People, Parasites, and Plagues
Episodes
The World’s Most Successful Parasite: Inside Toxoplasma’s Weird Biology
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 Toxoplasm...
Rebuilding Immunity: The Thymus, Your Immune System’s Hidden Architect
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
An Open-Source Pandemic: Genomes, Metadata, and Real-Time Outbreak Science
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Justin Bahl, a UGA Professor of Epidemology and Biostatistics. David and Kim explore how modern epidemiology use...
When Neutralizing Isn’t Enough: The Immunology of Alphavirus Defense
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 al...
The Hidden Empire of Parasitoid Wasps
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
From Pathogen to Prescription: Reimagining E. coli
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if your gut bacteria could become medicine?In this episode, a UGA microbiologist, Greg Phillips, reveals how engineered probiotic E. coli can pro...
The Silent Architect: Chromatin’s Role in Fungal Outbreaks
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dive into the world of chromatin and epigenetics with Dr. Zachary Lewis, an associate professor at the UGA Department of Microbiology. His research ex...
Endocytosis: T. cruzi's Cool Parasite Trick
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Parasites & Passports: Graduate Students on Science & Self-Discovery
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two UGA graduate students take us inside their world of science! Kaelynn Parker (Cellular Biology) and Grace Woods Vick (Infectious Diseases) share wh...
The Science of Public Policy
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode leans into the “people” side of People, Parasites & Plagues.Our guest is Dr. Erik C. Ness, Professor and Director of the Louise M...
Lock and Key: The Devious Mechanisms of Viral Entry
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re joined by Dr. Melinda Brindley, a molecular virologist at the UGA Department of Infectious Diseases. Her research explores how enveloped...
Observable Variations: Using Genetic Marker Systems for Infectious Diseases
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ho...
PPP Book Club: Infectious Reads 2
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're ending this season with another Book Club! Our hosts are joined today by Production Assistant Syd Weigand to discuss the novels they'v...
Treating Mosquitoes: Innovative Ways To Combat Malaria
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're joined by Dr. Douglas Paton, Assistant Professor of the UGA Department of Infectious Diseases. We've covered malaria before-...
Harnessing the Hulk: Insights on T Cell Function
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Dep...
SCWDS: Monitoring Wildlife Health for 50 Years
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
Wolbachia: Unwelcome Guest or Essential Partner?
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Microbiolo...
Hypnozoites: World's Best Nappers
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
Mom For The Win: Setting Up Your Early Immunity For Success!
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're back today with a special visitor: Dr. Stephanie Langel, Assistant Professor of the Case Western University Department of Pathology. Tune i...
TB, Or Not TB
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Ins And Outs of Biocontainment
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Life & Times of the Schisto Kid
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us this week for a special discussion with Emeritus Professor of Microbiology Dr. Daniel Colley. We're chatting with him about his time spen...
Galen: A Guy With A Great Sense Of Humors
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 tal...
Bears Hibernate, And So Does Malaria?
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 un...
Transposons Advance Fungal Research By Leaps & Bounds
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
That’s NOT A Nucleus In Your Red Blood Cell
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Vasant Muralidharan joins us this week for a metaphor-packed discussion about malaria and his work (and personal experience) with the Plasmodium ...
A Lesson In Mentoring
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Communicate Your Research In 3 Minutes. Go!
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're back with a new sort of episode this week as we chat with "Three Minute Thesis" participants Jordan Parker and Hannah Ericson abo...
Are You Faster Than a Nematode?
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The answer may surprise you! We're kicking off a new season with Dr. Astra Bryant: neuroscientist, parasitologist, and Assistant Professor at the...
The Off-Key Immune Response to Malaria
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We've got another great malaria episode lined up for you today with Dr. Noah Butler, a professor of microbiology and immunology from University o...
People, Parasites, and Pooches
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 lo...
A New Perspective on Parasites
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
Infectious Reads: A PPP Book Club
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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. Tod...
Asking About Aspergillus
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 resear...
Kissing Bugs Thrive, With a Little Help from Their Friends
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 bacteri...
Mosquitoes, Malaria, & Medicine
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ch...
Tapeworms: Baby Making Machines
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 he...
Buzzworthy Studies: The Ecology of Mosquitoes
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 abou...
The Lovely Study of Kissing Bugs
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode, we’re talking to the knowledgeable Dr. Nicole Gottdenker of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Together we dive into monitori...
Still Fighting The Fiery Serpent
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we're joined by Dr. Chris Cleveland from the UGA Department of Population Health to talk guinea worm.
Campy: The Not So Sweet Side Of Carbohydrates
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're joined by Dr. Christine Szymanski from the UGA Complex Carbohydrate Research Center to discuss her work with Campylobacter jejuni, ...
Communications And Vaccinations
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're joined by the knowledgable Dr. Glen Nowak, the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the UGA Grady College of Journalis...
The Good, The Bad, And The Fungus
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Xiaorong Lin, a distinguished professor of medical mycology at the University of Georgia's Department o...
Devastating Diseases of Seeds
26 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Dr. Ron Walcott joins us to talk about diseases affecting seeds, and the challenges, and opportunities, in directing graduate educatio...
A Career in Science, with Dr. Jessica Kissinger
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode Dr. Jessica Kissinger reflects on her unconventional path to a successful and productive career in science. Dr. Jessica Kissinge...
Petabytes of Problematic Pathogens
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Dr. Jessica Kissinger joins us to talk about how insights gained from analyzing parasite genomes can help us more effectively develo...
Genomic Detective Work
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Brain eating amoeba
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Malaria: Developing new drugs to fight an ancient foe
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Dr. Belen Cassera joins us to discuss development of new drugs to treat and prevent malaria, one of the deadliest diseases afflicting ...
Media Coverage of Pandemics, Past and Present
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today 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 insig...
Coronavirus vaccines; In Chickens!
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 thes...
Influenza
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, 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 wi...