Meet the Zombie Ant Fungus That Inspired HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’

A 2017 study printed within the Proceedings of the Nationwide Academy of Sciences discovered that it is potential the ant’s mind is not concerned in the entire course of in any respect. The paper discovered that because the fungus grows contained in the ant’s physique, its cells create an interconnected community of fibers that just about fully fill the physique cavity of the host ant — and it’s that community that’s more than likely coordinating the ant’s actions. Utilizing AI they found it is potential the fungus did not have to enter the ant’s mind in any respect in an effort to manipulate the insect’s head, thorax, stomach and legs.

“We discovered {that a} excessive proportion of the cells in a bunch had been fungal cells,” mentioned David Hughes, lead creator of the research and affiliate professor of entomology and biology at Penn State, in a press release. “In essence, these manipulated animals had been a fungus in ants’ clothes.”

Just about all the pieces however the mind is fully taken over by fungal cells. Which leads the researchers to imagine that the fungus may be preserving the mind for a purpose — maybe in an effort to assist the ant to outlive till it may possibly carry out its last “demise chunk.”

One other 2017 paper co-authored by Hughes an printed within the journal Plos One, explored genes that appear to permit Ophiocordyceps to activate totally different genes throughout the day and night time to manage its ant host.

Though these findings are compelling, it is nonetheless not crystal clear what is going on on between Ophiocordyceps and its victims. What is evident is that it will be extraordinarily troublesome for a fungus to begin hijacking human our bodies in the best way Ophiocordyceps has its method with ants. No less than we now have this small consolation.