The Strange ‘Zombie Fungus’ That Controls Its Host—And Eats It Alive

Entomophthora Muscae News

The Strange ‘Zombie Fungus’ That Controls Its Host—And Eats It Alive
CordycepsCordyceps ZombieThe Last Of Us
  • 📰 ForbesTech
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 84 sec. here
  • 12 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 68%
  • Publisher: 59%

I am an American evolutionary biologist, based at Rutgers University, where I specialize in biodiversity, evolution, and genomics. Drop me a note, here. Thanks for your readership and support.

to be a closer-to-reality depiction of how a zombie outbreak might unfold, you aren’t alone. It may not be real enough to give you sleepless nights and ignite apocalypse contingencies, but a fungus controlling the mind of its host like a zombie to spread is very real.stand out is how effectively the fungus spreads in its vicinity. In any given room or area, the fungus can easily infectis both efficient and deadly.

At the same time, it begins to alter the fly’s behavior. The fungus subtly disrupts the fly’s normal physiology, redirecting its energy toward fungal growth while weakening its natural responses. As the fungus proliferates, it triggers “summit disease,” compelling the fly to climb to elevated positions such as plant stems, walls, or window edges.breaks through the fly’s exoskeleton, producing a fresh wave of conidia that erupt from the cadaver.

To reel in any males buzzing about, the fungus releases volatile chemicals from the bodies of infected female flies, according to a July 2022The exact nature of this deadly attraction remains unclear. One hypothesis suggests that the volatiles may mimic signals associated with food or potential mates, enticing the males to investigate further.

As the infection advances, the fly’s blood-brain barrier becomes permeable, allowing the fungus to manipulate neural circuits with even greater precision. Researchers have alsothe presence of a fungal gene much like one called ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase, or “egt”—a viral gene that compels its infected victims to climb to higher surfaces.’s biology all the more remarkable is that the fungus does not operate alone.

Entomophthora muscae’s life cycle reflects the morbid underbelly of survival and proliferation in the natural world. Some might find this creepy, while others might appreciate the ingenuity at play. Take this 2-minute quiz and find your place on theOur community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

ForbesTech /  🏆 318. in US

Cordyceps Cordyceps Zombie The Last Of Us The Last Of Us Zombie The Last Of Us Show How Does Mind-Control Work Mind-Control Parasites Mind-Control Fungus Scott Travers

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Zombie Caterpillar Fungus Could Be Used to Save Human LivesZombie Caterpillar Fungus Could Be Used to Save Human LivesThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »

Doctor Strange LEGO Sanctum Sanctorum – The Dead Strange RisesDoctor Strange LEGO Sanctum Sanctorum – The Dead Strange RisesLEGO has just unveiled their latest Marvel set at New York Comic Con with the X-Mansion from Marvel Comics. These modular replica sets have been truly remarkable, like the Spider-Man Daily Bugle, which captures the legacy of the webslinger all in one spot.
Read more »

Doctor Strange Suggests A Much Smarter Plan For Scarlet Witch In New Multiverse Of Madness VideoDoctor Strange Suggests A Much Smarter Plan For Scarlet Witch In New Multiverse Of Madness VideoDoctor Strange and the Scarlet Witch in costume in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Read more »

Guy Ritchie's Next Movie Casts Two MCU Stars & Bond GirlGuy Ritchie's Next Movie Casts Two MCU Stars & Bond GirlDoctor Strange on the street in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Read more »

A Horrific Caterpillar Fungus Might Hold Cancer-Fighting PotentialA Horrific Caterpillar Fungus Might Hold Cancer-Fighting PotentialResearchers have found that the fungus Cordyceps militaris contains a key ingredient that could be used to attack tumor cells.
Read more »

Parasitic 'Caterpillar Fungus' Extract Shows Promise As Cancer TreatmentParasitic 'Caterpillar Fungus' Extract Shows Promise As Cancer TreatmentKnown for its traditional health benefits, this remarkable fungus may hold the key to slowing cancer progression, according to research.
Read more »



Render Time: 2025-02-13 11:40:39