This Week in Parasitism

Vincent Racaniello

4.9 (451)
LIFE SCIENCES
UPDATED MONTHLY

TWiP is a monthly netcast about eukaryotic parasites. Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier, science Professors from Columbia University, deconstruct parasites, how they cause illness, and how you can prevent infections.

3D AGO

The silent lesion

TWiP explores female genital schistosomiasis and associated genital infections in Southern Malawi, a neglected tropical disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Female genital schistosomiasis in Malawi (Parasitology) Mainstreaming female genital schistosomiasis (Parasitology) Female genital schistosomiasis (WHO) TWiP study – information and survey Become a patron of TWiP Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

50 min
NOV 28

They bake my noodle

TWiP solves the case about the man with abnormal brain MRI, and presents a new case for your solving about a man with some electrolyte issues related to his end-stage renal disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server TWiP study – information and survey Letters read on TWiP 270 New Case A man in his 20s is admitted to the hospital with some electrolyte issues related to his end-stage renal disease. Infectious disease is consulted as he has a report of a recent positive strongyloides serology test that was done as part of his pre-transplant evaluation. He reports no international travel, no interesting exposures. Become a patron of TWiP Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees Dear TWiP listeners, Have you ever wondered how TWiP shapes your understanding of science? We have! To find out more, Christina and the team are running a survey based study to learn more about how TWiP contributes to your scientific literacy and trust in science. Listen to the segment in this episode (TWiP 267) where Christina discusses the study's aims and scope. Anyone who listens to TWiP can participate. The survey is anonymous and we do not collect personal data that could identify you. There are no potential disadvantages or harms in taking part, other than using a few minutes of your time. You will receive no direct benefit from taking part in this study. However, the information that is collected during this study will give us a better understanding of who our listeners are, and why they choose to listen to TWiP. We can use this understanding to make TWiP even better! This is an academic study and we aim to disseminate our findings to the wider public, including you. For example, we'll have a conversation about the findings on a future episode of TWiP, we plan conference presentations and publication in a relevant academic journal The project has been reviewed and approved by the University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences Ethics Committee. Application 200250013 You can find the study, detailed participant information, and consent information here: TWiP study – information and survey

57 min
NOV 21

Peripatetic Martin Grobusch

TWiP travels to Toronto, CA for the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference where they meet up with Martin Grobusch to discuss his career and his work. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Guest: Martin Grobusch Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Primaquine for blocking malaria transmission (Lancet Inf Dis) Pulmonary tuberculosis, Sierra Leone (New Microb New Inf) TWiP study – information and survey Become a patron of TWiP Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

1h 4m
NOV 9

A loyal parasite

TWiP discusses a 41-year long human infection with Schistosoma mansoni, and CRISPR screens that reveal genes essential for Cryptosporidium survival in the host intestine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server 41 year old Schistosoma infection (J Travel Med) Genes essential for Cryptosporidium survival in host intestine (Nat Comm) Become a patron of TWiP Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

1 hr
OCT 21

It dropped from her scalp

TWiP solves the case about the female who traveled to Brazil and upon returning home felt movements under her scalp on the back of her head, and present another case for your solving, a man with abnormal brain MRI. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Guest: Eyal Leshem Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Life cycle of Dermatobia hominis (CDC) Letters read on TWiP 267 TWiP study - information and survey New Case Man in his 40s, married with 2 children, on Eliquis for a prior DVT, diet-controlled diabetes, who is admitted for evaluation of an abnormal brain MRI. He left AMA but then developed vomiting and returned. CT- Large peripherally enhancing mass lesion in the deep left cerebral hemisphere is associated with considerable vasogenic edema/infiltrative nonenhancing tumor. Mass effect results in left-to-right subfalcine herniation and entrapment of the right lateral ventricle. Findings are typical for glioblastoma. Intracranial abscess tumefactive multiple sclerosis and brain metastasis may mimic this appearance. Recommend supplemental imaging evaluation including gadolinium-enhanced MR brain. MRI- Dominant heterogeneously enhancing mass in the left basal ganglia/peri-insular region measuring 3.1 cm AP by 2.8 cm TR by 2.9 cm cc, with surrounding vasogenic edema resulting in mass effect and midline shift, as detailed above, concerning for high grade glial neoplasm versus metastasis. Additional leptomeningeal nodule in the right postcentral sulcus. Additional smaller peripherally enhancing lesion in the right lateral temporal region with suggestion of leptomeningeal component and measures approximately 0.8 x 0.8 cm, with mild surrounding vasogenic edema. They do a biopsy and pathology comes back as: – Brain tissue with extensive necrosis acute chronic inflammation, and rare microorganisms (on permanent section) -Brain, designated "left brain lesion", excision: – Brain tissue with extensive necrosis acute and chronic inflammation, reactive gliosis and occasional microorganisms Become a patron of TWiP Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv

