The latest series “The Last of Us” starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay is an adaptation of the popular game of the same title. According to many reviewers, it is one of the best productions of this type, which not only honors the plot of the original, but also perfectly develops the threads omitted in the game. Besides, the creator of the original worked on the series together with the creator responsible for the famous “Chernobyl”. The story here is about a world where Ophiocordyceps mushrooms get into food and change people into their carriers. In a few days, all civilization as we know it disappears.
The mushrooms from “The Last of Us” are real. Do they threaten people? Translator expert
In a few hours, the host becomes an aggressive zombie that attacks other people to spread spores. In the series, infection occurs through a bite or mushroom shreds that come out of the throat of an infected victim.
Cordyceps really exists, and as Professor Marta Wrzosek from the Botanical Garden of the University of Warsaw told us, cordyceps come from South Asia, where many of its species can be found. However, the hosts of fungi are always invertebrates such as ants, wasps and spiders. – The effect of the fungus on the nervous system of invertebrates is fascinating. The infected ant first starts to move a bit clumsily, climbs onto the leaf – usually it is about 30 centimeters above the ground – bites its mandibles into the central nerve of the leaf and dies. It is very interesting that the bite occurs at the moment when the fungus is able to spread the muscles that serve the mandible. Then external forms of reproduction begin to form and, hanging on the leaf, the ant is a source of infection for those that pass under the leaf, she told the radio.
However, he reassures us that the scenario from the TV series “The Last of Us” does not threaten us. There are several reasons. First: “The fungus reproduces by spores. Therefore, such a zombie would have to be immobilized by the fungus, produce spores externally – the spores would probably spread with the wind – and then there would actually be a chance of infection” – explained the mycologist. Secondly, in the series and the game, the creators combine various scientific discoveries very freely and in such a way that it would not be possible in nature. Wrzosek told Anna Piekutowska:
What makes me laugh is the combination of everything with everything. There are a lot of threads based on scientific discoveries, but they are connected in a completely arbitrary way.
She also pointed out the funniest scene in this respect: “At one point, we are traveling with the heroes through some basements. And in the light of a flashlight, we see a zombie attached to the wall with mushroom rhizoids. layer of mycelium – ed.). It looks spectacular. It’s a very clever combination of three completely different organisms.” In an interview with she emphasized:
There is one scene where we see a zombie growing into a wall. It’s actually three separate organisms masquerading as one: Ophiocordyceps, polypore, and the whole thing is surrounded by slime slime, which isn’t even a fungus.
In the series, the creators explain the invasion of the deadly fungus by, among others, that the air temperature has risen. This facilitated the growth of the fungus. But Professor Wrzosek reassures that even if the climate warmed up enough that the air temperature would correspond to the temperature of the human body, there would be only one less barrier for the fungus to overcome: “There are still thousands of other barriers that would have to change in the fungus” – explains the mycologist and adds that each of these changes would require a separate mutation. He also notes that people are already eating this mushroom:
Many people eat Cordyceps in supplements. He eats spores and nobody got hurt because of it. We don’t get infected by eating supplements.
Prof. Marta Wrzosek pointed out that there are other fungi, much more dangerous for humans, such as Candida auris, which can be infected in a hospital, e.g. during catheterization. “It is not entirely clear where it evolved. This fungus is very difficult to treat and has a very high mortality rate” – she told TOK FM, and in an interview with natemat.pl she added: “The infection does not pass from person to person, as in the case of viruses. We can “catch” it from medical equipment that hasn’t been properly disinfected. This fungus is very persistent and the usual remedies won’t work on it.”
When is the next episode of The Last of Us?
The premiere of the first episode of “The Last of Us” in Poland took place on Monday, January 16. On the air of the HBO channel, viewers could watch it at 20.10, and people using the HBO Max platform could do it from the morning. The next episodes are broadcast according to the same pattern: the episode goes to the VOD website at night, and in the evening it is broadcast on TV. The first season consists of nine episodes. Although there are no official confirmations yet, based on how popular the production is, it can be assumed that another season will be created.
Source: Gazeta
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
