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