Insects and other arthropods are infected by the parasite fungus cordyceps. Once inside the host’s body, the fungus takes over and begins to manipulate its gesture.

Take A Look What Research Says About Cordyceps:

In 2023, researchers uncovered new perceptivity into the creepy world of fungi that transfigure insects into “ Zombies”. Carolyn Elya, a molecular biologist at Havard along with her co-workers, demonstrated that the fungus Entomophthora masque may secrete substances into the hemolymph of fruit canvases, allowing it to manipulate their neurons.  

 Is it possible for Cordyceps to evolve to infect humans?  

In “The Last of Us,” cordyceps develop the ability to infect people by contaminating food. It’s suitable to wipe out a large portion of the population in a matter of days.

Is A Cordyceps epidemic possible? 

We formerly faced covid 19. During the height of the epidemic, cases with covid 19 were occasionally presented with fungal conditions. In 2022, researchers will analyze cases of “mucormycosis,” which is caused by black fungus in 18 nations. No invertebrate cordyceps hosts exist, and an evolutionary path going there would presumably bear knockouts hundreds of times. Other brain modifying or brain enwrapping pathogens do live,  still similar to rabies contagion, maybe the most typical. Cordyceps is doubtful to reduce humanity’s figures by a billion. But we should be prepared.

“ The Last Of Us ”  

If you’re a movie-series nut you must have heard this name. The videotape game “The Last Of Us” served as the inspiration for the series. numerous videotape games, comics,  television shows, and pictures have done the whole “post-apocalyptic Zombie ” thing but many have done better than The Last Of Us. From the violent prologue to the astounding and provoking conclusion. One of the unique elements of The Last Of Us is its capability to tell an intimate and grand story in a way that feels constantly organic and compelling. Conforming a videotape game into a television series has historically been a challenge. Joel and a girl named Ellie are the subjects of The Last of Us. The series opens dramatically as television news shows that a viral outbreak is ruining the country,  transubstantiation normal humans into hyperactive-aggressive brutes dubbed simply “ the infected ”. Joel and his daughter Sarah are reunited with her uncle Tommy. propositions attempt to flee their home as people die, fires burn, and the Army mobilizes. In the chaos, their jeep crashes and Joel carries Sarah as they try to escape on foot. They come across a dogface who receives orders to shoot them. Joel exits from the struggle without major injuries, but Sarah has been shot in the stomach. Joel tries to save her but she dies tragically in his arms. also comes the story of Ellie. Joel and Ellie faced numerous incidents. At last, they reach the fireflies through numerous hurdles. A must-watch to know the rest of the intriguing story outside!

The real world alleviation for The Last Of Us  

The life cycle of Ophiocordyceps is horrible but beautiful. Ants that come into contact with Ophiocordyceps spores on the jungle bottom come infected. Once within the ant’s body, the fungus begins to proliferate. It starts manipulating the ant. The process is largely specific. One species of Ophiocordyceps typically infects and zombies a single species of ant. This particularity extends to the way the fungus takes over the mind of its host. Since the release of The Last of Us in 2013, our understanding of the fungus in the real world has grown as well. 

The journey of Cordyceps from video game horror to real-world biology is a fascinating story of how nature’s complexities can inspire imagination. The fungal genus has shaped not only our understanding of parasitism and evolutionary strategy but also sparked deeper conversations about the potential for medicinal fungi in human health. Though the idea of a Cordyceps apocalypse remains firmly in the realm of fiction, the very real science behind this parasitic fungus offers us insight into the bizarre and sometimes chilling mechanisms of the natural world.

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Writer, 

Piash Mahmud

Intern, 

Content Writing Department

YSSE.