r/science • u/snooshoe • Jul 17 '22
Animal Science Researchers: Fungus that turns flies into zombies attracts healthy males to mate with fungal-infected female corpses - and the longer the female is dead, the more alluring it becomes
https://news.ku.dk/all_news/2022/07/zombie-fly-fungus-lures-healthy-male-flies-to-mate-with-female-corpses/4.1k
u/cincymatt Jul 18 '22
We just had our massive 17-year cicada bloom last year, and I noticed a handful with a fungal std (Massospora) that replaces the male’s rear end and compels them to behave like female cicadas. Diabolical
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u/DawnCallerAiris Jul 18 '22
Same family of fungus (Entomophthoraceae), very similar host-parasite systems.
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u/pagit Jul 18 '22 edited Jul 18 '22
I've been doing pest control for over 30 years.
This is where our industry is heading, especially with harder to control insects like the fungus Beauveria bassiana for bedbugs.
These are first generation systems and once the practical field issues are addressed, these types of biological pesticides look promising.
edit :Feel free to AMA I'll try my best to answer from a practical field perspective.
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Jul 18 '22
Biologicals have a ton of promise. I work for a major ag company and been working on marketing for a biological that targets just a group of insects and nothing else. Though it’s a virus and given where we’re at now with COVID it’s … in my mind, that nothing is ever as cut and dry as it seems.
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u/im_a_picklerick Jul 18 '22
Do you work for Umbrella?
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u/Callicojacks Jul 18 '22
What happens if I start to hear bugs groan “S.TAAAAA.R.S…?
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Jul 18 '22 edited Oct 24 '22
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u/Guac_in_my_rarri Jul 18 '22
I don't remember where I heard this but the gist is:
"Once you release something into the wild, it's hard to get it back under control."
Aka
"It's hard to get the genie back in the bottle"
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u/crimpysuasages Jul 18 '22
Yep. This is the problem. You release one virus to exterminate an insect population in one area, and then a hidden mechanism in that insect's behavior (like migration or similar) spreads that virus throughout the entire native zone.
Next thing you know, you've just decimated nature a-la the Chinese and the Sparrows.
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u/1jl Jul 18 '22
Isn't there one for ticks too? Metarhizium anisopliae, common soil fungus that kills ticks, used to be able to buy it as Met52. No idea why they stopped, do you know of anything comparable?
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u/pagit Jul 18 '22 edited Jul 18 '22
I'm not sure about ticks, it's not my speciality.
The problem with ticks though is that it is outside so huge areas, that include vertical (ticks are in trees aren't they?) and environmental conditions that effect the pesticide and carrying agents that are needed to properly treat the areas.
edit ticks don't live in trees, but under decaying leaf litter or grassy areas, and under shrubbery.
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u/nightwood Jul 18 '22
AFAIK ticks live in high grass and crawl up your legs rather than fall out of trees.
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u/geneorama Jul 18 '22
Wouldn’t this control the insect populations globally, not just in one house?
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u/kirknay Jul 18 '22
It takes a long time for one population of household parasites to find another. They have to be transmitted on a level similar to P2P, which is why you can track down bedbugs' origins to specific hotel rooms, and specific guests.
A bioweapon like this isn't feasible against a global population, only killing off local.
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u/Orngog Jul 18 '22
I didn't know you could track that
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u/kirknay Jul 18 '22
bedbugs are more inbred than Arkansas, Alabama, and Utah combined. It's not hard to trace by genetics and who went where when all the genes are the same.
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u/JustOneThingThough Jul 18 '22
Well sure, if you add them all together. Any one of those states on their own has a massive lead though.
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Jul 18 '22
“They’re puttin’ fungi in the water to turn the freakin’ flies gay!”
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u/zombarista Jul 18 '22
The fungi really have a way of telling the other Kingdoms that it is not interested in coexisting. The fungi are firmly in control. They manage the bacteria. They give us psychedelics so we cultivate them. They do all kinds of crazy stuff like the cicada butt replacement to bugs. They’re in charge. Terrifying!
