05/12/2023

Friends of Franz Podcast S2 E19: Getting Cultured on Viruses with Dr. Azza Gadir

According to National Geographic, about ten nonillion (10 to the 31st power) individual viruses are said to exist on our planet Earth. Of these, biologists estimate that 380 trillion live on and in our bodies at a given moment. The common thought when it comes to viruses is disease and sickness. In fact, a recent pandemic owes its ravaging existence and plague to a virus. What exactly are viruses that they can uproot lives and nations? Are they dead or alive? What makes them different from bacteria? What enables a virus to cause pandemics (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) versus a common cold (i.e., rhinovirus)? How does our immune system protect us from these biological intruders? How do vaccines prevent the havoc that viruses seek to wreak?

We are joined today by immunologist Dr. Azza Gadir. Dr. Gadir now stands as the Scientific Advisor and Director of Research and Development at microbial sciences company Seed and the Portfolio Manager at Orionis Biosciences. She extends her immunologic expertise as an online science communicator.