Finding Genius Podcast

Dr. Anderson' research focuses on the interaction between genetics, evolutionary biology, and tropical diseases. He works with the two most dominant parasites that infect humans and cause particularly high mortality in children: those species that cause malaria and schistosomiasis. In this podcast, he discusses How genome sequencing methods play a major role in understanding infection patterns, Why genome sequencing benefits research by informing region-specific drug cocktails, and Why drug resistance in parasites is a daunting problem and how tools like linkage analysis genetics tell scientists about the related fitness cost of resistance. Tim Anderson is a professor and co-leads the Disease Intervention and Prevention Program at Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. He helps listeners understand the basics of how genome sequencing techniques are used to determine relatedness and other factors in parasites that can then help scientists understand their life cycle, population genetics evolution, and how drug resistance develops and might be combatted. He works specifically in the Myanmar border region but discusses the differences in infection rates between areas to explain parasite infection characteristics. For example, they've found that people who get bit very rarely tend to get extremely sick whereas there seems to be some immunity in areas of higher infection bit rates. However, ultimately, this translates to a U-shaped mortality between these two extremes and he explains why. Dr. Anderson also discusses some important work by colleagues and how these different areas of research come together to create a greater understanding of parasite activity. He describes what drug resistance looks like and gives several examples as the resistance mechanics varies with the action of the drug. After explaining the basics in more detail and some exciting finds, he describes his end goal as to better understand the evolution of drug resistance alongside the fitness cost of drug resistant genes. This has progressed to following how parasites eventually get around those fitness costs. For more, see his information page, txbiomed.org/scientists/timothy-j-c-anderson/, and search his name in PubMed for publications. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

In one line of research, Professor Levi Morran observes the coevolution of C. elegans strains and microbial pathogens through population level biology to ask how and why sex evolved and why it is maintained. This is part of his overall research into how genetics and evolution affect the interaction of hosts and microbes. In this podcast, he explores Why scientists are curious about how hosts establish interactions with their microbes and what that looks like, evolutionary speaking; What advantages comes with his lab's method of experimental evolution and where on the continuum it lies in relation to evolution theory, and What significant results developed with their experiment comparing self-fertilizing reproduction versus sexual reproduction in the presence of pathogens. Levi Morran is an assistant professor of biology at Emory University and is interested in factors affecting adaptive evolution. His lab utilizes experimental evolution, which means they perform evolution experiments in real time with genetics biology and evolution biology. They mostly use particular strains of C. elegans, which go through several generations quite rapidly. He explains this with a concrete example: when his lab explored the antagonistic interactions between a host and microbes and the influence of the evolution of sex, they set up populations of C. elegans that would produce sexually and through self-fertilization. They found that the self-fertilizing populations did not adapt to the pathogens and mostly died out. He explains why he thinks this happened and how they may explore this further. He also explores general benefits of experimental evolution and the advantages it offers researchers such as the ability to control and spin factors that can address very specific questions in certain conditions. He adds that conditions in nature are quite different, yet these experimental studies can point evolution theory in helpful directions. In addition, he explains the level of considerations an experimental evolution study must undertake, from seeking and using specific strains of nematodes fitting what the experimental questions ask, to unlocking characteristics in those nematodes to produce populations that will undergo, for example, sexual reproduction. He also addresses issues of microbiomes in nature versus the lab and questions regarding epigenetics. For more, see his lab's website: wormlab.wordpress.com. