January 11th 2025.
It's no secret that most fungi are not fans of hot temperatures. With the current wildfires ravaging California, there's a chance that something else could be spreading without anyone even realizing it - fungus spores. This may sound like something out of a post-apocalyptic zombie thriller, but in HBO's hit show The Last of Us, a mutated version of a real-world fungus has infected humans and turned them into zombie-like beings covered in mushrooms. While this may be a terrifying concept, experts assure us that the chances of this happening in real life are extremely slim.
However, just because fungi may not turn us into zombies doesn't mean they don't pose a risk to humanity. In fact, as climate change continues to escalate, the possibility of a fungal pandemic becomes more and more likely. Dr. Martin Hoenigl, an expert on fungal pathogens, explains that events like the LA wildfires could potentially lead to the spread of fungal infections. He notes that disasters like these can facilitate the transmission of fungal diseases by spreading fungal pathogens through wind or wildfire smoke.
Fungi reproduce by releasing microscopic spores, which can cause infections if inhaled or if they find their way into the bloodstream through direct skin contact. However, transmission between humans is rare as our body temperature is too hot for most fungi to survive. Unfortunately, large-scale wildfires have become more frequent in recent years, allowing soil-dwelling fungus spores to hitch a ride on wildfire smoke and travel thousands of miles. This has led to a rise in fungal infections, such as valley fever, in areas affected by wildfires.
As the planet continues to warm and humans continue to rely on fossil fuels, scientists predict that fungal pathogens will thrive in the warmer climate. The heat acts as a catalyst for the evolution of fungal pathogens, making them more infectious and able to reach more people. Dr. Hoenigl explains that as fungi adapt to the increasing temperatures, they become a greater threat to humans.
One example of this is Candida auris, a dangerous fungal infection that has become resistant to most drugs. It has gained the ability to infect people due to the warmer temperatures caused by climate change. And as if that wasn't concerning enough, researchers have found that fungi have the ability to adapt and tolerate higher temperatures in a short amount of time. One study found that an insect-killing fungus was able to withstand temperatures of 36.6°C in just two months, a significant increase from its original tolerance of 32°C.
But despite their ability to adapt, fungi also seem to have a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to life. Take cordyceps, for example, the ghoulish mushroom that takes over ants and was the inspiration behind The Last of Us. Fossil evidence suggests that this species has been hijacking ant bodies for millions of years. So why would they suddenly switch to targeting humans? According to Dr. Rebecca Drummond, a fungal immunologist, this is highly unlikely. She explains that fungi are well adapted to their insect hosts and it's unlikely that we will see a major shift like in The Last of Us.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
