Shows
People, Parasites, and PlaguesThe Silent Architect: Chromatin’s Role in Fungal OutbreaksDive into the world of chromatin and epigenetics with Dr. Zachary Lewis, an associate professor at the UGA Department of Microbiology. His research explores how chromatin structure and other epigenetic mechanisms shape genome organization, function, and long-term stability in eukaryotic cells. He particularly studies chromatin within fungal pathogens. In this episode, Dr. Lewis breaks down why these molecular systems matter, how they influence fungal disease, and the cutting-edge methods his lab uses to study them.
2025-12-0534 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesEndocytosis: T. cruzi's Cool Parasite TrickThis episode takes us inside the lab of Dr. Drew Etheridge, an associate professor in the UGA Department of Cellular Biology. He walks us through his scientific path and his current work on endocytosis in Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasite is often overlooked, yet it is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States as it moves north from Central and South America.
2025-11-1440 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesParasites & Passports: Graduate Students on Science & Self-DiscoveryTwo UGA graduate students take us inside their world of science! Kaelynn Parker (Cellular Biology) and Grace Woods Vick (Infectious Diseases) share what it’s really like working in the lab, traveling abroad, and chasing their passion for research.
2025-10-3133 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesThe Science of Public PolicyThis episode leans into the “people” side of People, Parasites & Plagues.Our guest is Dr. Erik C. Ness, Professor and Director of the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at UGA. While his past work explored how education policy is implemented across states, his latest research takes on a timely challenge: how misinformation and “alternative facts,” especially in the age of AI, shape public policy.
2025-10-1536 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesLock and Key: The Devious Mechanisms of Viral EntryToday we’re joined by Dr. Melinda Brindley, a molecular virologist at the UGA Department of Infectious Diseases. Her research explores how enveloped viruses enter host cells and replicate. Understanding this process could lead to new ways of developing treatments for viral infections.
2025-09-2633 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesObservable Variations: Using Genetic Marker Systems for Infectious DiseasesThis week, we’re joined by Dr. Travis Glenn, Director of the UGA Institute of Bioinformatics, to discuss his work with genetic marker systems and how he's using these systems to group infectious diseases.
2025-09-1338 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesPPP Book Club: Infectious Reads 2We're ending this season with another Book Club! Our hosts are joined today by Production Assistant Syd Weigand to discuss the novels they've read about malaria, tuberculosis, and new guinea tapeworms.
2025-05-3033 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesTreating Mosquitoes: Innovative Ways To Combat MalariaThis week we're joined by Dr. Douglas Paton, Assistant Professor of the UGA Department of Infectious Diseases. We've covered malaria before- but not like this! Tune in to hear about his groundbreaking work on an incredible new way to treat the disease.
2025-05-1635 min
ImmunePeople, parasites, plagues, and podcastsImmune talks with David Peterson and Kim Klonowski from the University of Georgia about their careers, their People, parasites, and plagues podcast, placental malaria immunity, and and how interferons in the thymus affect T cell repertoire selection. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Steph Langel, and Brianne Barker Guests: David Peterson and Kim Klonowski Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server People, parasites, and plagues podcast Placental malaria and circumsporozoite protein-specific immunity (Trends in Parasitology) Sterile production of interferons in the thymus ...
2025-04-291h 00People, Parasites, and PlaguesHarnessing the Hulk: Insights on T Cell FunctionToday's guest is a special one; he's travelled all the way from Australia to chat with us! Dr. Stephen Turner, Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, joins us in the studio to discuss his research on T cells, his journey into science, and some great immune system analogies.
2025-04-2539 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesSCWDS: Monitoring Wildlife Health for 50 YearsToday we're talking to Dr. Mark Ruder, the Director of SCWDS and Professor of Wildlife Heath here at UGA. Tune in to hear about the origins of the Southern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study and Dr. Ruder's fascinating work with diseases in whitetail deer!
2025-04-1133 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesWolbachia: Unwelcome Guest or Essential Partner?You'll have to tune in to find out! Today we're chatting with Dr. Vincent Starai, an associate professor of the UGA Department of Microbiology about his research with the obligate intracellular bacterium Wolbachia and his passion for teaching.
2025-03-2835 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesHypnozoites: World's Best NappersThis week we're joined by Dr. Chester Joyner of the UGA Department of Infectious Diseases to discuss his research with Plasmodium vivax and the curious nature of its dormant liver stage.
2025-03-1444 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesMom For The Win: Setting Up Your Early Immunity For Success!We're back today with a special visitor: Dr. Stephanie Langel, Assistant Professor of the Case Western University Department of Pathology. Tune in to hear about her journey to science, her research on colostrum and immunity, and her own experience as a podcast host!Check out Stephanie's podcast "Immune" here: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vA26ZVp392p6udK7jltrI?si=dHqBa5_GSMuzuASWn2JT6Q
2025-02-2830 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesTB, Or Not TBThis week we're talking tuberculosis with Dr. Frederick Quinn, the Department Head of Infectious Diseases here at UGA. Tune in to hear about his current research with zoonotic tuberculosis and what he's learned about transmission of this deadly disease.
