The Last of Us: fungal infections really can kill – and they’re getting more dangerous

By Rebecca A. Drummond, Associate Professor, Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham

Millions have been tuning in every week to watch the highly anticipated TV adaptation of The Last of Us. The show depicts a post-apocalyptic world where society has collapsed due to the outbreak of a dangerous, brain-controlling fungal infection that turns humans into hostile, cannibalistic “zombies”.

The fungus which causes the pandemic is based on the real-life Cordyceps zombie fungus that infects insects. Insects infected…

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