This Week in Parasitism
TWiP is a podcast about the tiny creatures that live in and on us.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson review the life cycle and pathogenesis of the giant kidney worm, Dioctophyme renale.

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Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv

Direct download: TWiP052.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 12:46pm PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Guest: Anthony A. James

Special guest Anthony A. James joins Vincent and Dickson to discuss how mosquitoes can be genetically modified to control infectious diseases.

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Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv

Direct download: TWiP051.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 7:48am PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson reveal how malaria parasites avoid lysis by complement in the mosquito.

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Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv

Direct download: TWiP050.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 6:44am PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson discuss innate immune sensing of Toxoplasma gondii in mice, and heme metabolism in protozoan parasites.

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Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv

Direct download: TWiP049.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 7:50am PST

Hosts: Vincent RacanielloDickson Despommier, and Josef Sabo

Vincent, Dickson, and Josef discuss tetraspanins on the surface of schistosomes as vaccine candidates and immune evasion proteins.

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Direct download: TWiP048.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 3:48pm PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson review evidence that a virus of the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis may exacerbate disease.

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Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv

Direct download: TWiP047.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 7:20am PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson meet with Judith Straimer and Marcus Lee to discuss their method for site-specific genome editing in Plasmodium falciparumusing zinc finger nucleases.

Right-click to download TWiP #46 (46 MB .mp3, 64 minutes).

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Direct download: TWiP046.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:52am PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson discuss Toxoplasma biology with Stanford University Professor John Boothroyd.

Links for this episode:

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Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

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Direct download: TWiP045.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 5:34pm PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson explain how a nematode manipulates cricket behavior and alters the food web of a stream.

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Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Direct download: TWiP044.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 3:31pm PST

Vincent and Dickson review how sickle cell microRNAs contribute to malaria resistance, and inhibition of innate immune responses by an enzyme from trypanosomes.

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Direct download: TWiP043.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 7:38am PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson answer listener emails about Leishmania, dual infection of vectors, tapeworms, liver flukes, toxoplasmosis, and much more.

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Direct download: TWiP042.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 1:40pm PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson review medically important arthropods.

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Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Direct download: TWiP041.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 6:43pm PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson discuss loaiasis caused by the filarial nematode Loa loa.

Right-click to download TWiP #40 (52 MB .mp3, 73 minutes).

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Direct download: TWiP040.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 5:58pm PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson review the biology and pathogenesis of the amoebae Naegleria fowlerii and Acanthamoeba castellani.

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.


Direct download: TWiP039.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 11:05am PST

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Vincent and Dickson tackle the backlog of listener email, then consider the life cycle and pathogenesis of Trichomonas vaginalis, the flagellated protozoan transmitted by sexual contact.

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Direct download: TWiP038.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 6:53pm PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss the life cycle and pathogenesis of Dracunculus medinensis, the filarial nematode that causes dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease.

Links for this episode:

Direct download: TWiP037.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 12:49pm PST

Vincent and Dickson review how gut bacteria help establish T. muris in the large intestine of mice.

Direct download: TWiP036.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 8:09am PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss control of malaria with their Columbia University colleague David Fidock.

Direct download: TWiP35.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 6:36pm PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss control of malaria and filariasis with the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia.

Direct download: TWiP034.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 10:57am PST

Vincent and Dickson review an in silico pipeline for identifying molecular mimicry candidate proteins in the genomes of parasites, and catch up on listener email.

Direct download: TWiP033.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 8:40am PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss immune evasion by the cruzain protease of T. cruzi, and novel tetraspanin antigens of S. japonicum.

Direct download: TWiP032.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 1:41pm PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss the promising results of a phase III trial of a malaria vaccine in African children.

Direct download: TWiP031.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 6:17pm PST

Vincent and Dickson have a broad-ranging conversation with Charles Knirsch of Pfizer, Inc. about how public-private partnerships can function to control and eliminate infectious diseases.

Direct download: TWiP030.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 9:15am PST

Vincent and Dickson converse with Peter Hotez about global health, vaccinology, and neglected tropical diseases.

Direct download: TWiP029.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 1:14pm PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss medical entomology with Robert W. Gwadz, Assistant Chief of the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research at NIAID.

