Shows
The Viral TalkAsk a Professional - Intracellular investigators with Dr Valerie OdonThis is 'Ask a professional', the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly on the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccines, we're going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research, career, future prospects and tips for the younger generations of scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Dr Valerie Odon, newly appointed group leader at the University of Strathclyde in virology. In this episode we're gonna talk about cells investigating intruders (viruses), the wisdom of mothers and the challenges that come with...2025-07-2719 min
The Viral TalkS2 Episode 1 - What are co-infections?What does the term co-infection mean? What happens when two viruses infect us at the same time and why is it important for our health? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.But also, a new host joins the show, episodes take on a new structure, and we answer questions from the audience. Key takeaways:- A co-infection occurs when two or more pathogens infect the same host at the same time- There are multiple types of co-infections, as we...2025-03-0657 minThe Viral TalkSpecial Episode - Building resilient communities for people affected by blood-borne viral infections with Faye WatsonWelcome to the 2nd Special Episode of The Viral Talk. In this episode our host Federico interviews Faye Watson, Churchill Fellow and Public Engagement Officer for the School of Medicine and Veterinary medicine at the University of Edinburgh (although not for long!!).
Faye is going to talk to us about her project on improving prevention and outreach for the communities affected by blood-borne viral infections (e.g. HIV and HepC) in Scotland, and how to use Botswana and South Africa as model countries to tackle the inherent challenges of doing this type of work...2024-12-061h 06The Viral TalkAsk a Professional - Tick-borne viruses with Ben BrennanWelcome to the 2nd season of ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re
going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists.
In this episode Federico interviews Dr Ben Brennan, group leader at the Centre for Virology Research at the University of Glasgow. They're gonna talk about ticks living up to 4...2024-11-2725 minThe Viral TalkThose dreaded Coronas with Bobbie Anne TurnerWhat are coronaviruses? How
are they structured and what is being done to be more prepared next time another one emerges? This and much more in this new episode of The Viral Talk.
Join your usual host Federico and an old friend of the show Bobbie-Anne Turner from the University of Liverpool to hear about the dreaded coronaviruses!
Key points:
The scientific community has known
about coronaviruses for a long time. The first coronavirus ever discovered was a poultry coronavirus named Infectious bronchitis virus and was discovered in the 1940s.
Th...2024-10-2438 min
The Gospel JubileeChip and Denny Play All Country Gospel FavoritesIt will be an all country Gospel edition this week on The Gospel Jubilee. Chip and Denny will be playing Gospel songs both new and old sang by many of your favorite country artists. Here are all of the ways you can listen to the Gospel Jubilee On your Echo device say, Alexa, play the Gospel Jubilee on Apple podcast. For a direct download go to: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/61038882/download.mp3 Ocean Waves Radio ... every Wednesday at 5:00 PM Eastern time., www.OceanWavesRadio.com Thursday afternoons at 4:00 PM and Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM EST on Southern Branch Bluegrass Radio, www.sbbrad...2024-08-151h 30The Viral TalkAsk a Professional - Protein expression with Dr Chris HillThis is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the
Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re
going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Dr Chris Hill, group leader at the Department of Biology of the University of York. In this episode we're gonna talk about discovering that the tooth fairy is not real...2024-05-0924 min
See Also96: Girlfriends (Toy Poodle) – re-releaseIt was only a matter of time.In this re-release of a classic Poodle episode, Kate and Brodie come together to discuss Girlfriends, Claudia Weill's directorial debut from 1978, and an absolutely perfect film. Co-written by Vicki Polon, it starts Melanie Mayron as Susan Weinblatt, who has a perfect face and spends her days shooting bar mitzvahs and waiting for her big, artistic break in late-'70s New York City. When her best friend and roommate, Anne (Anita Skinner), a writer, gets married and moves out of their apartment, Susan searches for ways to repair her loneliness...2024-04-1956 minThe Viral TalkSPECIAL: UK-International Coronavirus Network symposiumThis is the first SPECIAL episode of The Viral Talk. It was recorded in Liverpool at the UK-International Coronavirus Network Early Career Researchers symposium.
The Viral Talk team was invited to take part to a fantastic initiative organized by the UK-ICN to encourage young scientists to share knowledge, hopes, dreams and to network in Liverpool on the 1st of March 2024.