2025-02-1038 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesThe Ins And Outs of BiocontainmentWe've got a treat for you this week! Dr. Jeff Hogan of the UGA Department of Infectious Diseases is joining us to talk about his work in the most secure building on campus and his time spent protecting our country from diseases with USAMRIID.
2025-01-1738 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesThe Life & Times of the Schisto KidJoin us this week for a special discussion with Emeritus Professor of Microbiology Dr. Daniel Colley. We're chatting with him about his time spent with the CDC, becoming the director of the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases at UGA, and the research abroad that sparked his passion for schistosomes.
2024-12-2734 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesGalen: A Guy With A Great Sense Of HumorsWe're mixing it up a little bit this week with Dr. Susan Mattern of the UGA Department of Classics! Join us on our walk through history as we talk about Galen, a prolific Roman physician whose treatises dominated Western medicine for over a thousand years.
2024-12-1332 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesBears Hibernate, And So Does Malaria?Today we're chatting with post-doctoral associate Dr. Anthony Ruberto about his work with the Kyle Lab here at UGA and his journey towards the unique field of malaria research he's in today.
2024-11-2929 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesTransposons Advance Fungal Research By Leaps & BoundsWe're back this week to talk more Cryptococcus neoformans with Dr. Blake Billmyre of the UGA Department of Infectious Diseases! Join us to hear how he's studying transposons in an effort to improve antifungal drugs.
2024-11-1529 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesThat’s NOT A Nucleus In Your Red Blood CellDr. Vasant Muralidharan joins us this week for a metaphor-packed discussion about malaria and his work (and personal experience) with the Plasmodium parasite.
2024-11-0136 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesA Lesson In MentoringThis week we're chatting with Dr. Erin Dolan, a Professor of Science Education here at UGA about how different factors in student's research experiences influence them and how the presence of mentorship can affect their pathway into a STEM career.
2024-10-1831 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesCommunicate Your Research In 3 Minutes. Go!We're back with a new sort of episode this week as we chat with "Three Minute Thesis" participants Jordan Parker and Hannah Ericson about their experiences in this difficult competition and their interesting research on science education and equine stem cell therapy.
2024-10-0433 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesAre You Faster Than a Nematode?The answer may surprise you! We're kicking off a new season with Dr. Astra Bryant: neuroscientist, parasitologist, and Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. Tune in to hear about her research with Strongyloides stercoralis, a fascinating parasite with incredible thermosensory capabilities.
2024-09-2031 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesThe Off-Key Immune Response to MalariaWe've got another great malaria episode lined up for you today with Dr. Noah Butler, a professor of microbiology and immunology from University of Iowa. Join us as we learn about immune response during the blood-stage of a Plasmodium infection and cells who can sing!
2024-04-2929 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesPeople, Parasites, and PoochesDr. Rick Tarleton of the UGA Center for Tropical and Emerging Diseases to talk about his work with T. Cruzi and Chagas disease, what transmission looks like here in America, and the important research being done on the subject.
2024-04-1533 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesA New Perspective on ParasitesThis week we're chatting with Dr. Andrew Park, a professor with the UGA Odum School of Ecology, to discuss case studies of case studies and the interesting ways ecologists approach research on parasites.
2024-04-0127 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesInfectious Reads: A PPP Book ClubDr. Klonowski and Dr. Peterson are joined by PPP Assistant Producer Syd Weigand to discuss some novels that we think the plague doctor would love. Today we're covering "And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic" by Randy Shills, "Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It" by Gina Kolata, and "The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic" by Steven Johnson.
2024-03-1836 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesAsking About AspergillusToday we're joined by Dr. Michelle Momany, a fungal expert from the UGA Department of Plant Biology. Tune in to hear about her fascinating research with the common fungus Aspergillus and the potential risks it poses.
2024-03-0131 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesKissing Bugs Thrive, With a Little Help from Their FriendsIt's time to talk kissing bugs again! Today we're interviewing Dr. Kevin Vogel of the UGA Department of Entomology to discuss at the bacteria that call these insects home.
2024-02-0227 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesMosquitoes, Malaria, & MedicineWe’re back from our break for a great discussion with Dr. Samarchith Kurup of the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases! Join us for a chat about liver-stage malaria and the development of drugs and vaccines.
2024-01-1933 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesTapeworms: Baby Making MachinesThis week, we're talking tapeworms and stem cells with Dr. Tania Rozario from the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. Tune in to hear about her research with rats, how tapeworms utilize stem cells in unbelievable ways, and why you should NOT try the tapeworm diet.
