It is a matter of curiosity whether the Cordyceps fungus, which is in The Last of Us, which attracts attention with both its series and games, and which turns insects into zombies in real life, will one day affect people.
Launched by Naughty Dog in 2013, The Last of Us drew attention with its remarkable story and gameplay, as well as its unusual zombie designs. At game clicker We have seen this type of zombie, called this type of zombie, both in the second game and in the series of the same name, which was broadcast on BluTV recently.
Well these weird looking and pretty scary zombies Could it really happen one day? Today we will look for an answer to this question together.
Let’s first take a look at the zombies in the game and their stories:
This type of zombie, called “clicker” in the game, appears in South America in 2013 (in Indonesia in 2003 in the series), according to the game’s story. existing in real life This fungus, which is a mutated type of Cordyceps fungus (popularly known as zombie fungus), can infect people and turns them into creatures you see in 4 mutation stages.
In the first stage, individuals who are bitten or inhale the spores of the fungus become extremely aggressive within a few days and lose the ability to act consciously. The second phase starts a few weeks later and the entire body of the individuals is covered with fungus from the head. Individuals at this stage gradually losing their eyesight and it is permanently under the control of the fungus. It should also be noted that clickers at this stage are the most harmless type of clickers we’ve seen in the early game.
Clickers, who entered the third stage after about a year, gradually became like bats and dolphins. begin to use echolocation. Clickers who “see” using sound waves click their jawbones, which mutate to make these sounds. Reaching the fourth and final stage is a very difficult process and these creatures reach the final stage in about 10 years. At this stage, the body of the zombies is completely covered with fungus, and even if they die, their bodies the fungi continue to grow and spread their spores and infects people around.
This fungus, which infects people in the game, turns ants into zombies in real life.
The interesting thing is that the Cordyceps mushroom, which caused the emergence of these zombies, which we saw both in the series and in The Last of Us Part 1 and 2. exists in real life. But you don’t have to worry because this mushroom is real life does not infect humans.
This fungus, which targets ants, is actually very similar to what we see in games and mutates in almost the same ways. It is transmitted to ants with the help of spores and located in the brain stem After maturation, this fungus controls the movements of ants with enzymes and after directing it to the most suitable environment for the reproduction of the fungus kills them and begins to spread their spores for their next victim.
There are many species of this fungus, but all species almost equally target ants, flies, and similar insect species. trying to reproduce using it as a host.
When we look at the researches about this mushroom type, one name draws attention. Disease biologist and professor of biology David P. Hughes. He is an expert on Cordyceps fungi and similar infections, and joined the Naughty Dog team in the first game. A name who has consulted on Cordyceps mushrooms.
In an article he published in 2019, Hughes states that humanity has struggled with various types of evolved fungi for centuries, but these fungi are usually simple species such as athlete’s foot. He also reminded that some fungi can mutate within 50 to 150 years, and that the Cordyceps mushroom It is not impossible for it to become contagious to humans. states.
However, Hughes said that even if this type of fungus actually infects humans one day, they may not turn into aggressive zombie-like creatures as we see in the game. Instead, individuals infected by the Cordyceps fungus, like ants and other insects, move their hosts to suitable breeding environments. killed there It will try to complete the reproductive cycle.
So one day Cordyceps mushrooms may infect humans, but as we saw in the game It is unlikely that there will be a zombie epidemic. Even in the old Chinese Empire times of Cordyceps mushrooms, kidney problems, in the treatment of lung diseases It has also been scientifically proven to be used to stop bleeding.
Professor David Hughes also said that preparing a cure for fungi is not easy, and that if a potential Cordyceps mutation does occur, finding a workable and approved treatment. that it may take 20 years also states.