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Dr. Oliver Schacht says that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious pandemic that needs as much attention as COVID-19. In fact, 700,000 people now die annually across the globe from AMR infections. In this podcast, he addresses Why antibiotic resistance is a problem that merits a global response, How slower old-school testing of bacterial infections works as one of the causes of antibiotic resistance by necessitating broad spectrum antibiotics, and What are technologies that OpGen and other companies are developing to improve testing from rapid PCR testing to faster next generation sequencing. Oliver Schacht, Ph.D., is the Chief Executive Officer for both OpGen and Curetis and is an expert in the molecular diagnostics industry. He addresses causes of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic resistance mechanisms, but spends the majority of the podcast explaining why it is a world-wide issue and what solutions are available now and in the near future. At the center of these solutions lies the need to identify the species of antibiotic resistant bacteria and its resistance factor quickly. This means better, faster testing to insure more accurate treatment and less over prescription of broad spectrum antibiotics. He adds that using broad spectrum antibiotics aggressively to fight undiagnosed infections leads to effective and rapid evolution of bacteria towards resistant adaptations. He says that if we keep using these broad spectrum antibiotics, some projections predict that by the year 2050 we may have 10 million deaths a year from these infections globally. He details the history of testing and explains why the technology has lagged. In a nutshell, we're still doing what we have been doing for 150 years, which requires significant time for cultures to grow and test. He then explains how OpGen and other companies are developing rapid PCR tests as well as faster and better next generation sequence testing. He predicts the cost and timing for these will continue to decline and that will only improve the quality and helpfulness of the testing. Finally, he carries a global theme throw this discussion, explaining that this issue is analogous to climate change alleviation: there's not a simple fix and the issue can't just be handled locally—this requires a global approach to be effective. Listen in for more details and discussion about these issues. For more, see the company's website at opgen.com. In addition, they are active in all social media outlets. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

After Dr. Myles Spar noticed that women far outnumbered men as integrative medicine patients, he worked to reframe the messaging. In this podcast, he discusses Why integrative medicine provides key preventative health and wellness information often absent from internal medicine practices, What are three main hormones in men that are important to address and why, and How he approaches sex, body, and brains issues in men to help them achieve their health goals. Dr. Myles Spar is the Chief Medical Officer of Vault Health and specializes in men's health and wellness. He serves as a clinical faculty member at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Arizona Schools of Medicine. His volunteer time with Doctors Without Borders encouraged him to pursue integrative medicine fully on his return. He starts by explaining how earlier experiences led him to question the messaging men receive to not seek help. This along with his own observations of the scarcity of men as patients seeking health and wellness information from various types of integrative medicine practices encouraged him to provide messaging more adaptive to men's needs. He tells listeners about health considerations and centers this discussion on hormones. He explains that testosterone is the main one listeners may be familiar with but adds that there are many more male hormones to consider like DHEA and estradiol. Dr. Spar also describes his initial approach with patients, how he starts by developing an understanding of what's important to that patient in terms of health goals and motivations. In other words, he learns what patients want their health to achieve for them, or alternatively, what is their ill health getting in the way of. He divides these issues by sex, body, or brain and proceeds to evaluate based on those goals. He also discusses levels of testosterone and the nuances behind the numbers as well as different types of testosterone treatments from pellets to pills to other means and advantages and disadvantages for each. For more, see Vault Health's website at vaulthealth.com and click on "Get Started" for a telehealth appointment. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Renowned for his knowledge and expertise in biology, University of Oxford Professor Denis Noble once again returns to the show to share his insight. Today's episode deals with the topic of viruses, and it is the first in what will be a thorough and compelling series on virology. Throughout the course of this series, Richard Jacobs will interview approximately 30 scientists and researchers, each with something unique and meaningful to contribute to the conversation. In this episode, you will learn: Why, evolutionarily speaking, some types of viruses multiply within the host's cells before killing the host's cells soon after, and why other viruses reside dormant within cells for years, often undetected What is actually going on during the "latency period" of a viral infection, and how the answer might have more to do with the reaction of the host's own immune system than the virus itself Why there seems to be a correlation between the mechanisms for viral spread and the types of cells infected by a given virus The COVID-19 situation has created an unprecedented global stir of questions about viruses: Why would one type of virus have such a different structure and function than another type of virus? How do viruses spread, and why do they seem to trigger different immune responses in different people? Why can it be so challenging to find an effective way to eliminate them? Noble provides a great deal of compelling information on these topics and more, including the possible connection between exosomes and the origin of viruses, the ways in which the microbiome might change around a cell once the cell is infected by a virus, how viruses find their targets, and the role of viruses in evolution and speciation. Learn more about Denis Noble's work and publications at https://www.thethirdwayofevolution.com/people/view/denis-noble. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Returning guest and founder of Quantgene, Jo Bhakdi, discusses his work at Quantgene in the COVID-19 testing arena. Press play to learn: What the difference is between specificity and sensitivity, and why a consideration of both is critical for COVID-19 testing What the difference is between antigen, antibody, and PCR-based COVID-19 test procedures, and why Bhakdi believes it is so important to develop real-time rapid PCR-based testing for COVID-19 How the specific virus causing COVID-19 is able to be isolated and identified through PCR-based testing Quantgene's genomic and liquid biopsy technologies have played a significant role in advancing the speed and accuracy of cancer identification. Now, they're focusing their efforts on COVID-19 testing methods. "We are all about real-time medical intelligence," says Bhakdi, as he explains that medicine is mostly a data problem, with the COVID-19 situation being no exception. According to Bhakdi, the COVID-19 testing crisis is not a molecular diagnostic problem, but a time problem: it's simply taking far too long for people to get their results. Bhakdi explains what PCR testing is and how it works. This includes an explanation of how the amount of genomic material doubles with each amplification cycle in the PCR procedure, in what way the test involves DNA sequencing, and the role of the protein polymerase in synthesizing strands of DNA. He also explains what Quantgene's COVID-19 test provides that others don't, and the enormous demand for a reliable test that delivers fast results. Visit https://www.quantgene.com/ to learn more. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Courtney Sexton is a PhD student researching what we can learn from other species about our own and how to better interact with animals that share our habitat, like dogs. She's especially interested in the evolution of nonverbal communication. In this podcast, she discusses Implications of the long history of human and dog coevolution, Examples of dog facial expressions and dog behavior signs that might be more complex than we think, and Ways listeners can have their dogs participate in some exciting online studies through video uploads and other methods. Courtney Sexton is a PhD student with the Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology at The George Washington University. She describes for listeners the different forms of communication throughout the animal kingdom, including among human animals. She adds that an interesting aspect of this involves human-dog coevolution, and studying the relationship may lead to some dog behaviors explained. In fact, dogs are unique in that they've adapted to communicate with people almost as well as among themselves. Humans and dogs have been cohabitating for roughly 30,000 years and dog social behavior has some similar patterns with humans; she points to paired mating systems exhibited by dogs and wolves in the paleo hunter-gatherer era as one example. Interestingly, dogs have gotten better at interpreting our signals than vice-versa. There are many examples of humans simplifying the understanding of dog body language when something such as tail wagging can signify a gamut of emotions. Courtney also explains that dogs pick up a great deal of information from our own facial expressions. She describes her current research comparing fascial muscle development in dogs with and without hair coloring markings that exaggerate certain expressions. This stems from a similar study done on primates. She adds that researchers are struggling to find dogs to observe because of the pandemic shut downs and points listeners to resources, including her own Primate Genomics Lab, if they are interested in participating in video studies with their dogs. For more, see her lab site, cashp.columbian.gwu.edu/primate-genomics, and her department's website, cashp.columbian.gwu.edu. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Jeff Chilton has been involved one way or another in organic mushroom cultivation and mushroom health benefits since the 1970s. In this podcast, he tells listeners Which compounds in fungi boost our immune system and how the supplement industry is making them more available to consumers, What processes they use to extract these beneficial compounds that are then supplement-ready, and What mushroom farming looks like in the U.S. and China and how mushrooms are produced. After many years spent in organic mushroom farming, Jeff Chilton started Nammex in 1989 to sell mushrooms to the herbal supplement industry. He explains that it took a while to educate North Americans to how essential mushrooms had been in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. His company produces extracts of quality mushrooms that these supplement companies