2023-12-2229 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesBuzzworthy Studies: The Ecology of MosquitoesWe're chatting with Dr. Dan Peach, Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases, for an episode that you can really bite into! Join us to hear about his wild educational journey, the ecology of mosquitoes, impacts of global warming on disease transmission, and much more!
2023-12-0827 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesThe Lovely Study of Kissing BugsFor this episode, we’re talking to the knowledgeable Dr. Nicole Gottdenker of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Together we dive into monitoring the kissing bug, the insect vector of T. cruzi, and discuss why studying disease transmission is important for disease control.
2023-11-2427 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesStill Fighting The Fiery SerpentThis week, we're joined by Dr. Chris Cleveland from the UGA Department of Population Health to talk guinea worm.
2023-11-1039 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesCampy: The Not So Sweet Side Of CarbohydratesToday we're joined by Dr. Christine Szymanski from the UGA Complex Carbohydrate Research Center to discuss her work with Campylobacter jejuni, more commonly known as "traveler's diarrhea".
2023-10-2732 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesCommunications And VaccinationsToday we're joined by the knowledgable Dr. Glen Nowak, the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the UGA Grady College of Journalism, to talk communications. Dr. Nowak walks us through some of his time spent working with the CDC and explains just how important health informations programs can be.
2023-10-1332 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesThe Good, The Bad, And The FungusIn this episode, we're joined by Dr. Xiaorong Lin, a distinguished professor of medical mycology at the University of Georgia's Department of Microbiology. Dr. Lin explains some of the issues with the way that we fight fungal infections, common misconceptions, and even the HBO hit show "The Last of Us."
2023-09-2926 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesDevastating Diseases of SeedsIn this episode Dr. Ron Walcott joins us to talk about diseases affecting seeds, and the challenges, and opportunities, in directing graduate education at the University of Georgia. Dr. Walcott is a researcher in the Department of Plant Pathology, the Vice Provost for Graduate Education, and Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Georgia. His research interests include seed pathology, plant pathology, and bacteriology.
2021-12-2631 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesA Career in Science, with Dr. Jessica KissingerIn this bonus episode Dr. Jessica Kissinger reflects on her unconventional path to a successful and productive career in science. Dr. Jessica Kissinger is an evolutionary geneticist, and Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Genetics and the Institute of Bioinformatics. She is also a faculty member of the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. Her research is focused on parasite genomics, the biology of genome evolution, and the development of computational tools for data mining.
2021-11-2413 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesPetabytes of Problematic Pathogens In this episode Dr. Jessica Kissinger joins us to talk about how insights gained from analyzing parasite genomes can help us more effectively develop interventions against these dangerous pathogens in the future. Dr. Jessica Kissinger is an evolutionary geneticist, and Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Genetics and the Institute of Bioinformatics. She is also a faculty member of the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. Her research is focused on parasite genomics, the biology of genome evolution, and the development of computational tools for data mining.
2021-09-2330 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesGenomic Detective WorkAccording to the CDC, Salmonella bacteria cause over a million infections each year, and over 400 deaths in the US alone. While most of outbreaks are caused by contaminated food, some are linked to other sources such as wild or domestic birds, raccoons and even small turtles. But just how is an outbreak of Salmonella traced to its source? Our guest today can help us understand this process of molecular detective work. Dr. Nikki Shariat is an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Her areas of research include molecular epidemiology of bact...
2021-07-2223 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesBrain eating amoebaIn this episode Dr. Dennis Kyle joins us to talk about a deadly disease caused by Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba. Dr. Kyle is the Director of the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases at the University of Georgia, and a faculty member in the Departments of Infectious Diseases and Cellular Biology. His areas of research include drug discovery for malaria and the brain-eating amoeba, and understanding how parasites become resistant to drugs.
2021-06-0420 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesMalaria: Developing new drugs to fight an ancient foeIn this episode Dr. Belen Cassera joins us to discuss development of new drugs to treat and prevent malaria, one of the deadliest diseases afflicting humankind. Dr. Belen Cassera is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology here at UGA, and a member of the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. Her research focuses on discovery of new drugs to prevent and treat malaria, as well as understanding how these drugs work, and how parasites can sometimes become resistant to them.
2021-05-1929 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesMedia Coverage of Pandemics, Past and PresentToday our guest is Dr. Janice Hume, a historical journalist who has studied the print media coverage of the 1918 flu pandemic, and who can offer insights into media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Janice Hume is a distinguished professor, researcher, author, and head of the department of Journalism of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication here at UGA.
2021-05-0525 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesCoronavirus vaccines; In Chickens!Today we will talk with Dr. Mark Jackwood, who has spent much of his career studying coronaviruses in poultry, and can offer us some insight into these pathogens, and the vaccines developed to counter them.
2021-04-2133 minPeople, Parasites, and PlaguesInfluenzaToday, Dr. Mark Tompkins joined us to discuss all things flu. We will talk about the 1918 flu pandemic, flu vaccines, and how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect this year’s flu season.
2021-04-0733 min