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What type of viral/bacterial/fungal infection causes the fastest symptom response? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/askbiologists

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Too many sci-fi movies make it seem like you've got minutes before catastrophic symptoms appear after being exposed, but what's the most realistic timeframe for an infection to cause a severe response?

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[–] Candelestine 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Theoretical zombifying pathogens have a few additional hurdles to pass. One, they can't destroy your tissue, because it's still necessary to operate the body. Two, they need access to your brain, which your body has a natural barrier protecting. Pathogens have a hard time getting in unless they start very nearby. Third, it'd have to alter your brain in such a way that a lot of behavior was left intact without destroying basic motor function and some simple logic.

This just isn't easy to do. Probably would require some kind of super spiffy sci fi nanotechnology to actually pull off. Like, if Tony injected his fanciest suit's nanites into your body and controlled them remotely, he might be able to ask Jarvis (or whoever it was, I forget) to zombify you.

Theoretically.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Theoretical zombifying pathogens have a few additional hurdles to pass.

We can only hope that the "zombie-ant fungus" never figures out a way to bypass human defence mechanisms. LOL

Thanks for the explanation. I really appreciate the insight.

[–] Candelestine 2 points 2 years ago

We have something kinda like that, it's called rabies.