Episodes

Send us a text 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…

Send us a text 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 …

Send us a text 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 jour…

Send us a text 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 et…

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 hantaviru...

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 20...

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 d...

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 th...

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 neur...

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,...

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...

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 Cam...

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...

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 ...

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 ex...

Curious about how armadillos and ancient diseases intersect? Prepare to be captivated as we unravel the fascinating mysteries surrounding Hansen's disease, more commonly known as leprosy. We start this season with some fresh ...

Ever wondered about the intricate connection between human, animal, plant, and environmental health? Join us as Dr. Shannan Rossi, an associate professor in the Department of Pathology at UTMB, illuminates this fascinating co...

Ever wondered how bird flu affects not just our feathered friends, but also the wider ecosystem? Prepare to be enlightened as we journey into the world of avian influenza with Dr. Greg Gray. A respected authority on respirato...

Welcome to an eye-opening episode of our podcast, where we uncover the hidden dangers lurking in our food. Join me and our guest, Dr. Alfredo Torres, as we embark on a journey through bacteriology. In our conversation, Dr. To...

Ever wondered how a renowned poet's death can lead to a twisty mystery entwined with the hidden world of lethal bacteria? Prepare to be enthralled as we join forces with Dr. Alfredo Torres, a renowned figure in Microbiology a...

What if you could help prevent the spread of African swine fever and protect your pigs from this devastating virus? Join us as we dive into a conversation with Dr. Pam Luca and Dr. Loya Inca Asala from the West African Center...

What if you could explore the world of One Health in Nigeria and learn from top scientists, like Dr. Nathan Shehu, Dr. Pam Luka, and Dr. Loya Inka Asala? In this fascinating episode, we dive into the West African Center for E...

In this podcast episode, the hosts delve into a fascinating paper published in Nature Communication s about Toxoplasma gondii, a single-cell parasite that can alter the behavior of its hosts. The study focused on cougars and ...

Description: In this episode, the hosts discuss a serious viral disease called Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) that affects cats and is caused by a feline coronavirus. FIP is almost always fatal, and younger cats are at g...