The Last Of US depicts the horrors of an apocalypse and what humans are capable of doing to survive. Although the series is a work of fiction, it used a real-life fungus, Cordyceps, as a plot device. Here's what you need to know about it!
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In the early episodes of The Last Of US, the cause of the fungal pandemic was explored, and many people were freaked out by the possibility of a real-life outbreak. Fortunately, the chances of that happening are only in fiction.
In an interview with the specialist in fungi Elisandro Ricardo Drechsler dos Santos, physician and researcher from mycology at UFSC, it was explained by him, if we are immune to Cordyceps and if the elements of the series do sense.
Before delving into the subject further, it is important to note that humans are deeply connected to various forms of life, including plants, animals, bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Elisandro Ricardo, the doctor and mycology researcher, explained that we are in total interaction with these organisms present in our daily lives. “From bread for breakfast, to orange juice in the afternoon, to wine in the evening. Not to mention the medicines and cosmetics that have been produced through the use of fungal biotechnology.”
The biologist also cited penicillin as an example. Although it is now made synthetically, it was originally derived from the Penicillium genus of fungi.
In parallel with The Last Of US, scientists in the first episode mention penicillin, and in the eighth episode, Ellie uses the drug to heal Joel's wound. “That same fungus that produces this antibiotic is dispersed in the air, potentially contaminating food and people.
But Penicillium can also be used in the production of cheese, such as gorgonzola”, explains Dr. Elisandro Ricardo.
With the success of The Last Of US, Cordyceps took on new meaning in the public imagination. In fact, there was an increase in Google searches for the name of the fungus the week the series was released by HBO.
According to Dr. Elisandro Ricardo, there are several types of Cordyceps, classified as entomopathogens, which are fungi that parasitize living beings and carry out the process of zombification.
This involves the fungus controlling the infected host until it reaches a high place (usually on branches and plants) where the insect dies, allowing the fungus to grow and spread spores in search of new victims to infect.
It's a perfect suit to fit into an apocalypse story.
