Malaysian Scientists Identify New Fungus Species That Parasites Zombie Fungus

Malaysian scientists have discovered a new species of parasitic fungus that preys on Ophiocordyceps, the so-called zombie fungus that infects insects. The species was found in the jungles of Malaysia's part of Borneo during field work by the University of Malaysia Sabah's Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation. Samples collected from the Danum Valley in Sabah yielded the specimen.

The research appeared in the New Zealand Journal of Botany, and an additional report was published in Phytotaxa in April. The new species belongs to the genus Pleurocordyceps and functions as a hyperparasite that infiltrates and feeds on Ophiocordyceps tissue inside already infected ants.

Jaya Seelan Sathiya Seelan, deputy director of the institute, said the fungus "effectively parasitizes the primary pathogen" rather than manipulating the insect's nervous system itself.

The species was named Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata after its horn-shaped structure. Seelan stated it is the first known member of its genus with this highly distinct feature. During the same field trips, scientists also found a new species of spider-killing fungus that spreads spores through arachnids before killing them.

Seelan said the newly documented fungi hold potential as sources for next-generation antimicrobial drugs and as biocontrol agents against agricultural pests. The researchers posted on social media on Friday that the discovery highlights the scientific value of Borneo's rainforests. Seelan spoke to AFP the same day.

Dr. Jim Kronstad, a microbiologist at the University of British Columbia, told CBS News that cordyceps fungi cannot adapt from infecting insects to humans. 6 degrees Fahrenheit.