integrate and sell for functional or medicinal purposes. Jeff gives listeners a broader picture of the value of various fungi in the diet, and says that there are at least 270 different medicinal mushrooms with supporting research showing benefits. His company works consistently with about 10 to 12 species that have an overlap between established scientifically-proven benefits and a history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. He explains that mushroom supplements benefit our immune system modulation. He describes the process they use to produce the powdered extract as well as some of the qualities of popular species like the shitake and the reishi mushroom. He also tells listeners about their biology and growing process and lists some compound benefits, such as for beta glucans and ergosterol. He finishes by describing some newer products, such as cordyceps, a fungus harvested from caterpillars. Find more on their website, nammex.com, and for a division of the company that sells directly to consumers, see realmushrooms.com. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Professor Wood specializes in the roles of soil microbial communities and is currently studying the importance of microbial diversity impacting plant diversity in rainforests. In this podcast, she explores How microbial communities in soil may work to reduce plant species that are too dominate, Why studying the importance of microbes in the environment involves following them by trait rather than by taxonomy, and How a better understanding of the ecology of microbial communities in the rainforest may lend itself to following rainforest response to fire damage. Dr. Jen Wood is an associate lecturer in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Microbiology at La Trobe University in Australia. She's just begun co-heading a laboratory that centers on understanding the role of microbes in ecosystems so that scientists might better manage these systems, whether in an agricultural, rainforest, or human-gut setting. She describes a particular study near Queensland examining why rainforests are so botanically diverse. They've observed that something happens when the plants move from the seedling to sapling stage that manages and sets up this effective balance. The evidence points to microbes killing off dominate species, maintaining a degree of balance. She discusses many findings, challenges, and procedures that spin from this study. For example, when they try and compare soil patches, the microbial turnover is too great and the rhizosphere is so interconnected that separating out by species is too complicated. Therefore, rather than compare three seedling patches taxonomically, they compare them by microbial traits. A trait is any physical or morphological attribute that helps an organism compete. Examples include motility, presence of efflux pumps, ability to produce antibiotics, and ability to undergo chemotaxis. She notes that when comparing three patches by microbial traits, they've found patterns in the data. She also addresses fire in rainforests and studying recovery and ways to understand competition in these environments. For more, see her information page on La Trobe's website, scholars.latrobe.edu.au/display/j5wood; her personal website, jenwoodmicro.wordpress.com; and follow her on Twitter, @JW_ilikedirt. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

In the early part of her career, Melanie Weller saw mostly patients who'd gone through several other treatment systems without symptom relief. Treating this population put her in a position to consider vagus nerve symptoms as a means for addressing a road block of sorts in their body. In this podcast, she discusses Common manifestations of vagus nerve pain and the connection with our horizontal system, Behavioral connections to vagus nerve problems such as an increase in our "flight and fight" reactivity, and Therapeutic methods and treatments for vagus nerve anatomy. Melanie Weller has been a physical therapist for about 25 years. She tells listeners about her gradual discovery of vagus nerve importance and how it even lends itself to stress management. When she began her career treating people who had not had success elsewhere, there was so much to address that she would start with one or two things she could do that would clear a large segment of issues, such as range of motion. She found her work with the vagus nerve produced dramatic results. She explains that the vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve, coming out of the brain stem and progressing all the way down the spinal cord. It enervates our vocal cord, heart, digestive system, and sweat glands. She adds that it is our "grace under pressure" system as well and is dialed down when we experience "fight and flight" reactions. Therefore, she discusses the emotional crossover with this system. Treating the vagus nerve effectively can therefore lend itself to elevated stress management techniques. These days, she is mainly seeing clients through online formats and is still able to offer effective treatment. She says that there's nothing better than helping someone get rid of pain and limitations they've been dealing with a long time. She's currently looking for research partners and working on a book. See her website for more: melanieweller.com. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK