Could A Zombie Apocalypse Be The Last of Us?

On this week's episode of the pod, we take a detour from science into science fiction and discuss whether the premise of the hit video game and HBO series, The Last of Us, could ever be a reality! We are joined by infectious disease expert, Doctor Neuro, to tackle the topic. We start with some mycology and entomology and chat about Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps, colloquially called "zombie-ant fungus" and how they, luckily, cannot infect humans. We shift gears to immunology, specifically, differences in ant and human immune systems and why it is highly unlikely that humans could ever be infected with these fungal pathogens. We suspend reality for a hypothetical scenario in which these fungi could infect humans and the ways our bodies might respond. We talk about vaccines for fungal pathogens and how they could potentially be developed. We also discuss how climate change may accelerate the emergence of pathogens and subsequent implications for human health. You do not want to miss this! Help support the podcast by participating in our listener survey. This is your chance to give us your feedback on the pod and our advertisers. As an added bonus, anyone who completes the survey will be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave Check us out on Substack and Instagram: www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to [email protected], with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices