Herpes Isn't Just For Humans—A Microbial Ecologist's Perspective on Viruses

Finding Genius Podcast

Richard Jacobs

Medicine, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 7 October 2020

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Coral reefs struggle with the herpes virus just like we do. In fact, this virus runs all through the animal tree of life. How has it managed to become so successful? By effectively hiding from immune systems.

Press play to explore the following:

In what specific way are phages so important for bacteria?
Why biological thinking may be too cell-centric, and how a fundamental change in the way we understand viruses could lead to important discoveries
How viruses can sense whether a cell is living or dead

Forest Rohwer is a microbial ecologist and professor of biology at San Diego State University who focuses primarily on two ecosystems: coral reefs, and the human body. He says that the former is a good analog of the latter, especially human mucosal surfaces. The ecology of cystic fibrosis, SARS-CoV-2 in the environment, and coral reef restoration are three areas of active research for Rohwer. With experience in a wide range of topics and research projects in biology, he contributes his knowledge and opinions on a series of compelling questions about viruses.

He explains the difference between viral and cellular replication, what governs when and why a virus will re-enter the lytic phase after a latency period and how this is associated with the health state of the host, whether viruses can be considered a quasi-species in their coordination to enter and infect cells, and so much more.

Visit https://coralandphage.org/ to learn more.

Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Transcript

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0:00.0	Forget frequently asked questions common sense common knowledge or Google how about advice from a real genius
0:06.8	95% of people in any profession are good enough to be qualified and licensed 5% go and beyond. They become very good at what they do.
0:15.1	But only 0.1% are real Jesus.
0:18.3	Richard Jacobs has made it his life's mission to find them for you.
0:22.4	He hunts down and interviews geniuses in every field, sleep science, cancer, stem cells,
0:27.2	ketogenic diets, and more.
0:28.8	Here come the geniuses.
0:30.4	This is the Finding Genius Podcast.
0:33.0	That are Richard Jacobs.
0:35.0	Hello, this is Richard Jacobs with the Finding Genius Podcast.
0:41.0	I have another guest for my upcoming book on Understanding Viruses. We have Forrest Rower.
0:47.0	He's an American microbial ecologist and professor of biology at San Diego State University.
0:52.0	He has several books on viruses. His website is
0:57.1	a coral and phage.org. It's one of the websites you can find out more about him.
1:01.6	He's got pretty diverse interests. He also has worked in the marine
1:05.9	microbial ecology. So for us, thanks for coming. How you doing?
1:09.9	Doing well. Thank you.
1:11.6	Well, good. Just a brief background on yourself before we get into the questions.
1:15.9	What has your research been about and what is it about now?
1:18.7	Yeah, my research is really eco-systems and the two ecosystems I'm most interested in are coral reefs and the human body.
1:29.2	Why coral reefs by the way?
1:31.4	I've interviewed some people about coral reefs, they have to talking to you, and it seems like they're kind of an analog, I guess, of the human body, you know, when I think about my stomach, a coral reef is like an inside out stomach it seems like and it's all, they're also like holobiones and they have, you know, symbionts and fages and all kinds of stuff, but what's your reason?
	...

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