Three early career researchers were chosen to come on the show and talk about their experience, their projects, and their hopes for the future. The guests were:
...2024-03-2828 minThe Viral TalkAsk a professional - Proteomics with Dr Ed EmmotThis is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the
Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re
going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Dr Ed Emmot, group leader at the Centre for Proteomics Research at the Universty of Liverpool. In this episode we're gonna talk about proteins that cut other proteins, how viru...2024-03-0712 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 13 - The history of virologyHow were viruses discovered? Who are the pioneers behind the establishment of virology as a branch of biology? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
- The first virus to ever be observed was the Tobacco Mosaic Virus, and it was discovered thanks the invention of the Chamberland filter.
- The first mammal virus to be discovered was the Foot and Mouth Disease virus, which is a very economically important virus that infects cloven-hoofed viruses. It was discovered by two german bacteriologists called Friedrich Loeffler and Paul Frosch.
- The first ever human virus...2024-02-1527 minThe Viral TalkAsk a professional - Pathobiology with Dr Vanessa HerderThis is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the
Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re
going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Dr Vanessa Herder, pathobiologist at the Centre for Virus Research at the Universty of Glasgow. In this episode we’re going to talk about looking at tissues to understand...2024-02-0117 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 12 - What are our innate defenses against viruses?What are the ways in which our bodies protect us from viral infections? Is it easy for a virus to establish an infection? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
There are very few ways in which a virus can manage to infect us, and all of them require to surpass the skin in some way, such as getting through cuts, through the mouth, the nose, the eyes or the reproductive organs;
There are multiple physical and chemical barriers that prevent viruses from infecting us all the time a...2024-01-1816 minThe Viral TalkAsk a Professional - Zika virus and climate change with Nerea IrigoyenThis is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON
behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews
Nerea Irigoyen, Research group leader in the Pathology department of the University of Cambridge. We’re going to talk about Zika virus in pregnancy, the role of climate change for...2023-12-1423 minThe Viral TalkAsk a Professional - AI and pandemic preparedness with Marcus BlagroveThis is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Marcus Blagrove, Senior Lecturer in Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour at the
University of Liverpool. In this episode we’re going to talk about AI in virology, pandemic preparedne...2023-11-3019 minThe Viral TalkAsk a Professional series - SARS-CoV-2 variants with Wil FurnonThis is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Dr Wil Furnon, Post doctoral research associate at the Centre for Virus Research of the University of Glasgow. In this episode we’re going to talk about SARS-CoV-2...2023-11-1624 minThe Viral TalkAsk a Professional series - mRNA modification and viral infections with Hannah BurgessThis is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists.
Join the host Federico in the second episode of the series interviewing Hannah Burgess, lecturer in the Department of Microbial Sciences at the University of Surrey. In this episode we’re going to cover th...2023-11-0213 minThe Viral TalkAsk a Professional series - Bunyaviruses with Mark StengleinThis is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists.
Join the host Federico in the first episode of the series interviewing Mark Stenglein, the Associate Professor of
Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology at Colorado State University. In this episode we’re going to cover Bunyav...2023-10-1919 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 11 - Acute vs persistent viral infectionsWhat are the differences between acute and persistent viral infections? How can certain viruses stay with us forever and never be cleared? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
An acute infection is characterized by a sudden or rapid development of disease, that can either be resolved quickly or lead to death;
In a persistent infection, the virus is not cleared by our body, and it either becomes latent (e.g Herpes Simplex Virus) or it keeps replicating at low levels for very long periods of time (e.g...2023-10-0522 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 10 - How do viruses hijack the cell?How can tiny viruses hijack a cell and make it do their bidding? How can they survive a whole organism trying to get rid of them? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
Viruses make three types of proteins. One type to replicate, one type to protect their genome once they're outside of the host, and one to modify the cell they infect at their 'whim'.
The proteins they use to change the structure of the cell often work through 'mimicry'. They have motifs/domains that resemble...2023-09-2119 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 9 - How do viruses cause disease?How do viruses cause disease? What are the processes that make us sick and what can we do about it? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Takeaways:
When viruses infect our cells they hijack them and sequester all the resources that the cell might need to stay alive, causing it to malfunction and die.
Infected cells also recognize that they're infected and 'self-destruct' to stop the infection.
When cells recognize a virus they release signals that call in the immune system, which leads to inflammation...2023-08-0320 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 8 - mRNA vaccines and COVID-19What are mRNA vaccines? How do they work and why are they considered revolutionary? This and much more in this episode of the Viral Talk.
Key Takeaways:
Vaccines work by introducing an element that resembles a pathogen into our body, so that our immune system can learn to counter it without the need to get infected first.