Direct download: TWiP028.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 9:26am PST

Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of trematodes, or flukes, which have a snail as a reservoir host.

Direct download: TWiP027.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 2:12pm PST

Vincent and Dickson take on the schistosomes, agents of a series of related diseases in humans referred to as schistosomiasis.

Direct download: TWiP026.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 7:14am PST

Vincent and Dickson review Wuchereria bancrofti, the nematode that causes lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis.

Direct download: TWiP025.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:48pm PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss the life cycle and pathogenesis of Onchocerca volvulus, the vector-borne filarial nematode parasite that causes onchocerciasis, or river blindness.

Direct download: TWiP024.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 10:49am PST

Vincent and Dickson review the life cycle and pathogenesis of the world's most unusual parasite, Strongyloides stercoralis.

Direct download: TWiP023.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 1:40pm PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss possibly the most socially and politically important nematode of humans, the hookworm Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus.

Direct download: TWiP022.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 6:52am PST

Vincent and Dickson review the biology and pathogenesis of Ascaris lumbricoides, one of the largest nematodes to infect humans.

Direct download: TWiP021.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 7:20pm PST

Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of nematodes with the whipworm Trichuris trichiura.

Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Subscribe (free)

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Direct download: TWiP020.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 6:50pm PST

Vincent and Dickson move on to nematodes with a discussion of the pinworm Enterobius vermicularis.

Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Subscribe (free)

Click here to receive an email notification when a new episode of TWiP is published.

Direct download: TWiP019.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 10:16am PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss the intracellular parasite Cryptosporidium, which causes diarrheal disease in most mammalian species.

Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Subscribe (free)

Click here to receive an email notification when a new episode of TWiP is published.

Direct download: TWiP018.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 4:37am PST

Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of protozoan parasites that cause diarrhea with a review of amebic dysentery caused by Entamoeba histolytica.

Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Links for this episode:

Contact

Send your questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twip@twiv.tv.

Subscribe (free)

Click here to receive an email notification when a new episode of TWiP is published.

Direct download: TWiP017.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 10:51pm PST

Vincent and Dickson review the life cycle and pathogenesis of the flagellated protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia.

Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Links for this episode:

Direct download: TWiP016.mp3
Category:Science -- posted at: 7:06am PST

Vincent and Dickson discuss the life cycle and pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma.

Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

Links for this episode:

  • Metacyclic trypanomastigote (jpg)
  • Tsetse fly (jpg)
  • T. brucei life cycle (jpg)
  • T. brucei parasitemia (jpg)
  • Kissing bug nymph (jpg)
  • T. cruzi life cycle (jpg)
  • Letters read on TWiP 15
  • Direct download: TWiP015.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 10:45am PST

    Vincent and Dickson consider the life cycle and pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite Leishmania.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

  • L. braziliensis life cycle (jpg)
  • L. donovani life cycle (jpg)
  • L. tropica life cycle (jpg)
  • L. major lesion (jpg)
  • Transgenic mosquito delivers Leishmania vaccine (thanks, Geoffrey)
  • Plasmodium falciparum accompanied human expansion out of Africa (thanks, Prasad)
  • Who speaks for the guinea worm? (thanks, Michael)
  • Letters read on TWiP 14
  • Direct download: TWiP014.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 7:30pm PST

    Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii with a consideration of the clinical consequences of infection and pathogenesis.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

  • Isopod fish parasites (thanks, Kevin!)
  • Farmscraper on Word Spy (thanks, Mitchell!)
  • Toxoplasma and personalities (thanks, Greg!)
  • Science podcast (July 2) on parasites and intelligence (transcript - thanks, Jim!)
  • Letters read on TWiP 13
  • Direct download: TWiP013.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 7:00pm PST

    Vincent and Dickson introduce the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, one of the most successful parasites on earth.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

  • Global clinical burden of malaria (PLoS Medicine)
  • T. gondii sporulated oocysts (jpg)
  • T. gondii tachyzoites in parasitophorous vacuole (jpg)
  • T. gondii life cycle (jpg)
  • Insect bioterrorism conference (thanks, Don!)
  • Parasite of the Day (thanks, Douglas!)
  • World Science Festival
  • Letters read on TWiP 12
  • Direct download: TWiP012.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 7:00pm PST

