Ellie’s Immunity Explained: The Shocking Truth Behind The Last of Us

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In the fourth episode of The Last of Us Season 2, Dina learns that Ellie is immune to infection when she gets bitten – if you’ve ever wondered about the reason behind her resistance, then this information is for you.

Ellie’s immunity is pivotal in The Last of Us storyline. It was the catalyst for both the original game and Season 1. Tess’ final request before her death was that Joel escort Ellie to the Fireflies, a group located across the country. She had faith that they could create a cure for the Cordyceps virus using Ellie’s immune response.

Indeed, you’re correct about the outcome: the physicians could devise a remedy, but performing it would have proved lethal for them all. Consequently, Joel ended up killing everyone and escaped with Ellie towards Jackson instead.

At the onset of Season 2, it became apparent very soon that Ellie had kept her immunity a secret from everyone except Tommy. From what we’ve gathered, no one else appears to be immune – which raises the question, how did she acquire this unique condition?

Ellie’s immunity comes from her mom in The Last of Us

It strongly suggests that Ellie may be immune due to her mother Anna being bitten during childbirth. Since Ellie was born shortly after this event, it’s believed that Anna had already transferred her antibodies to Ellie through the umbilical cord.

In the ninth episode of Season 1, we were taken back in time to when Ellie’s mother was giving birth. However, during the delivery, an infected attacked her. Remarkably, she was able to fend off the attack, but soon realized she had been bitten. Heartbreakingly, she asked Marlene to end her life before she could deliver the baby safely.

Remarkably, Anna’s fortunate event carried a steep cost, but the bite she gave Ellie in infancy might have transferred immunity-providing antibodies. This is similar to the rarity of contracting chickenpox more than once because it confers immunity on most people.

As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed Ellie gets nicked and clawed here and there during the series, yet she remains remarkably free of infection. In the first season, when Sam was bitten, I thought I could emulate a makeshift remedy by slicing my palm and smearing his wound with my own blood, assuming it would work like medicine. However, things aren’t as straightforward as they seem.

At Fireflies Hospital in Salt Lake City, Marlene informs Joel that the doctor suspects Ellie’s Cordyceps has been growing since birth. This unusual Cordyceps releases a “chemical signal… it tricks regular Cordyceps into thinking she’s one of them, which is why she’s immune.

He plans to take some of it from her, grow the cells in a laboratory, create those chemical signals, and if it works as he hopes, we can share it with everyone. He believes it might be a solution, Joel. A solution,” she clarifies.

In the game, the surgeon’s account delves deeper into why Ellie alone can develop a remedy.

28th April. Indeed, Marlene was correct. The girl’s infection is unlike any I’ve encountered before. The reason for her immune response remains unclear. As history has shown us with similar cases, the levels of antigens from the patient’s Cordyceps remain elevated in both the blood serum and the cerebrospinal fluid, according to the recording.

The laboratory test results from the patient’s blood cultures show rapid growth of Cordyceps in a fungal medium. Yet, the white blood cell counts and percentages are all normal. Additionally, there is no increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines detected, and an MRI scan of the brain reveals no signs of fungal growth within the limbic regions – areas typically associated with the early stages of aggression in infected patients.

It’s crucial that we figure out how to recreate this condition in a lab setting. We’re on the brink of making an historic breakthrough similar to the discovery of penicillin. After years of exploring and seemingly going in circles, we are about to make progress, impact society, and regain control over our own destiny as a species. The hard work and dedication of countless individuals who have sacrificed or faced adversity for this cause will not have been in vain.

Stay updated on when The Last of Us Season 2 will be released, and in the meantime, delve deeper into Abby’s storyline from The Last of Us video games. Also, learn about the inner workings of the WLF, and understand why Eugene plays a crucial role in Season 2.

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2025-05-05 05:51