once back in the lab in the Netherlands, they'll sequence the DNA of all the fungi found in each insect, checking for the presence of the beneficial fungi. They will then sequence each fungus' genome, searching for clues into when and why these fungi evolved a beneficial relationship with the insect, and how it works. From the dense undergrowth of Peru's Tambopata rainforest, a fly becomes the launchpad for one of nature's most specialized entomopathogenic fungi: Ophiocordyceps dipterigena. This fungus hijacks the fly's behavior, guiding it to a spot ideal for fungal development. After the insect's death, its body gives rise to spore-bearing structures that rupture into the air—releasing microscopic agents of infection in search of the next host. 'I think this project will very substantially advance our knowledge on how these symbiotic systems evolve," said Piotr Łukasik, an evolutionary ecologist at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow who is collaborating with Araújo on the new grant. 'It's a massive field for discovery.' The project could also help pest managers respond more quickly to new insect invasions. Scientists could look at where the insect originally came from and check for symbiotic fungi, which they could then target in the insect's invasive range. Araújo expects his project to lay the foundations for entirely new forms of pest control. 'We could have much more efficient strategies to control only the pests we want to,' he said. 'To do that, we need this exploratory work.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists uncover previously unknown 'zombie ants' in incredible outback discovery
We can now add fungi-controlled ants to the list of creatures roaming around Australia. A fungus not yet known to modern science was recently discovered in a remote savannah in the Northern Territory, and its parasitic ability to infect ants with its spores and takeover its host has left scientists dubbing the incredible natural phenomenon as creating "zombie ants". Dr François Brassard, a myrmecologist (someone who specialises in the study of ants) and postdoc researcher with The University of Western Australia, made the discovery and told Yahoo News he was "very excited to find these parasitised ants". The fungus, he explained, takes over an ant's body in order to complete its life cycle. "Spores will first infect an ant and, over the course of a few weeks, take control of the ant's body. It will then make the ant climb a piece of vegetation which the ant will then grip in its mandibles. This 'death-grip' is the ant's last act, as it soon dies in that position." Soon after, the ant becomes a meal. "The fungus will then consume the ant to accumulate enough energy to grow a fruiting body, which will then rain down spores on other unsuspecting ants," Dr Brassard told Yahoo. "The reason why the fungi make ants climb vegetation to then clamp the underside of leaves is because it is a strategic position to 'shoot' spores on more ant targets." 🐬 Hundreds of Aussies catch glimpse of heartbreaking sight off coast 🕷️ Incredible native spider faces extinction only two years after discovery 🦤 Once common Aussie bird among 21 new species facing extinction It was upon finding lots of dead ants on a recent Bush Blitz exhibition, a nationwide project focused on cataloguing the country's biodiversity, that Dr Brassard realised he'd stumbled onto something so unique. He took samples back to the university to show his colleague Sherie Bruce. Initial research by Bruce suggests the fungi, called Ophiocordyceps, is a new discovery as "there are no records of the spiny savanna ant being infected by [this fungus]" as far as the team are aware. "The parasite fungi could potentially be controlling the populations of this very common ant. However, the fungi may be quite rare or it could just be rarely noticed! Further studies could evaluate its prevalence and impact on ants and local ecosystems," Dr Brassard said. "Sherie and I are both determined and excited to figure this out." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
