马来西亚沙巴大学的研究团队在婆罗洲热带雨林中发现了一种全新的「寄生虫的寄生虫」——一种能够寄生于其他寄生真菌之上的超寄生物。这种新真菌物种被命名为角束梗虫草（Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata），因其独特的角状结构而得名，相关研究成果已发表于学术期刊《Phytotaxa》。该物种是在沙巴州偏远的丹浓谷地区进行野外考察时，研究人员在检视一只死蚂蚁时偶然发现的。

这种新发现的超寄生真菌专门针对已被「僵尸真菌」（蛇形虫草属 Ophiocordyceps）感染的蚂蚁。僵尸真菌以操控蚂蚁的神经系统闻名，能驱使宿主做出有利于孢子传播的行为，最终导致宿主死亡。然而，角束梗虫草并不直接控制蚂蚁，而是入侵并以蚂蚁体内正在生长的僵尸真菌组织为食。研究者指出，虽然超寄生物并非首次被发现，但具有这种角状结构的超寄生真菌在全球尚属首例，揭示了热带生态系统中隐藏的复杂层次。

在同一系列考察中，研究团队还发现了一种对蜘蛛具有致命性的新真菌物种。这些发现不仅具有重要的科学价值，还蕴含巨大的实际应用潜力。研究者表示，这些新记录的真菌有望成为开发下一代抗菌药物的来源，同时也可作为高效的生物防治剂用于农业害虫管理，对人类健康和农业发展均具深远意义。

Researchers at Universiti Malaysia Sabah have identified a novel hyperparasite—an organism that parasitizes other parasites—in the tropical forests of Borneo. Named Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata for its distinctive horn-shaped structure, this new fungal species was described in the journal Phytotaxa. It was discovered almost by chance during field expeditions in the remote Danum Valley region of Sabah, when researchers were examining a dead ant.

The newly discovered hyperparasite specifically targets ants already infected by Ophiocordyceps, the so-called zombie fungus known for hijacking insect nervous systems to facilitate spore dispersal. Unlike the zombie fungus, Pleurocordyceps does not manipulate the ant directly; instead, it infiltrates and feeds on the Ophiocordyceps tissue growing inside the host. While other hyperparasites exist worldwide, this is the first known species with such a horn-shaped morphology, highlighting a previously hidden layer of complexity within tropical ecosystems.

During the same expeditions, the team also discovered a new spider-killing fungal species. Beyond their scientific significance, these findings carry substantial practical potential. The researchers noted that the newly documented fungi could serve as sources for next-generation antimicrobial drugs and as highly effective biocontrol agents against agricultural pests, offering promising implications for both human health and sustainable agriculture.