The Infectious Science Podcast
🌍 Welcome to the Infectious Science Podcast – Your source for cutting-edge insights on infectious diseases and the power of the One Health approach! 🎙️ Our mission? To empower YOU with the knowledge to better understand and prevent the spread of emerging diseases. Whether you're a researcher, clinician, student, or simply curious about public health, we bring experts and thought leaders together to spark innovation, collaboration, and critical thinking. Join us as we dive into the latest research, share inspiring stories, and make complex science accessible to everyone. Let’s build a healthier, more resilient world—one episode at a time! 🌱💡 Subscribe now and become part of the global community driving a safer future! #OneHealth #PublicHealth #InfectiousDiseases
Episodes
A parasite that senses you coming. An “egg” that waits for the right moment. A life cycle designed to turn a host into a nursery. Space pathogen sci-fi stories hit so hard because they borrow from real evolutionary tricks, and in this episode we put that biology under a microscope as we dissect out some of our sci-fi favorites. We start with the Alien franchise and unpack what makes xenomorph horror feel believable:...
Parasites spark equal parts fascination and fear—and they reveal how closely our health is tied to animals, food, water, and the places we live. We take you from the “heirlooms” we inherited from primate ancestors to the “souvenirs” picked up through agriculture and travel, then unpack what parasites actually do to the human body and why some symptoms are red flags while others are everyday noise. Along the way, we ...
Ice doesn’t just melt; it remembers. As permafrost thaws, we unpack what really ‘wakes up’ in the soil—and what that means for human health, animals, crops, and culture. We bring a One Health lens to a noisy topic, cutting through “zombie virus” headlines to explain why most human viruses don’t survive freeze–thaw cycles, and how a 2016 Siberian outbreak became a case study in climate, ecology, and policy colliding....
The average primary care visit lasts about 18 minutes. Complex symptoms, multiple conditions, and a maze of electronic forms don’t fit neatly into that window—and neither do the emotions that come with being sick. We sat down with advocates including a medical writer who was part of ACT UP, a sickle cell advocacy leader and a humanities scholar turned epidemiologist to unpack how patients, families, and clinicians c...
Curious how AI can make healthcare feel more human instead of less? We sit down with medical writer and AI adoption strategist Dr. Núria Negrão, who went from bench science to building practical ways for clinicians, researchers, and communicators to use generative tools without losing accuracy or empathy. From HIV educations roots to today’s most promising AI workflows, we trace what’s working now and where the next...
The climate isn’t just warming—it’s reorganizing the rules of biology. We explore how rising temperatures, deforestation, wildfire smoke, and thawing permafrost are reshaping the risk landscape for malaria parasites, heat-trained fungi, spillover-prone viruses, and resilient bacteria. From Kenyan highlands that became friendlier to Anopheles mosquitoes, to urban heat islands that may condition fungi to tolerate our ...
Imagine a toxin so potent that a few nanograms can shut down a muscle—and yet, in the right hands, it eases migraines and calms spasms. We take you from the sausage-linked origins of botulism to the science of spores, food safety, infant risks, wound contamination, and the carefully controlled medical use of botulinum toxin. Along the way, we unpack how this anaerobic bacterium survives heat, why improperly canned f...
War is a vector of disease. The battlefield isn't just a place where bullets fly—it's where pathogens thrive and evolve. Throughout human history, war and disease have been inseparable companions, creating perfect storms of contagion that affect soldiers and civilians alike.
Our journey begins in the Boer War concentration camps where measles swept through malnourished populations. We explore how ...
The cutting edge of infectious disease control isn't just about vaccines or treatments—it's increasingly about data. Dr. Stephen Molldrem, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Bioethics and Health Humanities, takes us deep into the world of pathogen genomics and the remarkable ethical questions that emerge when we sequence disease-causing microorganisms.
What happens when genetic analysis can ...
A hidden killer lurks in the humble dust of forgotten cabins and outbuildings across America. World-renowned virologist Dr. Thomas Ksiazek takes us behind the scenes of the landmark 1993 Four Corners outbreak, where hantavirus first emerged on the national stage, claiming lives with a swift and devastating pulmonary syndrome unlike anything seen before in North America.
With over four decades on the frontli...
Measles isn't just a childhood rash—it's a potentially devastating illness that can reset your entire immune system. In this eye-opening conversation, our team explores why this ancient virus still demands our attention in 2025.
When we began recording this episode, a troubling measles outbreak was unfolding in Texas, with two unvaccinated children already having lost their lives. We dive into the...
What if your Google searches could predict disease outbreaks before traditional surveillance methods? That's exactly what happened during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic when researchers discovered online search patterns matched CDC data – but delivered results much faster.
Welcome to the fascinating world of infodemiology, where digital footprints become powerful tools for public health. In this eye-opening co...
Unravel the intricate stories behind ancient mummies and their connection to various pathogens in our latest podcast episode of this season. This engaging discussion leads listeners through a fascinating exploration of how the health of past civilizations reveals untold secrets about diseases that shaped their societies. We explore the different types of mummies—both anthropogenic and spontaneous—and what their pres...
Unlock the secrets of the brain's most enigmatic conditions with Dr. Mauro Montalbano, our esteemed guest from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He takes us on a journey through his lab's cutting-edge research into neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. You'll gain a deep understanding of the sinister role played by protein aggregates, particularly amyloid b...
This episode tackles the alarming rise of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States, exploring our hidden epidemic and the multitude of factors leading to this increase. We delve into the impact of COVID-19, the necessity for comprehensive sex education, the influence of cultural norms, and the importance of destigmatizing conversations around sexual health. Tune in to learn about:
• One H...
Gain a deeper understanding of the intricate connections between humans, animals, and the environment as we explore the One Health concept. Picture the harmony of adding a curious chameleon to our office or the joy of raising a lamb on a farm, and discover how these experiences underscore the vital interplay between species. Together, we unravel the complexities of zoonotic diseases, emphasizing the crucial balance ...
Could tuberculosis truly shape our understanding of beauty? Prepare to unravel the eerie yet intriguing connection between this historical disease and the evolution of beauty standards across centuries. With Christina and Camille at the helm, we guide you through the pale, waif-like ideals of the 17th and 18th centuries, deeply entwined with TB’s impact. Drawing from Carolyn Day’s insightful work “Consumptive Chic,”...
Happy Halloween from the Infectious Science Podcast team! Join us as we dive into the parallels between medical and folkloric narratives. In this episode we explore how rabies inspired the werewolf myth. We dissect how rabies causes neurological symptoms and explore how forms of education and storytelling around disease have shifted over time. We hope this episode has you howling with laughter as you learn something...
Antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals have revolutionized modern medicine, saving countless lives and transforming our approach to infectious diseases. In this episode of our podcast, we delve into the differences between these powerful tools of modern medicine. We explore their discovery, impacts, and the pressing issue of evolving resistance.
We dive into where we get antibiotics, how they work and wh...
Unlock the mysteries of Hansen's disease with us as we welcome acclaimed dermatopathologist, Dr. Mara Dacso. Through her journey from medical school in Galveston to her significant work in Baton Rouge, Dr. Dacso shares her extensive knowledge on leprosy, often termed the "great mimicker". Learn how the varied clinical presentations—from minor skin patches to severe systemic reactions—pose challenges f...
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