In last week’s episode, we explored the mysterious world of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the ongoing quest to determine what causes this autoimmune disease. While it’s likely that no one single factor leads to the development of MS, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has long been suspected to play a role in this and many other autoimmune diseases and has also been shown to be involved in several cancers. But why? How is this virus implicated in so many diseases? How does it infect us? What does it do once it’s in our bodies? Dr. Micah Luftig, Associate Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University, helps to answer these questions and many more about this surprising virus. Not only does Dr. Luftig share his expert knowledge in all things EBV in this interview, he also sheds some light on what a career in academia is like and drops some great advice on how to feel out whether a research career might be right for you. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts!
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Ep 140 Nipah virus: Of Fruit and Bats
Special Episode: Dr. Sara Manning Peskin & A Molecule Away from Madness
Ep 139 Supplements: “This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA”
Ep 138 Fever: Take it to the limit
Special Episode: Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens & Medical Bondage
Ep 137 ME/CFS: What’s in a name? (A lot, actually)
Ep 136 Long Covid: A long time coming
Ep 135 Menopause is whatever you want it to be
Ep 134 Tonsils: Underestimated and underappreciated
Ep 133 Parvoviruses: Who let the dogs (and their viruses) out?
Ep 132 Osteogenesis Imperfecta: All bones about it
Ep 131 Parkinson’s Disease: Dopamine & discoveries
Ep 130 Cocoliztli: We do love a salty dish
Ep 129 Lymphatic Filariasis: Hiding in plain sight
Ep 128 Skin Cancer: We love and fear the sun
Ep 127 Bhopal: The 1984 Union Carbide Disaster
Ep 126 Migraine: A Cacophony in Four Movements
Ep 125 Blastomycosis: How fungus became amongus
Ep 124 The full spectrum of color vision deficiency
Ep 123 Hand, Foot, and Mouth (and Butt?) Disease
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