This Week in Parasitism

This Week in Parasitism

TWiP is a monthly netcast about eukaryotic parasites. Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier, science Professors from Columbia University, deconstruct parasites, how they cause illness, and how you can prevent infections.

Episodes

November 28, 2025 56 mins

TWiP solves the case about the man with abnormal brain MRI, and presents a new case for your solving about a man with some electrolyte issues related to his end-stage renal disease.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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TWiP travels to Toronto, CA for the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference where they meet up with Martin Grobusch to discuss his career and his work.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

Guest: Martin Grobusch

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November 9, 2025 60 mins

TWiP discusses a 41-year long human infection with Schistosoma mansoni, and CRISPR screens that reveal genes essential for Cryptosporidium survival in the host intestine.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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October 21, 2025 54 mins

TWiP solves the case about the female who traveled to Brazil and upon returning home felt movements under her scalp on the back of her head, and present another case for your solving, a man with abnormal brain MRI.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

Guest: Eyal Leshem

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TWiP explains research showing that treatment of baby wraps with an insect repellent, and oral dosing with ivermectin, are both effective measures to prevent malaria.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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TWiP solves the case about the parasite check in summer camp, and presents a new case about a woman who traveled to Brazil and developed furuncles on the back of her head.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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August 29, 2025 43 mins

Vincent and Daniel discuss research showing that Toxoplasma gondii infection of the brain alters extracellular vesicle production and the communication between neurons and astrocytes.

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August 21, 2025 57 mins

TWiP solves the case of the world travelers with poppy-seed size dots embedded in their skin, then present a new case about parasite check in summer camp.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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TWiP reviews research suggesting that schistosome infection affect behavior through the gut-brain axis, and Chuck Knirsch joins to reminisce about Dickson Despommier.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

Guest: Chuck Knirsch

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July 4, 2025 72 mins

TWiP solves the case of the pregnant woman from Tanzania with dehydration and 3 weeks of bloody stool, a situation that would confuse Ockam but not Dr. Hickam.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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June 24, 2025 65 mins

TWiP explains how circadian clocks of parasite and vector circadian mediate efficient malaria transmission.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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June 2, 2025 57 mins

TWiP solves the case of the man in the Malaysian city of Kucheng who presents with daily fevers and shaking chills, and serve a new clinical puzzle for you to solve.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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May 13, 2025 62 mins

TWiP describes how a gut commensal protozoan influences respiratory disease outcomes by shaping pulmonary immunity, and body shape variation in lice that parasitize diving hosts.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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April 19, 2025 51 mins

TWiP solves the case of the man in the Malaysian city of Kucheng who presents with left arm swelling, and presents a new case for you to decipher.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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TWiP explains a study that carries out selection of Plasmodium falciparum in the presence of inhibitors to identify determinants of drug resistance, and a paleoparasitological analysis of a 5th–16th c. CE latrine.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

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March 22, 2025 56 mins

Michelle Labrunda joins TWiP to solve the case of the Georgian in Guinea with fever and dry cough, and describe a new case for you to solve.

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDaniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

Guest: Michelle Labrunda

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March 9, 2025 60 mins

TWiP explains a study which finds that tissue spaces are reservoirs of antigenic diversity for Trypanosoma brucei, then remembers our departed colleague Dickson Despommier.