#[ophiocordyceps unilateralis]

[daddy-joel-miller]

My dad told me he hated how the hospital scenes were done in the show (despite never playing the game.) He talked about how it wasn't very "badass" how Joel walked through the hospital, murdering Fireflies. Like... yeah... that's the point. You are meant to feel the weight of his actions. In the game you can feel it because you play as Joel, you control his actions. But obviously that feeling can't translate to the show. So they make the scene where Joel goes to find Ellie in Saint Mary's slow and deliberate. This isn't a superhero moment, he's not James Bond. It's a man murdering dozens to save the girl who gave him a second chance at being a dad. Joel isn't a hero, he's just a father, doing whatever he can to save his baby girl.

[cordyceps-fungus]

Ophiordyceps Unilateralis painted with the colors of the gay flag, as my pfp for pride month

donations/commissions

[rainbowkeyboardyippee]

I wanna think about Pokemon but i wanna think about Minecraft but I want to think about Dangonronpa but I want to think about Persona 5 but I want to think about the Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis but I want to think about

[meimeikyu]

me

[fernrisulfr]

Night of the Living Ant

This one is super short. It’s barely a concept even.

Thri-kreen - Spore Druid

Concept: Maybe Reborn. Infected with Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, the zombie ant fungus. Probably more the fungus itself than the Thri-kreen. Like a horrible undead fungal mech.

[deadyetkawaii]

This poor young adventurer was so excited to discover something new and sadly he did...

[white-poppie]

I was OBSESSED with Cordyceps as a kid. Like they were so mesmerising. Anyone used to ask what is your favourite plant. I without thinking went Cordyceps. (yes I know, not a plant, but I was 8.)

They were bewildered needless to say, after the enlightening explanation of what it is.

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, or Zombie-ant fungus

[johnnycagesrightnut]

‘Meh meh meh meh meh could Cordyceps infect humans eventually??’ ‘Can Cordyceps infect humans??’ YES. THE ANSWER IS YES SCIENTIFICALLY ONE DAY. NOW TELL ME WHAT IT EFFECTS CURRENTLY.

[mycoblogg]

HORROR WEEK- FOTD #147 : zombie-ant fungus! (ophiocordyceps unilateralis)

the zombie-ant fungus is an insect-pathogenic fungus that infects & controls the muscular system of an ant. it is a member of the ophiocordycipitaceae family, & has received notoriety in popular media after inspiring parts of the hit series & game 'the last of us'. it mainly occurs in tropical forest ecosystems :-)

the big question : will it kill me?? only if you're an ant :-) if you're an ant, the fungus will take control of your body - not your mind, as is commonly falsely believed - force you to climb about a foot off the ground into a tree, latch your jaw into a "death grip" on the vein of a leaf, & sprout from your body !! you will be eaten from the inside.

[images : source & source] [fungus description : none]

[dippyface]

I have the parasitic fungus that makes ants into zombies but it's for loving Junhee

[hopalongfairywren]

I know there's a separate ask game going on but I'd actually love to hear your take on how the Egg restructures people's bodies!

While I've taken plenty of artistic liberties, i'm trying to take a science based approach on this, so tw for well. Fungus amongus. I imagine the Egg releases spores, which once inside the body of a victim, do several things. Number one, is increase adrenaline and cortisol production by several magnitudes. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone in your body, but when too much of it is produced it can cause an increase in irritability, headaches, decrease in pain reception, skin discoloration, and even inflamed/red eyes due to pressure on blood vessles within. The spores also release many metabolites which work as neurotransmitters, helping to manipulate the body of an infection individual sophisticated. (Though not to the same levels as before, as movement is noticeably jerky and erratic due to the fungus forcing the muscles to contract.) Throughout the whole ordeal, the victim remains totally conscience although unable to control their action. I imagine although a cure did exist (complete submerging in prime water, and that is where the scientific bit falls apart because that's not how infections would work irl) The Eggpire was relatively lucky in that they got captured and then decontaminated all relatively early into their infection. There's a certain point, maybe after a few months to a year, in which I think it would be too late. As for permenant effects, due to the inhibiting of pain reception, and the physcological and behavioral changes on the victims forcing them to put the egg's needs- (protection, nurishment, hygeine) above all else, they carry many injuries/ailments from an immune system pushed to the brink by the egg's infection. Torn muscles are also pretty common, because while the brain usually naturally limits your speed and strength to avoid you hurting yourself, the egg doesn't give a shit and actually needs its victims to be stronger and faster. In case your wondering, my headcanon for why c!Tommy is immune to the Egg is the same reason I headcanon c!Dream to also be immune to it and c!Sam to be resistant to it. An increased internal body temperature which the spores could not survive in. :)

[daddy-joel-miller]

I think one of the things that skeeves me out about David in the show is that he looks so normal. Like in the game he looks sinister. You can tell that he, on some level, is evil.

But in the show he's just some guy. He looks like he coached little league and grilled a mean hot dog.

And that's what is so scary about David. Evil people in the real world often look like everyone else. They look like your neighbors, your boss, the person running the register at the grocery store you frequent. The most evil person could be someone you see every day, who waves and smiles at you.

[cordyceps-fungus]

Definitely NOT my favourite fungi wdym.

[mollybeenoel]

Insects infected by Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis, otherwise known as cordyceps or zombie-ant fungus, fungus that infect insects such as ants and spiders — like other parasites, cordyceps drains its host completely of nutrients before filling its body with spores that will let the fungus reproduce.

[meimeikyu]

HII I WILL!!!!!!

So ophiocordyceps unilateralis, aka the zombie ant fungus, is a fungus commonly found in rainforests. the unilateralis version specifically infects ants but there are a ton of different versions under ophiocordyceps that infect different types of insects!!

Its more known due to being the basic idea behind the zombies in the last of us, with them being infected by a mutated version of the fungus meant to infect humans (i think? idk much about the last of us tbh-)

The fungus starts off as microscopic sticky spores that rest on the forest floor. when ants come down to scavenge, it sticks to the bottom of them infecting them! It then slowly starts to invade their muscles, wrapping around and growing into them, taking over the ants body. The fungus doesnt actually take over the nervous system or brain like originally thought, it leaves them completely intact, only taking over their muscles, meaning the ant is fully alive and aware during this process, the ant will continue to do its regular stuff, not knowing its been infected until the fungus has total control :3 There is evidence the fungus might have some influence over the brain, though i cant find anything confirming it.

Once the fungus has total control, it brings the (alive) ant to vegetation higher up away from its nest, then does the last step, the death jaw lock. The ant will bite down on the underside of the leaves and its jaw will completely lock up keeping it there until it dies. The fungus then grows right through the ants head, growing out a stalk containing the spores, which then explodes, sending them out everywhere to spread the fungus :3

I really like this fungus i think u can tell :3

Heres an image i love showing what it looks like onces its fully grown!

I love being autistic n i love when ppl ask what my special interest are because 2 of them are like games/music. and. the other one of them is. ophiocordyceps unilateralis.

[the-nyanguard-party]

everyone is ants and i am the beautiful Ophiocordyceps unilateralis