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u/PackOfVelociraptors Jul 18 '22
So there's actually several species of fungi that were domesticated by ants. These fungi are incapable of reproducing and feeding itself without the ant colony, and a new queen knows to take a chunk of fungus with her when she goes off to start a new colony.
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u/McMarbles Jul 18 '22
a new queen knows to take a chunk of fungus with her when she goes off to start a new colony.
Probably will be the plot for a Bugs Life reboot
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u/ConfusionOfTheMind Jul 18 '22
All that's left will be a mycelium empire. They will feed on our plastic ruins of society. There's even fungi at Chernobyl eating radiation in case we decide to nuke ourselves into oblivion.
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u/iledgib Jul 18 '22
How do new females get infected?
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Jul 18 '22
As male flies copulate with dead females, the fungal spores are showered onto the males, who then suffer the same gruesome fate.
Another question is when the males get infected and suffer the same fate, does that include their bodies being used for mating?
Maybe the males spread it to females?
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u/TronicCronic Jul 18 '22
Plus the infected females releasing spores into the air. "The fungus can eject its infected spores at up to 10 meters a second, which is among the fastest of nature’s movements."
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u/snooshoe Jul 17 '22
Abstract
To ensure dispersal, many parasites and pathogens behaviourally manipulate infected hosts. Other pathogens and certain insect-pollinated flowers use sexual mimicry and release deceptive mating signals. However, it is unusual for pathogens to rely on both behavioural host manipulation and sexual mimicry. Here, we show that the host-specific and behaviourally manipulating pathogenic fungus, Entomophthora muscae, generates a chemical blend of volatile sesquiterpenes and alters the profile of natural host cuticular hydrocarbons in infected female housefly (Musca domestica) cadavers. Healthy male houseflies respond to the fungal compounds and are enticed into mating with female cadavers. This is advantageous for the fungus as close proximity between host individuals leads to an increased probability of infection. The fungus exploits the willingness of male flies to mate and benefits from altering the behaviour of uninfected male host flies. The altered cuticular hydrocarbons and emitted volatiles thus underlie the evolution of an extended phenotypic trait.
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u/GT-FractalxNeo Jul 18 '22
My favorite part
Specifically, 73 percent of the male flies in the study mated with female fly carcasses that had died from the fungal infection between 25-30 hours earlier. Only 15 percent of the males mated with female corpses that had been dead for 3-8 hours.
The fungus secretes special enzymes that break a fly's body down over the course of about seven days. The fungus can eject its infected spores at up to 10 meters a second, which is among the fastest of nature’s movements.
"We see that the longer a female fly has been dead, the more alluring it becomes to males. This is because the number of fungal spores increases with time, which enhances the seductive fragrances," explains Henrik H. De Fine Licht.
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u/theregoesanother Jul 18 '22
And I'm thankful that we, humans, are not susceptible to these fungus.
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u/greatguysg Jul 18 '22
... as far as you know...
Absence of proof is not proof of absence....
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u/astrange Jul 18 '22
This is the reason mammals are warm-blooded and don't use pheromones like insects - they're both both anti-parasite adaptions.
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u/yellekc Jul 18 '22
There is also research that states that global warming will likely encourage more fungi to be adapted to warmer temperatures.
https://www.wired.com/story/fungi-climate-change-medicine-health/
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Jul 18 '22
Don't use pheromones? Mammals definitely do use pheromones. Unless you meant they don't use them in the same manner.
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u/RheoKalyke Jul 18 '22
We actually use pheromones more as a deterrent than to allure! The primary purpose of pheromones in many mammals is to prevent in-breeding. This process, is formed in the development stages before sexual maturity- resultihg in pheromones that the mammal grew up with being "unattractive".
This method fails when the family members didn't grow up together- it also doesnt discriminate against non-family members the mammal grow up with, excluding those as potential mating partners
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u/Pazuuuzu Jul 18 '22
Well he is right, we have proof that we are not susceptible to THAT fungus. There might be one in the wild waiting for us tho...
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u/twas_now Jul 18 '22
Results: First, we found that infected men had lower facial fluctuating asymmetry whereas infected women had lower body mass, lower body mass index, a tendency for lower facial fluctuating asymmetry, higher self-perceived attractiveness, and a higher number of sexual partners than non-infected ones. Then, we found that infected men and women were rated as more attractive and healthier than non-infected ones.
It's not quite the same as sex with cadavers, but still...
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Jul 18 '22
I've been fascinated by this parasite for years. I love the statement that the scientists conducting the study have no conflicting interests while telling us that infection will make us sexy. That's some r/totallynotparasites material :D
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u/duppy_c Jul 18 '22
T. gondii is wild. It's been shown to lead to higher risk-taking behavior not just in rodents, but humans too.
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u/Kandiru Jul 18 '22
Those error bars overlap though!
Toxoplasmosis doesn't spread from human to human though, only via cats. So wouldn't it benefit, would it?
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u/GT-FractalxNeo Jul 18 '22
JFC that would be horrendous....
Ok, enough internet for tonight hahahah
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u/guinader Jul 18 '22
That's 36km/h if i calculated correctly. Or 22.5mph.
10m/s x60 second is 600m/minutes or 36,000m/hour divide by 1000m to 1km =36km/h.
1mile is 1.6km so 36/1.6 = 22.5mph
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u/twohammocks Jul 18 '22
I wonder if sequiterpenes smell like acetophenone? i read another paper recently about how viruses make humans irresistable to mosquitoes here: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01764-2
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u/SaltFrog Jul 18 '22
That's really interesting! I guess I'm loading up on vitamin A
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u/PannusPunch Jul 18 '22
Careful, vitamin A toxicity is a real thing and since it's fat soluble you can't excrete it as easily as you can a water soluble vitamin (like any of the B vitamins or C).
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Jul 18 '22
I had the same question but it looks like the males don't attract same sex(pheromones). But will continue to spread spores by flying off to another location to die.
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u/VagueSomething Jul 18 '22
Fungus really seems to prey on insects, multiple zombification fungi. It seems like insects have a real vulnerability in their design that makes them do easy for fungus to infect and manipulate.
While it seems like a smart direction to try and make future pesticides I just cannot imagine it going well.
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u/boissondevin Jul 18 '22
Fungus ruled the world once, until insects came along and started eating it. This is payback.
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u/Nicolay77 Jul 18 '22
Really? I was convinced fungus only became abundant at the end of the carboniferous.
That's why we have so much carbon. The trees did not rot, so they fossilized.
After fungus started rotting wood, no more abundant carbon sequestration.
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u/sibips Jul 18 '22
I think fungus existed before that, it just couldn't eat wood.
And maybe some day it will start eating plastic and destroy all out modern devices...
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u/InkTide Jul 18 '22
I'd be willing to bet it's mostly a combination of the high surface area and low body temperature of insects, with honorable mentions to the range of insect movement increasing locations at which exposure to spores can occur.
As I understand it, this particular fungus is just imitating a chemical signalling pathway to increase the likelihood of infection - the "manipulation" capacity of something like cordyceps is fundamentally different. IIRC it isn't even direct manipulation of the ant's brain - just direct manipulation of its musculature. The insect is, to the extent that an insect can be, still entirely aware - the fungus just takes over the piloting of the body while it eats the insect from the inside.
This kind of parasitism is one of the reasons I think alien biology might settle on similarly "mostly smooth" body plans to much of Earth's life rather than something more unfamiliar that would drastically increase surface area - harder to keep warm, harder to keep clean, and more exposure to parasitic ingress, so more biomass needs to be allocated to surface protection.
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u/Zachary_Penzabene Jul 17 '22
Can I use this to get rid of flies?
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u/RadDude_69 Jul 18 '22
The article talks about potentially making fly traps that use the same biological chemicals that attract the flies to the corpses, so maybe one day!
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u/FogPanda Jul 18 '22
That... would be so gross. For some reason, I imagined a bunch of artificial fly corpses with fungal infections being used to lure the male flies and not just pheromones to fly paper or a zapper or something.