54 min
OCT 6

Wraps and ivermectin for malaria

TWiP explains research showing that treatment of baby wraps with an insect repellent, and oral dosing with ivermectin, are both effective measures to prevent malaria. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Treated baby wraps prevent malaria (NEJM) Oral ivermectin prevents malaria (NEJM) Become a patron of TWiP Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

1h 1m
SEP 26

Things that jump are cleaner than things that squat

TWiP solves the case about the parasite check in summer camp, and presents a new case about a woman who traveled to Brazil and developed furuncles on the back of her head. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Hero: Francesco Redi Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Redi Linda Hall Library, Kansas: https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/francesco-redi/ Habermehl, G., (1994). Francesco Redi—Life and work, Toxicon 32 (4) https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-0101(94)90292-5. Letters read on TWiP 265 New Case From Eyal Leshem, a returning case "provider" 43 years old female who travelled to Brazil on May 2025 for a two week dance class. The dance school is located in a farm two hour drive West of Rio de Janeiro. Upon return to Israel she started feeling pricking and "movements" and under her scalp on the back of her head. She noted three non-healing furuncles on the back of her head A month after she returned movement and pricking in the back of her scalp increased, the furuncles enlarged and produced serous discharge. Several days before her ED visit she thinks an "object" dropped from the back of her scalp, but being outdoors, she could not locate the object. On physical examination she is afebrile and her vitals are normal, and on the back of her head two indurated were detected under the hair on the back of her head. Serous discharge was produced by pushing the furuncles. A non-surgical office procedure led to immediate recovery and confirmed the diagnosis. What was the parasite? What was the procedure? Become a patron of TWiP Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

41 min
AUG 29

Toxoplasma changes your brain

Vincent and Daniel discuss research showing that Toxoplasma gondii infection of the brain alters extracellular vesicle production and the communication between neurons and astrocytes. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Daniel Griffin Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server T. gondii infection of neurons (PLoS Path) Become a patron of TWiP Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

44 min

See All (271)

4.9

out of 5

451 Ratings

Tasty Host!

10/04/2024

The_Tardigrade

As a parasite myself, I can vouch for the value of this podcast. The host is absolutely delicious!
Monoclonal Antibodies Against Malaria in Mali

12/25/2022

Asciguy

When discussing administration of CIS43LS they forgot to check the math. One dose for me at 40mg per kilogram would be 3.38 grams. That would require an IV infusion.
Community of Learners

07/20/2024

elizabethovey

I love all the Microbe TV shows, but especially appreciate how listeners get to participate in this one. The recently adopted biweekly format, with “deep dives” into scholarly work alternating with the classic case studies works well. Four regular hosts are generous in every sense and reveal their personalities in enjoyable banter. Unlike another reviewer, I couldn’t appreciate more the variety of listeners’ letters in case study episodes, even when diagnoses match. If hiring a professional voice to read letters occasionally makes it easier to maintain this recording schedule, so be it, but episode #239 demonstrates how nice it is to have the scientists read.
I love it!!

12/10/2020

BulgarianNurse

I am a nursing student and i am fascinated by microbiology and infectious diseases. Thank you for having this amazing resource for free!

TWiP is a monthly netcast about eukaryotic parasites. Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier, science Professors from Columbia University, deconstruct parasites, how they cause illness, and how you can prevent infections.