Killing off Fungi was one of the reasons humans evolved to keep their body temp at 98.6 F. Any warmer and we would be feeding nearly non-stop.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101222121610.ht...
This helped Mammals as whole win over other species that are a lot more susceptible to fungi.
Looking at all the nasties out there, I am very glad we followed this evolutionary path.
Before we start getting to smug about our sense of free will, let me just point out that there are widespread human brain parasites.
One example is Toxoplama Gondii, which infects roughly 1/3 of the world's population.
Studies have shown relationships between everything from increased car accidents to Bipolar disorder. Some have even suggested its distribution across regions affects human culture.
The only really new part here is that there are several species of what was previously thought to be one fungus.
IIRC, the fungus produces a compound similar to LSD that causes the ant to climb onto a sunlit leaf and clamp on with its mouth. The fungus then grows inside the ant and reproduces.
And IIRC, snail flukes do a similar thing: When they are ready to move from their snail host, they migrate into its eye stalks, which turn bright colors. The infected snail loses its fear of open spaces and climbs onto a branch or leaf, where a passing bird spots what looks like juicy worms and pecks off the stalks.
The fluke is now in the bird's digestive system, and it starts manufacturing eggs. The eggs are embedded in the new host's guano, which falls to the ground.
A passing snail eats the guano and becomes infected with flukes, starting the cycle anew.
what? the reason it makes the ant climb high is because when it grows it actually rips open the ant and eventually burst millions of spore to rain over the colony.
First thing I thought of. It's quite a wild little segment. A worker ant has to carry the infected ant away from the rest of the colony. Eventually the infected ant dies, and this alien looking fungus sprouts of of his head. The fungus then releases a bunch of spores (meant to infect other ants) so it's a good thing he was dragged away from the colony! The whole Planet Earth series is absolutely amazing, do yourself a favor and watch them all if you haven't.
wow, this reminds me of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis, one third of the world's human population is infected. This parasite interferes with brain chemistry and alters both function and behavior.
Looking at all the nasties out there, I am very glad we followed this evolutionary path.