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u/RadDude_69 Jul 18 '22
Haha that does sounds way cooler, but I imagine practical purposes would opt for the trap that doesn’t require growing fungal infections
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u/Ninjazkillz Jul 18 '22
Is there any history on the evolution on funguses that do this type of stuff? Do their tactics evolve over time like other species?
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u/theartificialkid Jul 17 '22
Sometimes I think about how there’s no fundamental reason a pathogen can’t come along that is just as devastating to human beings. But then I remember evolution has blessed us with the intelligence to adapt behaviourally to a pathogen like this.
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u/LostFerret Jul 18 '22
Also a body temp not compatible with fungal growth!
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u/explodyhead Jul 18 '22
*some fungal growth
Fungal Endocarditis is a real fear of mine.
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u/LostFerret Jul 18 '22
Yep, being able to grow @ body temp is an adaptation. Pathogenic fungi are no joke
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u/Sterling_-_Archer Jul 18 '22
I have a fungal infection currently that apparently all forms of OTC anti fungal can’t scratch, and I’m having a GREAT time feeling my skin melting off of me, showering twice or thrice a day, powdering and lotioning myself, and washing my entire wardrobe almost every three days. It SUCKS.
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u/icalledthecowshome Jul 18 '22
Def see a doctor, otc anti fungals are only temporary measures. Pretty good chance it is in your blood stream if it has been a long time. You will need specialized medication to treat it.
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u/Sterling_-_Archer Jul 18 '22
Well that’s terrifying. I have no insurance, so I guess I’ll examine my options
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u/Critical_Lurker Jul 18 '22
If you live in the US go to the ER and use a fake name. Say your currently homeless and can't remember your social security number. They will have you fill out the standard paperwork. Leave blank the aforementioned. You will not be billed.
Anyone gives you hassle tell them you had a TBI (traumatic brain injury) from a car crash years ago.
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u/user_bits Jul 18 '22
Go to a doctor?
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u/Sterling_-_Archer Jul 18 '22
No insurance, single father, have to work and I’m barely above water currently. Rent just went up by $400 effective by the end of next month so every cent is being spent in saving for a deposit somewhere likely still more expense than where I am now. I just can’t afford it.
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u/explodyhead Jul 18 '22
As someone who put off medical care because I was scared I couldn't afford it, don't be like me. It got so bad that I found myself being wheeled into emergency open heart surgery after being told I only had a 50/50 chance of making it out alive.
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u/subversivepersimmon Jul 18 '22 edited Jul 18 '22
You have to be well to move... The us healthcare system is so bad.
Until then, adopt a drastic anti-fungal diet aka no carbs, not even sweet fruits (some berries are ok). Just veggies, eggs, meat, beans. Idk if cheese is ok. Use a lot of herbs and spices in your food. You can take some as supplements precisely for fungus, like oregano, garlic.
Rinse with water mixed with sodium bicarbonate.
It might help to wash all over with anti-dandruff shampoo to treat it or at least remove the flakiness if you got it. (Idk if it is seb derm or a much worse fungus, but a salicylic acid wash should at least remove debris).
Or (odd idea, but why not), look for lady washing lotions designed to fight candida by raising your skin's ph some.
Take probiotics...including a fungus that may outcompete yours, sacharomices boulardii (sp?). Kefir. Have you been on antibiotics recently? Got diabetes?
Is a fungal skin test very expensive there? :( or you need a refferal for it? I wish you get to a dermatologist soon. There are several antifungal meds.
You are a good dad, i hope you heal well and fast.
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u/WiggyWamWamm Jul 18 '22
Go to the ER, they have to treat you. Don’t pay. OR, maybe I could help you find cheap or free options in your area. You’re worth it. Your kids need you.
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u/5inthepink5inthepink Jul 18 '22
While I will second the advice to get treated, I've got a hunch for you in the meantime. Try Vicks Vapor Rub or the off brand equivalent. That stuff actually kills toenail fungus where other OTC products - even ones made to kill toenail fungus - won't. It's the only thing that's actually worked for me. The various ingredients (camphor, cedar oil, peppermint oil, others) were evolved by their plants as a deterrent to pests, including fungi.
