Infectious Dose

What if the biggest misunderstandings about vaccine safety aren’t just about the science—but about how the system communicates it?

In this updated guided tour of the Vaccine Safety Series, Heather maps the episodes that break down how vaccines are tested, monitored, and evaluated—and where communication and institutional failures have contributed to confusion and mistrust.

This episode is designed to help you navigate the series—whether you’re new, revisiting key topics, or looking for the right episode to share with someone who has questions.

Because understanding the science matters. But understanding the system matters too.

Where to go next in the Vaccine Safety Series:

👉 Too Many Vaccines Too Soon? — Understanding the childhood vaccine schedule

👉 Expecting Protection — Vaccines during pregnancy

👉 The Wakefield Story — How misinformation took hold

All citations in the blog posts at infectiousdose.com

When we talk about misinformation in public health, we usually imagine social media, conspiracy theories, or individuals misunderstanding science. But what if some of the most influential misinformation starts somewhere else?

In this episode of Infectious Dose, Heather speaks with biomedical researcher Dr. Mark Ungrin about how scientific ideas move through institutional systems and why correcting errors can be surprisingly difficult once they become embedded in policy.

They discuss:

Why “human error” is often a misleading explanation for systemic failures

How flawed studies can shape public health guidance

Why institutional hierarchies can make correcting mistakes difficult

The role of evidence-based medicine in shaping policy decisions

Why transparency and accountability are essential for rebuilding public trust

This conversation explores how misinformation can emerge from institutional processes themselves — and why understanding those systems is critical for responding more effectively to future pandemics and biological threats.

👉Dr. Ungrin's Talk: Science, Pseudoscience and Public Policy https://whn.global/science-pseudoscience-and-public-policy/

Transcript and sources at infectiousdose.com

Mpox isn’t just a headline from 2022.

In this episode, we explore what scientists have learned about mpox since the global outbreak — from how the virus moves through the body to why its lesions can be so painful. We break down the biology of orthopoxviruses, the surprising role of human immune enzymes in shaping viral evolution, and the emergence of a new lineage known as clade Ib that researchers are watching closely.

We also look at the bigger picture: wildlife reservoirs, genomic surveillance, vaccine strategies, and the global inequities that shape how outbreaks unfold.

Mpox is not the most transmissible virus, nor the most lethal. But it offers a clear window into how zoonotic diseases evolve — and what happens when global attention fades while transmission continues.

Topics covered:

Mpox symptoms and pathogenesis

How the virus spreads

APOBEC3 mutations and viral evolution

Clade Ib and emerging lineages

Wildlife reservoirs and spillover

Vaccines, antivirals, and public health response

Global inequity in outbreak response

See blog post at Infectiousdose.com for all citations.

What if attraction isn’t entirely yours? In this Outbreak After Dark episode, Heather, Kate, and Sam gather around the campfire to explore the parasites, fungi, and viruses that manipulate behavior in the name of survival. We’re talking:

Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that dampens rodents’ fear of cats

The lancet liver fluke, which turns ants into grazing bait

Ophiocordyceps, the real-life “zombie ant” fungus

Baculoviruses that liquefy caterpillars from the treetops

Hairworms that drive crickets into water

Limb-altering trematodes that make frogs easier prey

Insect viruses that disrupt courtship songs and pheromones

And the global rise of antifungal-resistant Candidozyma (Candida) auris

Then we turn the lens toward humans. Do gut microbes influence mood and attraction? Are pheromones real? What happens to your microbiome when you kiss someone? (Answer: about 80 million bacteria exchange in ten seconds.)

This episode blends behavioral ecology, evolutionary strategy, fungal cautionary tales, and just enough snack-fueled chaos to keep it campfire-worthy.

Because love isn’t always sweet. Sometimes it’s optimized.

🔥 Recipes for Parasite Punch, Symbiosis Spritz, Zombie Ant Tapenade Toasts, and Courtship Clusters are available on infectiousdose.com.

Nipah virus scares virologists, and for good reason. It infects endothelial cells and neurons. It can cause fatal encephalitis. It spreads from bats to humans, and sometimes between people. So why does it keep burning out? In this episode of Infectious Dose, we examine:

Henipavirus biology and receptor usage (ephrin-B2/B3)

Why neurotropism drives severity

Why outbreaks are small but deadly

Why R₀ remains low

What would actually have to change for Nipah to go pandemic

Why spillover keeps recurring in Kerala

And why survival does not always mean full recovery

This is a grounded look at pandemic thresholds — not panic headlines.

Preparedness requires vigilance not hysteria.

All citations in the companion blog post at infectiousdose.com