Virology Podcast by Karolina

We all know the story. When Europeans set sail for the so-called “New World”, they didn’t just bring ships and cargo - they also brought deadly diseases. They introduced pathogens into regions where no one had ever encountered them before. And in some areas, these outbreaks wiped out between 50–90% of local populations within just a few years. Most of us can name the usual suspects—smallpox or influenza… But fewer people realize that measles was nearly as deadly. In fact, historians often rank

When people think about viruses, one of the first things that comes to mind is that they’re small. And to be honest, that's how I would describe them too. I mean, that’s how we discovered viruses in the first place: they passed through filters that trapped bacteria, so we knew this infectious substance had to be smaller than any known cell.So when scientists came across the very first giant virus, they naturally assumed it must be a brand-new bacterium. In fact, this “mystery microbe” spent

I spent a good portion of the last episode telling you that HIV cannot be cured and our best option is to keep it under control with medication.But here’s the thing: I wasn’t telling you the whole truth. In a handful of cases, people have been declared cured of HIV. The first was known as the Berlin Patient, and since then, fewer than 10 cases have followed. Today, I’d like to share their story and explain why we shouldn’t hold out hope for a miracle pill—because this cure isn't some simple

In the 1980s, doctors began noticing a troubling pattern: previously healthy individuals were succumbing to rare diseases that their immune systems couldn’t fend off. This alarming phenomenon was traced back to the HIV virus, which ultimately leads to the development of AIDS—a condition where the immune system stops functioning properly. In today's episode, we delve into the scientific quest to uncover the origins of this medical mystery, explore the origins of the virus, and bring a warning

Maybe you noticed media reports talking about ancient viruses found in permafrost. Sometimes even using catchphrases like "zombie virus revived from the ice". And I am not exaggerating, even CNN used the term zombie virus in a headline. Today I would like to talk about where these stories are coming from and what research was done on viruses or their fragments conserved in permafrost. On viruses that were discovered in permafrost samples as old as 50,000 years. On viruses that can

It probably wouldn't surprise you if I told you that someone lied to make money. But today I would like to talk about a lie that changed the world we live in. It is a story of a doctor, who claimed that the MMR vaccine causes autism. He published a study detailing 12 children who allegedly developed autism after receiving the MMR vaccine. However, it was later revealed that the results were falsified, and the doctor in question was likely trying to fabricate evidence for a planned lawsuit

How do you look for something invisible? Today, I would like to go to the very beginning of the virology field. To the time when people only started to realize that viruses exist and can cause diseases. Because this required a whole shift in how people thought about infection.So, let me tell you a story, about the first virus ever discovered. * If you enjoyed this episode and want to stay updated on more virology stories, please follow @virology_podcast or @karolina_science on Instagram

Usually, we think about viruses as the enemies that threaten our health. But this episode talks about a time when scientists decided to turn the tables and take advantage of a virus. More specifically, we explore the time when Australia struggled with overpopulated rabbits that were damaging the local ecosystem and causing extinctions of heritage species. So finally, the Australian authorities decided to use the rabbit myxoma virus to eliminate the rabbits by lethal epidemics. Let's see what