Parasites modify their host's appearance, behaviour and physiology to a certain extent. Many of these modifications are seen as purposefully manipulative, serving the parasite's interest. Endgames are particularly intriguing, where the parasite's development requires the host's death. ‘Summit’ or ‘treetop’ disease is one of such spectacular examples of parasite-induced death: the host dies attached to an elevated part of the vegetation. Many organisms induce summit disease including Ophiocordyceps, Entomophthora and Pandora species. We analyzed the development of Pandora formicae inside its ant host's body after the host's death. Our findings suggest that the fungus consumes the host's muscles and central nervous system quite fast, similarly to the related Entomophthora muscae. Unlike in Ophiocordyceps, no conidial anastomosis tubes were observed. Differences and similarities between the three fungi are discussed with regard to the extent of parasitic manipulation since Pandora's manipulative traits seem less pronounced than in Ophiocordyceps.

寄生虫在一定程度上改变了宿主的外观，行为和生理。这些修饰中有许多被认为是故意操纵的，符合寄生虫的利益。终极游戏特别有趣，寄生虫的发育需要宿主的死亡。“顶峰”或“树顶”病就是这种由寄生虫引起的死亡的壮观例子之一：宿主死于附着在植被高处的部分。许多生物体会诱发顶峰病，包括蛇蝎，昆虫昆虫和潘朵拉物种。我们分析了潘多拉草的发展宿主死后在蚂蚁宿主体内。我们的研究结果表明，真菌与相关的昆虫小夜蛾（Entomophthora muscae）一样，会很快消耗宿主的肌肉和中枢神经系统。不同于卵囊菌，没有观察到分生孢子吻合管。三种真菌之间的区别和相似之处涉及到寄生虫的操纵程度，因为潘多拉的操纵性状似乎不如蛇形膜胞菌病明显。