    Vincent and Dickson continue their discussion of malaria, with emphasis on clinical aspects of the disease.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

  • The quest for a malaria vaccine (Meet the Scientist 49)
  • Science issue on malaria and tuberculosis
  • Malaria pathogenesis (pdf)
  • Malaria pathogenesis (jpg)
  • Letters read on TWiP 11
  • Direct download: TWiP011.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 11:00am PST

    Vincent and Dickson trace the life cycle of Plasmodium in a mosquito and in a human host.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

    • Mosquito cycle - sporogany (jpg)
    • Plasmodium falciparum cycle (jpg)
    • Plasmodium vivax cycle (jpg)
    • Plasmodium falciparum ring forms and gametocytes in blood (jpg)
    • Plasmodium stages (jpg)
    • Letters read on TWiP 10
    Direct download: TWiP010.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 7:00pm PST

    Vincent and Dickson move on to protozoan parasites with a discussion of the early history of malaria.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

    Direct download: TWiP009.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 7:20pm PST

    Dickson reads his story about sparganosis caused by the diphyllobothroid tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

    Direct download: TWiP008.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 9:30am PST

    Vincent and Dickson continue their discourse on tapeworms, covering the fish and dog varieties.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

    • FAT the enemy that is shortening your life is BANISHED. How? With sanitized tapeworms. Easy to swallow! (jpg).
    • D. latum life cycle (jpg)
    • D. latum adult (jpg)
    • Diphyllobothrim proglottid (jpg)
    • Diphyllobothrim bothria (jpg)
    • Coracidium hatching from egg (jpg)
    • Dog tapeworm life cycle (jpg)
    • The Alien lifecycle (jpg)
    Direct download: TWiP007.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 7:30pm PST

    Vincent and Dick talk about the anatomy and life cycle of beef and pork tapeworms, and why House was wrong about neurocysticercosis.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

    • Taenia saginata life cycle (jpg)
    • Taenia saginata adult (jpg)
    • Taenia saginata scolex (jpg)
    • Taenia saginata gravid proglottid (jpg)
    • Taenia solium life cycle (jpg)
    • Taenia solium adult (jpg)
    • Taenia solium scolex (jpg)
    • Facial cancer in Tasmanian devils (thanks PhogDog!)

    Science Picks

    Dickson Peace through vaccine diplomacy by Peter Hotez
    Vincent Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer

    Direct download: TWiP006.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 9:30pm PST

    Vincent and Dick discuss the nurse cell, a unique structure formed in the host muscle by Trichinella species.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

    Weekly Science Picks

    Dickson Every Living Thing by Rob Dunn

    Direct download: TWiP005.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 7:30pm PST

    Vincent and Dick trace the life cycle of Trichinella spiralis in an infected host.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

    • Trichinella life cycle (jpg)
    • Newborn larva entering muscle cell (jpg)
    • Adult T. spiralis in columnar epithelial cell (jpg)
    • Adult female T. spiralis (jpg)
    • Infective first stage T. spiralis larva in Nurse cell in muscle tissue (jpg)
    • Adult female T. spiralis with fully formed larvae in uterus (jpg)
    • Adult male T. spiralis with claspers on tail (jpg)
    • Clinical correlations in trichinosis (jpg)
    • Letters read on TWiP #4

    Weekly Science Picks

    Dickson David Scharf's pictures of microbial life
    Vincent
    The Nobel Laureate Meetings at Lindau

    Direct download: TWiP004.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 9:00am PST

    Vincent and Dick distinguish among intracellular and extracellular parasites, then discuss the history and general characteristics of Trichinella spiralis.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Links for this episode:

    Weekly Science Picks

    Dickson The Doctor and the Devils

    Direct download: TWiP003.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 3:30pm PST

    Vincent and Dick classify parasites according to whether or not they are transmitted by a vector, then consider the implications of long-lived parasites.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Direct download: TWiP002.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 5:30pm PST

    Vincent and Dick provide an overview of parasites and parasitism.

    Host links: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

    Weekly Science Picks

    Dick The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle
    Vincent Parasitic Diseases by Despommier et al.

    Direct download: TWiP001.mp3
    Category:Science -- posted at: 4:00am PST