WE all love sitting down and enjoying our favourite TV show of an evening.
And for many of us, that’s been in the form of The Last of Us, a show that depicts a post-apocalyptic world where society has collapsed due to a fungal infection.
GettyThe fungus in the Last of Us is based on the real-life Cordyceps zombie fungus that infects insects[/caption]
HBOThe Last of Us might be a work of fiction, but experts have said infections like the one in the show could be a real concern[/caption]
The infection is a brain-controlling illness that turns humans into hostile, cannibalistic zombies.
But it’s not just the work of fiction and now one expert has said there is reason to be concerned.
Writing in The Conversation, professor in immunology and immunotherapy at the University of Birmingham, Rebecca Drummond explained that the fungus is actually based on the real-life Cordyceps zombie fungus that infects insects.
Insects that are infected have little control over their actions with the fungus taking over their nervous systems.
This then eventually grows out of their bodies.
Prof Drummond said a fast-spreading fungal pandemic is ‘pretty unlikely’ – but this doesn’t mean fungi aren’t still a concern.
That’s because it’s estimated that there are around three million different species of fungi.
The expert said that developing drugs to treat these infections is ‘tricky’.
“Fungi share similar biochemistry to our own bodies. The rise of drug-resistant fungi also puts us at threat.
“It’s clear more attention needs to be given to the potential dangers of fungi before it’s too late.”
She added that medics are less able to treat fungal infections compared to other types of infections as there are fewer antifungals.
“Although fungal infections are unlikely to cause a worldwide pandemic or zombie apocalypse, there’s still reason to be concerned.
“The number of people becoming ill with a serious fungal infections has been steadily rising over the last half century,” she said.
Prof Drummond said the the bug in The Last of Us, Cordyceps, is not adapted to grow at our internal body temperature.
“Nor is it able to contend with our immune system (which is far more advanced than that of an insect’s) to infect both our brain and nervous system at the same time. It would take many thousands of years of evolution for it to overcome this,” she said.
GLOBAL THREAT
But Prof Drummond highlighted other fungal issues that could pose the next global threat.
Serious fungal infections can spread from the lungs into other organs – including the brain, she said.
Fungal brain infection are among the most lethal and are caused by Cryptococcus neoforman, which can cause cryptococcal meningitis.
Data shows that around 100,000 people die from the illness each year, with no other fungal infection causing more deaths in humans.
The expert explained that the infection happens when a person with a defective immune system – usually caused by Aids – inhales the fungal spores.
“The fungus escapes the lungs and gets into the brain – although exactly how this happens isn’t well understood. Once in the brain, infected patients experience symptoms such as severe headache, fever, vision problems and seizures,” Prof Drummond said.
She added that the drugs are expensive and even when you can get them – they can also become resistant.
‘EXTREMELY CONCERNING’
Prof Drummond also warned against growing cases of Candida yeast.
She said the fungus Candida auris is ‘extremely concerning’ as it’s resistant to nearly all antifungal drugs.
“It can spread rapidly around hospitals and care homes, causing serious infections in people with weak immune systems.
“These infections are a bit like sepsis, where the fungus gets into the blood and organs, preventing them from working properly.”
But what really makes Candida auris stand out is its ability to grow at higher temperatures – able to withstand up to 42C, she said.
One of the characters in The Last of Us suggests that climate change is likely to present new problems for fungal infections.
And Prof Drummond said rising temperatures could mean that fungi must adapt, in turn increasing the number of species which can cause serious infections in humans.
She added that this might also be happening with the emergency of Candida auris in three continents almost simultaneously with researchers theorising the warming global climate may have contributed to its rise.
“Whether further global temperature increases leads to more dangerous fungal super-bugs remains to be seen,” she added.
Experts also last year found a zombie virus that had been trapped under a frozen lake for 50,000 years.
More deadly viruses could be unleashed as permafrost melts in higher temperatures, disease experts have warned.
A team of medical boffins from Aix-Marseille University uncovered the ancient “pandoravirus” in melting permafrost in Siberia, Russia.
The disease – found trapped beneath a lake bed in Yakutia for 48,500 years – is believed to be the oldest “live” virus to be recovered so far.
It infects single-cell organisms and isn’t believed to pose a threat to humans, experts said.