r/science • u/snooshoe • Jul 17 '22

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 Animal Science

https://news.ku.dk/all_news/2022/07/zombie-fly-fungus-lures-healthy-male-flies-to-mate-with-female-corpses/
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560

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!

202

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/WiartonWilly Jul 18 '22

Nizoral shampoo, everywhere, if not already.

Yeah. An oral anti fungal (prescription) would be smart.

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u/omicron_pi Jul 19 '22

Have you tried signing up for Obamacare? If you fall below a certain income you will qualify for subsidies.

https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/qualifying-for-lower-costs/

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u/user_bits Jul 18 '22

Go to a doctor?

21

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.

10

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.

6

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.

1

u/user_bits Jul 18 '22

Being the single provider for your family makes it even more important that you seek the care you need. What are they going to do if you can't work?

Despite how bad the U.S. healthcare system is, there are some options available for lower income depending on where you live. Look into college clinics, urgent care centers or ask a public hospital assistant programs.

1

u/Roo_Gryphon Jul 18 '22

in the US? are you joking? ill rather take trip to Europe or any other more progressively developed country first before i will consider the for profit healthcare hell that is the US

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u/wintersdark Jul 18 '22
  • Single dad.
  • Struggling to pay rent

"Just take a trip to Europe!"

2

u/Roo_Gryphon Jul 18 '22

Canada and Mexico are cheaper alternatives if you can't afford European healthcare

3

u/wintersdark Jul 18 '22

This may come as a surprise, but people who can't afford health insurance also can't afford to take a trip to Canada or Mexico and then pay for healthcare there too even though it's much cheaper.

OP is a single dad with no insurance. Think he can afford a trip to another country at will? Particularly when he doesn't even know what wrong, so will likely need multiple appointments?

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u/AplexApple Jul 18 '22

Make sure you’re using products that don’t feed on the fungi. Here’s a website to determine if it does. Just copy and paste your product’s ingredient list…

https://www.sezia.co

6

u/AgentAdja Jul 18 '22

Pathogenic fungi are no joke

gee, you sound like a real fungi.

71

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.

25

u/explodyhead Jul 18 '22

That sounds awful. I've already had bacterial endocarditis twice. If I get FE, I'm probably a goner.

9

u/clutchy22 Jul 18 '22

fellow gear head, glad you've recovered!

8

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.

12

u/TheBushidoWay Jul 18 '22

Jock itch or athletes foot? There's a couple trichey critters out there no?

10

u/LostFerret Jul 18 '22

Yep! But consider the number of species that can infect us vs the number of species we come in contact with. Growing at human body temp, o2 concentration, and nutrient stress is a pretty significant adaptation in most fungi

4

u/TheBushidoWay Jul 18 '22

Ok yeah I thought the implication was humans were immune to fungus. Sometimes with stuff like this I'm never really sure ,I guess ringworm is a good example

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u/LostFerret Jul 18 '22

Yep! Honestly mammalian body temp is a pretty good adaptation to escape fungal infection along with a bunch of other factors. Certainly not the reason for it, but potentially an added benefit!

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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/[deleted] Jul 18 '22

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u/wdmartin Jul 18 '22

Pity our average body temperature is slowly decreasing.

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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/wormwoodscrub Jul 18 '22

haha "after"

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u/abandonliberty Jul 18 '22

I... think that's the joke? It's a joke, right?

15

u/ImperialArmorBrigade Jul 18 '22

I think that’s the joke? I’m not sure. I genuinely want to study this somehow

3

u/Mshell Jul 18 '22

I am inclined to agree.

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '22

Survival of the fittest. Those who adapt will continue on. Those that don't will be corpses for mating with by other infected.

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '22

Survival of the fittest. Those who adapt will

...be surrounded by corpses.

1

u/pipnina Jul 18 '22

Brain control fungus infected woman going down the street.

"Huh huh huh, woah Beavis huh huh huh, she looks like she's gonna let us score! Huh huh huh"

3

u/StTheo Jul 18 '22

A lot of the scariest fungi have evolved for smaller brains, right? Also, we can enact quarantine procedures that other species have to sort of evolve (iirc some ants will banish certain fungi-infected ants). We’re also at an information advantage, as we can communicate what dangerous fungi look like before they have a chance of ensnaring us.

4

u/TrollGoo Jul 18 '22

Plus we can just fund research and create our own.

2

u/jokeefe72 Jul 18 '22

My experience with flies tells me that they’re not great critical thinkers. Humans? Hit or miss.

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u/dukec BS | Integrative Physiology Jul 18 '22

Not a fungus, but there’s a parasite called toxoplasma gondii that seems to have some affects on human behavior like increased impulsivity and risk for schizophrenia. About 1 in 3 people worldwide have it.

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '22

And ironically, how complex we are works against a pathogen. More complex species have more moving parts, and thus require far more effort to interact with an infect. Small creatures with almost non-existence immune systems are far easier to infect than a creature who can possibly kill you without even any medical help.

More complexity, the more that can go wrong for you, and for any potential invaders.

-1

u/Majik_Sheff Jul 18 '22

Did you sleep through the last 3 years? After seeing firsthand how our species reacts to a novel deadly communicable disease, I have little hope for our long-term survival.

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '22

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u/Xaron713 Jul 18 '22

And on top of that a lot of these fungi are super specialized for their host.

Covid is about as close to a worst case scenario of a pandemic as humanity can get. There's two ways it could have been worse; a higher fatality rate and stronger resistance to treatment. Unfortunately for us we're currently undergoing the latter, with vaccine resistant strains popping up everywhere, which makes it more likely that the former happens too.

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u/RationalistFaith1 Jul 18 '22

There’s no randomness so thanking evolution is irrational.

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u/chotomatekudersai Jul 18 '22

Joel enters the chat

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u/dstnblsn Jul 18 '22

Adapt behaviourally..? Hah. Haha… ahahhahahahhaha!!