People, Parasites, and Plagues

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Robyn Kent, Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, to explore how Toxoplasma gondii persists in the body long after infection.Dr. Kent breaks down the parasite’s chronic stage, where Toxoplasma forms cysts in tissues like the brain and muscle. But rather than simply “going dormant,” her research suggests these parasites may remain active, responsive, and far more dynamic than previously thought.We discuss tachyzoites, bradyzoites, cyst walls, immune evasion, single-cell RNA sequencing, and why understanding chronic toxoplasma infection is essential for future vaccines and treatments.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Uhl, a veterinary pathologist at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine, to explore how disease leaves its mark across time.Dr. Uhl introduces us to paleopathology, the study of disease in ancient remains, and explains how animal bones, historical records, archaeology, and modern pathology can work together to reveal the health landscapes of the past. From pre-Columbian dog skeletons and canine distemper to horses, wartime disease, and the One Health paradigm, this conversation traces the deep connections between humans, animals, pathogens, and history.We also discuss how looking backward can help us better understand the diseases we face today.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Diego Huet, an associate professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Georgia, to explore Toxoplasma gondii. It's often called the world’s most successful parasite.Infecting up to a third of the global population, Toxoplasma is both incredibly common and largely invisible. Dr. Huet breaks down how it spreads, why most people never know they have it, and how it can persist in the body for life by forming dormant cysts.We also dive into the parasite’s surprisingly complex biology, from its unusual ATP synthase (with nearly double the components found in humans) to the bigger evolutionary questions behind why it works the way it does. Along the way, we explore how scientists use Toxoplasma as a model to better understand other parasites, and how these differences could lead to more targeted treatments in the future.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Nancy Manley, Director of the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. Before ASU, she spent over 20 years at the University of Georgia, where she served as Head of the Department of Genetics and a Distinguished Research Professor studying the thymus.We explore one of the body’s most overlooked yet essential organs, the thymus, and how it builds and shapes the immune system over time. Dr. Manley breaks down why this organ is far more dynamic than most people realize, and why its complexity makes it so challenging to study.From immune development to aging and disease, this conversation highlights how much we still don’t understand, and why it matters.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Justin Bahl, a UGA Professor of Epidemology and Biostatistics. David and Kim explore how modern epidemiology uses genomic data and statistics to track the spread of infectious diseases.From studying fungi on palm leaves across Asia and Australia to analyzing viral genomes during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, Dr. Bahl shares how global field experience and biostatistical tools come together to reveal how pathogens move through populations.We discuss molecular epidemiology, the importance of metadata, and how real-time data sharing transformed outbreak investigations during pandemics like H1N1 and COVID-19.

The hosts sit down with Dr. Julie Fox, Chief of the Emerging Virus Immunity Unit at NIAID, National Institutes of Health, to explore the science of alphavirus immunity and what antibodies really do in the context of alphavirus infection.From chikungunya virus and its debilitating joint disease to broader mosquito-borne alphaviruses, Dr. Fox explains why these viruses are powerful models for studying immune protection. We move beyond the traditional view of antibodies as simple neutralizers and examine Fc-mediated effector functions, viral escape, and how mechanistic immunology informs the design of more durable vaccines and antibody therapies.Dr. Fox also shares her path into government research, what it takes to launch a lab at NIH, and the training programs available for graduate students and aspiring biologists interested in infectious disease research.

Parasitoid wasps are some of the most successful organisms on Earth, even if most of us never notice them.In this episode, Dr. Michael Strand from the UGA Department of Entomology takes us inside the hidden world of parasitoid wasps. These insects lay their eggs in other insects and rely on domesticated viruses to suppress host immune systems and control development. We explore how these virus–wasp partnerships evolved over millions of years, why they have made parasitoid wasps incredibly diverse, and how their biology influences ecosystems and agricultural pest control.From evolutionary arms races to real-world applications, this episode reveals a biological battle happening all around us, right under our noses.

What if your gut bacteria could become medicine?In this episode, a UGA microbiologist, Greg Phillips, reveals how engineered probiotic E. coli can produce L-dopa, the frontline treatment for Parkinson’s, directly inside the gut. We explore the gut–brain connection, the power of the microbiome, and how living microbes could become the next generation of drug delivery systems.From World War I probiotic strains to modern genetic engineering, this episode takes you inside a bold new frontier of microbiome-based medicine.

Dive 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.

This 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.

Two 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.

This 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.

Today 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.

This 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.

We'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.

This 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. 

Today'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.

Today 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!

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.

This 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.

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

This 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.

We'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. 

Join 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.

We'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. 

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.

We'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.

Dr. Vasant Muralidharan joins us this week for a metaphor-packed discussion about malaria and his work (and personal experience) with the Plasmodium parasite. 

This 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.

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.

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.

We'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!

Dr. 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.

This 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. 

Dr. 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.

Today 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.

It'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. 

We’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. 

This 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.

We'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!

For 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.

This week, we're joined by Dr. Chris Cleveland from the UGA Department of Population Health to talk guinea worm. 

Today 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". 

Today 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.

In 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."

In 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.

In 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. 

 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. 

According 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 bacterial foodborne pathogens using metagenomics with a particular focus on  Salmonella population dynamics in food animals and in the environment.  

In 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.