Vaccination induces our body to produce antibodies, which are tiny proteins that recognise and attach themselves to the pathogen.
mRNA vaccines are a relatively new technology that inject into our body the instructions (messenger RNA) to...2023-07-2023 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 7 - Viral DiversityHow many types of viruses are there? How do scientist classify them and why is it important to know? This and much more in this episode of the Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
Scientists predict hundreds of millions of different viral species on our planet, but they can all be grouped in 'only' seven different groups.
These seven groups have been theorized by virologist David Baltimore based on the different types of genomes they can have, and how this affects the way in which they replicate.
In nature, almost all organisms follow the central...2023-06-0827 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 6 - BacteriophagesWhat are bacteriophages? Are they important for our ecology and what do we know about them? Join the host Federico De Angelis in understanding what these viruses are, what they do and how we can harness their potential.
Takeaways:
- Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses. They only infect bacteria.
- They are the most abundant biological entity on the planet.
- Phages are very specific, with one phage species infecting a single bacterial species.
- Phages have two distinct infectious cycles. The lytic cycle during which they infect bacteria and kill them by...2023-05-2517 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 5 - Emerging Viral PathogensWhat is an emerging virus? How do new viral pathogens emerge, which viruses are the ones on our watchlist and what is being done to prevent a new pandemic from happening? Join the host Federico De Angelis in understanding what are the threats that virologists from all over the world are trying to tame.
Takeaways:
Emerging viruses are agents responsible for a new or previously non-recognized infection.
For a new viral pathogen to emerge, it needs the ability to infect a different host from its reservoir, and to diffuse in the new host...2023-05-1124 minSee AlsoEpisode 49: Girlfriends (Toy Poodle)It was only a matter of time.In this Poodle episode (aka See Also's deep dives on the films we love most), Kate and Brodie come together to discuss Girlfriends, Claudia Weill's directorial debut from 1978, and an absolutely perfect film. Co-written by Vicki Polon, it starts Melanie Mayron as Susan Weinblatt, who has a perfect face and spends her days shooting bar mitzvahs and waiting for her big, artistic break in late-'70s New York City. When her best friend and roommate, Anne (Anita Skinner), a writer, gets married and moves out of their apartment, Susan...2023-04-2854 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 4 - Basics of InfectionWhat needs to happen for a virus to successfully infect a host? What is the infectious cycle? Join the host Federico De Angelis in finding out what are all the obstacles that must be overcome by viruses in order to establish an infection, and what happens once viruses manage to get inside a cell.
Takeaways:
Viruses can only infect us through our openings, such as the mouth, nose, eyes, genitals and scratches or bruises on our skin.
Once they get inside the host they have to survive a multiple of physical and chemical...2023-04-1522 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 3 - Zoonosis & SpilloverWhat does the term 'spillover' mean? How do zoonoses apply to our everyday life? What can we do to reduce the chances of new pandemics happening? Join the host Federico De Angelis to find out.
Takeaways:
A zoonosis (or zoonotic event) takes place when a pathogen that is adapted at infecting one species (e.g. humans), manages to 'jump' and infect a different one.
Between 60 and 75% of all human pathogens come from our exposure to animals.
There are human factors which can increase the chances of zoonosis happening - climate change, deforestation, 'bushmeat...2023-03-3016 min
The Viral TalkEpisode 2 - Viral TransmissionHow are viruses transmitted to stay in the population? What can we do to stop them? Join the host Federico De Angelis in finding out about the different types of viral transmission and learn about the behaviors that can stop them.
Takeaways:
· Viruses can be transmitted person-to-person
· Through food and water
· On objects
· Via insects(!)
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Follow The Viral Talk on Instag...2023-03-1612 minThe Viral TalkEpisode 1 - What is a Virus?What are viruses? Are they alive? Should we care? Listen to this episode to discover these tiny organisms and learn more about their biology.
Takeaways:
- 1) Viruses are organisms that can spread between individuals; 2) That take the resources to spread and reproduce from other organisms; 3) that must get inside the cells of the organisms they infect to reproduce; 4) That are made of DNA or RNA contained within a coat of proteins.
- Viruses are fundamentally dead (except when they are intracellular).
- We should not humanize them. Viruses are...2023-03-0218 min
The Viral TalkWelcome To The Viral TalkThe Viral Talk is a podcast focused on simple and straightforward education on all-things virology, from the basis of infection to the concept of spillover and mRNA vaccines and beyond.
Join the host Federico De Angelis (B.Sc., M.Res in microbiology) every other week to unravel the mysteries of viruses.
Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/the_viral_talk_/
Music by Stockaudios from Pixabay2023-02-1801 min