The last of us: Science fiction or a possibility in the face of climate change?

Authors

Keywords:

Cordyceps, climatic change, global warming, emerging diseases

Abstract

The video game The last of us proposes a pandemic caused by the fungus Cordyceps spp. In this scenario, infected people end up as will-less beings with automaton and cannibalistic behaviors, and the uninfected human population is crowded together in quarantine zones. Before 2019, this would have seemed something laughable, but after a pandemic caused by an emerging virus and two years in confinement, it may be cause for reflection... Could a fungus be responsible for the next pandemic?

Author Biographies

Carolina Brunner Mendoza, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM

Carolina Brunner-Mendoza has a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences and is an associate professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology in the Mycology Unit. Her main lines of research are fungi of medical importance, entomopathogenic fungi, and molecular systematics of fungi.

Alejandro Jaramillo, Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, UNAM

Alejandro Jaramillo is a doctor in Hydrology and a researcher associated with the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Tropical Hydroclimatology Group of UNAM. His lines of research are related to tropical hydrometeorology and climate variability.

Christian Domínguez, Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, UNAM

Christian Domínguez is a doctor in Sciences and an associate researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Tropical Hydroclimatology Group of UNAM. Her main lines of research are tropical cyclones and tropical meteorology.

Conchita Toriello, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM

Conchita Toriello has a Ph.D. in Sciences. She is a full professor at the Faculty of Medicine in the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology in the Mycology Unit. Her main lines of research are fungi of medical importance and entomopathogenic fungi used in biological control.

Published

2024-03-06

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 2 (2024): Puntos de inflexión: decisiones y acciones por tomar

Section

Varietas

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