00:00Malaysian scientists have discovered a new species of parasitic fungus in Borneo's jungles.
00:06The fungus preys on so-called zombie fungus, which infects insects, manipulates their nervous
00:12system and eventually kills them.
00:14The new species was collected during field trips by University Malaysia Sabah's Institute
00:19for Tropical Biology and Conservation.
00:22Its deputy director Jayaseelan Satyaseelan told AFP the fungus belongs to the genus
00:28pleurocordyceps and acts as a specialized hyperparasite.
00:32This means it does not control the insect directly, but instead feeds on the fungus already growing
00:38inside the infected ant.
00:40Named pleurocordyceps cornocytomata, the species was discovered after scientists studied a dead
00:47ant collected from Danum Valley in southern Sabah.
00:50Scientists also found a new spider-killing fungus during the same field trips.
00:55Jayaseelan said the discoveries could help in developing future antimicrobial drugs and
01:02biocontrol agents against agricultural pests.
01:05Adrian Fernandez, FMT.
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