ASP Parasite Podcast: What’s eating you?

Episode 8. What’s eating you? Taenia, a tapeworm parasite!

Episode 8 of ASP Parasite Podcast: What’s eating you? is all about taenia, a tapeworm parasite! Our expert parasitologist is Dr Amanda Ash from Murdoch University. Amanda’s research focus is on the prevention treatment and control of parasitic diseases in wildlife, humans, livestock and companion animals, in particular zoonotic parasites which are transmitted between animals and humans. Over the past 10 years Amanda has been conducting research in Lao PDR on the zoonotic tapeworm Taenia solium and Soil Transmitted Helminths. For this story, Amanda will give us her expert opinion about the zoonotic tapeworm Taenia solium.

Episode 7. What’s eating you? Liver Flukes

Episode 7 of ASP Parasite Podcast: What’s eating you? is all about liver flukes and will drop in November 2025. Our expert parasitologist is is Dr Michael Smout from James Cook University. Mic’s research has focused primarily on the search for carcinogenic molecules from the secretions of the human liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrinni – one of only three carcinogenic eukaryotic pathogens. For this story, Mic will give us his expert opinion about liver flukes, wound healing peptides, the xWORM assay and future vaccine work.

Episode 6. What’s eating you? Giardia

Our expert parasitologist is Professor Michelle Power from Macquarie University. Michelle is particularly interested in parasite epidemiology and zoonotic risks, like the transmission of disease agents from humans to wildlife species. Michelle studies many pathogens with an emphasis on gut parasites and bacteria, and the interactions of these with diverse hosts like flying foxes, possums, koalas, Tasmanian devils, penguins, Australian sea lions and people. Michelle engages in many outreach activities, her Citizen Science project, Scoop a Poop, in collaboration with Taronga Zoo and the University of Sydney, enabled people to contribute to the global fight against antibiotic resistance. For this story, Michelle will give us her expert opinion about Giardia parasites.

What's Eating You? Strongyloides!

Our expert parasitologist is Dr Cameron Raw. Cameron is a Palawa man; Lecturer and Assistant Dean (Indigenous) in the Faculty of Science at The University of Melbourne. Cameron has been working in the Western Arnhem Land Dog Health Program led by Professor Liz Tudor at the Melbourne Veterinary School for the past ten years and is able to connect the veterinary research work that he is passionate about with serving Indigenous communities.

Episode 4. What’s eating you? Malaria

Episode 4 of ASP Parasite Podcast: What’s eating you? is all about Malaria and will drop in February 2025. Our expert parasitologist is Dr Jill Chmielewski from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Jill works as a researcher, studying malaria, a parasitic disease which kills primarily young children in poorer parts of the tropics and sub-tropics. For this story, Jill will give us her expert opinion about malaria parasites.