Cockblocking Mosquitoes: The Genetic Fight Against Malaria

What happens when a deep-seated thirst for childhood revenge turns into a career in genetic engineering? You get an absolute badass who is plotting the ultimate downfall of the world's deadliest killer. Krystal is a Ugandan entomologist (aka a massive bug nerd) who has dedicated her life to taking down the mosquito. Growing up in Uganda, surviving malaria was basically a terrifying game of Russian roulette. Crystal shares the raw, heart-wrenching origin story that fueled her career: watching her little brother suffer through brutal, fever-induced seizures all night while her family simply couldn't afford the medication to treat him. Crystal completely schools Jeremie and Brian on what malaria actually does to the human body - and it is no joke. We're talking brain damage from cerebral malaria, "black water fever" (where your urine turns black from liver damage), and even gangrene that leads to amputations. We also dig into the wild fact that out of the 3,500 species of mosquitoes on Earth, only about four are the real assholes responsible for the vast majority of malaria transmission in Africa. This episode is a massive reality check about the devastating barriers to healthcare in the developing world, the literal life-saving impact of the Global Fund, and the badass science that might just eradicate this disease for good. Grab your bug spray and tune in.Follow Sickboy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sickboypodcastTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sickboypodcastDiscord: https://discord.gg/expeUDN