People, Parasites, and Plagues
David Peterson and Kim Klonowski 56 episodes Oct 25, 2026
People, Parasites, and Plagues explores the pathogens that surround us through conversations with infectious disease researchers. Hosts Dr. David Peterson and Dr. Kim Klonowski, both from the University of Georgia, discuss the past, present, and future of science. New episodes appear every other week and examine some of Earth's most perplexing diseases.
Episodes
The Parasite and the Placenta: Malaria During Pregnancy (Part 1)
What happens when malaria threatens more than just the person infected?In Part 1 of this two-part episode of People, Parasites & Plagues, hosts David Peterson and Kim Klonowski welcome Dr. Julie Moore, a professor at the University of Florida, to explore the complex relationship between malaria and pregnancy.Dr. Moore discusses how malaria parasites interact with the placenta, the challenges t
Regeneration Nation: Inside the Remarkable Biology of Planarians
How does a planarian know what to regrow, and when to stop? In this episode of People, Parasites & Plagues, we sit down with Dr. Rachel Roberts-Galbraith from UGA's Regenerative Bioscience Center to explore the remarkable biology that allows planarians to regenerate missing parts of their bodies.We dive into how these tiny organisms repair wounds, rebuild complex tissues, and coordinate t
The Parasite with Thousands of Disguises: How Trypanosomes Evade Immunity
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. David Horn, Chair of Parasite Molecular Biology at the University of Dundee in Scotland. We explore how Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite responsible for African sleeping sickness, manages to stay one step ahead of the immune system.Dr. Horn explains the remarkable process of antigenic variation, where trypanosomes draw from thousands of surface-protein genes a
Toxoplasma’s Stealth Mode: Hiding in the Brain
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 rema
Paleopathology: A Window Into Ancient Diseases
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 la
The World’s Most Successful Parasite: Inside Toxoplasma’s Weird Biology
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 h
Rebuilding Immunity: The Thymus, Your Immune System’s Hidden Architect
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 an
An Open-Source Pandemic: Genomes, Metadata, and Real-Time Outbreak Science
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 biostatist
When Neutralizing Isn’t Enough: The Immunology of Alphavirus Defense
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 studyi
The Hidden Empire of Parasitoid Wasps
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–was
From Pathogen to Prescription: Reimagining E. coli
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 probio
The Silent Architect: Chromatin’s Role in Fungal Outbreaks
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 the
Endocytosis: T. cruzi's Cool Parasite Trick
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.
Parasites & Passports: Graduate Students on Science & Self-Discovery
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.
The Science of Public Policy
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 pub
Lock and Key: The Devious Mechanisms of Viral Entry
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.
Observable Variations: Using Genetic Marker Systems for Infectious Diseases
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.
PPP Book Club: Infectious Reads 2
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.
Treating Mosquitoes: Innovative Ways To Combat Malaria
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.
Harnessing the Hulk: Insights on T Cell Function
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.
SCWDS: Monitoring Wildlife Health for 50 Years
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!
Wolbachia: Unwelcome Guest or Essential Partner?
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.
Hypnozoites: World's Best Nappers
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.
Mom For The Win: Setting Up Your Early Immunity For Success!
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_GSMuzu
TB, Or Not TB
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.
The Ins And Outs of Biocontainment
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.
The Life & Times of the Schisto Kid
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.
Galen: A Guy With A Great Sense Of Humors
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.
Bears Hibernate, And So Does Malaria?
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.
Transposons Advance Fungal Research By Leaps & Bounds
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.
That’s NOT A Nucleus In Your Red Blood Cell
Dr. Vasant Muralidharan joins us this week for a metaphor-packed discussion about malaria and his work (and personal experience) with the Plasmodium parasite.
A Lesson In Mentoring
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.
Communicate Your Research In 3 Minutes. Go!
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.
Are You Faster Than a Nematode?
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.
The Off-Key Immune Response to Malaria
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!
People, Parasites, and Pooches
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.
A New Perspective on Parasites
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.
Infectious Reads: A PPP Book Club
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 &qu
Asking About Aspergillus
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.
Kissing Bugs Thrive, With a Little Help from Their Friends
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.
Mosquitoes, Malaria, & Medicine
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.
Tapeworms: Baby Making Machines
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.
Buzzworthy Studies: The Ecology of Mosquitoes
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!
The Lovely Study of Kissing Bugs
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.
Still Fighting The Fiery Serpent
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
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".
Communications And Vaccinations
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.
The Good, The Bad, And The Fungus
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."
Devastating Diseases of Seeds
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, pl
A Career in Science, with Dr. Jessica Kissinger
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
Petabytes of Problematic Pathogens
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
Genomic Detective Work
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 mole
Brain eating amoeba
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 th
Malaria: Developing new drugs to fight an ancient foe
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 humankind. Dr. Belen Cassera is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology here at UGA, and a member of the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. Her research focuses on discovery of new drugs to pre
Media Coverage of Pandemics, Past and Present
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 insights into media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Janice Hume is a distinguished professor, researcher, author, and head of the department of Journalism of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication here at UGA.
Coronavirus vaccines; In Chickens!
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 these pathogens, and the vaccines developed to counter them.
Influenza
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 will affect this year’s flu season.
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