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The REAL science behind the TV show The Last of Us

If you’ve been watching HBO’s The Last Of Us, you might be wondering how real the threat of fungal infection is.

30 March 2023•1 minute read

The fungus which causes the pandemic in The Last of Us is based on the real-life Cordyceps zombie fungus that infects insects. Insects infected with Cordyceps have little control of their actions as the fungus takes over their nervous system before eventually growing out of their bodies.

Fortunately for us, a fast-spreading fungal pandemic is pretty unlikely – but this doesn’t mean fungi aren’t still a concern, says Dr Rebecca Drummond.

Featured staff

  • Dr Rebecca A Drummond

    Birmingham Fellow

    Rebecca Drummond is a fungal immunologist researching mechanisms of immunity that protect us from fungal pathogens, such as Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.

    Phone: +44 (0)121 414 3006
    Email: r.drummond@bham.ac.uk

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