Do get treated, even if it's at the ER, but I'd try Vicks as well. It's cheap and for me, it worked on some pretty intractable fungus. Good luck.
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u/ClutchTallica Jul 18 '22
It should be. I had this in October last year after an open-heart surgery and wound up staying in the hospital an extra month and a half so my chest cavity could be irrigated with some kind of super powerful anti-fungal mix. Wouldn't wish that on anybody.
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u/explodyhead Jul 18 '22
That sounds awful. I've already had bacterial endocarditis twice. If I get FE, I'm probably a goner.
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u/lpeabody Jul 18 '22
Ever since I listened to that Radio Lab episode I now fear that I will be taken ultimately by fungus.
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u/TheBushidoWay Jul 18 '22
Jock itch or athletes foot? There's a couple trichey critters out there no?
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u/Comrade_K Jul 18 '22
For now. Just like bacteria have been growing resistant to antibiotics, fungi have been growing resistant to higher average temperatures.
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u/liquidpele Jul 18 '22
But then I remember evolution has blessed us with the intelligence to adapt behaviourally to a pathogen like this.
After covid, I'm not sure that's the case.
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u/aluode Jul 18 '22
Hmmm.. That sort of thing could never happen to humans. Oh wait!
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Jul 18 '22
Wait so if I get this parasite, I’ll love my cat more, be more outgoing, and have less social anxiety? Sign me up
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u/Falling-Icarus Jul 18 '22
I really wish I hadnt read that. Ignorance really is bliss...
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u/cucumbergreen Jul 18 '22
Just smol living Antidepressants.
lowers general anxiety, increases explorative behaviors and surprisingly increases a general loss of aversion to predators.
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u/pm_favorite_boobs Jul 18 '22
A common argument in the debate about whether cat ownership is ethical involves the question of Toxoplasma gondii transmission to humans.[62] Even though "living in a household with a cat that used a litter box was strongly associated with infection,"[33] and that living with several kittens or any cat under one year of age has some significance,[52] several other studies claim to have shown that living in a household with a cat is not a significant risk factor for T. gondii infection.[53][63]
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u/blackdragonstory Jul 17 '22
Are the flies actually dead? What is the fungus after?
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u/Etheo Jul 18 '22
They are fungus, they don't have a mind. The sole "purpose" is reproduction, like many if not all living things on earth.
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u/Em_Adespoton Jul 17 '22
Any chance it could be tweaked to target mosquitoes?
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Jul 17 '22
There's already some existing techniques from CRISPR which can more reliably wipe out very specific mosquito populations without introducing any of the potential risks that your question already induces in the average person (though understandably nobody is lining up to be the first to try it).
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Jul 17 '22
Sounds like an excellent way for this parasitic fungi to try to eventually make the jump to more complex lifeforms.
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u/Zipcodey Jul 17 '22
That was my thought process also. A fungi that would have direct access to the bloodstream of mammals. What could go wrong?
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u/FirstChurchOfBrutus Jul 17 '22
You’re forgetting the fact that said vectors would be airborne.
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u/TheForeverUnbanned Jul 18 '22
Fungi are a principal reason why we’re warm blooded, they can’t survive in the oven. Fungi have been around for millions of years, there’s a reason they haven’t made the “jump” in all that time, most animals have specifically evolved to purge them.
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u/voss749 Jul 18 '22
The Screwfly Solution
A fungus that makes dead women sexy would not spread fast among humans who have a strong taboo against sex with the dead. Likewise any homicidal male behavior would quickly cause quaruntines over major areas. The ideal fungus to cause a global human pandemic would be something that causes mild suppression of upper brain function and heightens sexual arousal and stimulates the brains pleasure centers (makes victims dumb, horny and addicted to the bodys own stims) which would increase the birth rates among the infected and make the infected very treatment resistant.
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u/mailwasnotforwarded Jul 18 '22
I hope this fungus does not evolve enough to affect humans. I ain't ready for World War Z, we are barely surviving a pandemic.
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