Audiommunity

A retrospective on audiommunity, and some solid rants about the importance of science, science communication, and government funding.

In this episode, Matt and Kevin stick with the brain, this time looking at the immunological implications of a variant of a gene called Apolipoprotein E that has been linked to Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. It's a long one, and we get snarky in this one folks! Buckle up!

In this episode, Matt and Kevin are joined by [Nicole Ackermans](https://nicoleackermans.com) to discuss her recent review paper tracing human thoughts about headbutting from 10,000 BCE to the present day. How are animals like bighorn sheep and woodpeckers protected from brain injury? Actually, wait... **are** they protected from brain injury?

In this episode Matt and Kevin welcome special guest Zach Hilt from the University of Toledo - we're talking neonatal Tregs!

In this episode, Matt and Kevin talk about glycoRNAs and inflammation, but Matt insists that it's really about Lupus

Matt and Kevin take a humbling look back a classic 1989 immunology paper from the lab of David Baltimore (RIP) in which the gene encoding RAG-1, one of two genes that is responsible for the VDJ recombination - a mechanism for the generation of diversity in the adaptive immune system.

Someone made an AI-based "virtual lab" to engineer nanobodies - is this a paradigm shift in how we do science, or a transpararent and cynical effort to slurp up all of the citations for being first? Por que no los dos?

Bacteria have immune systems? Even adaptive immune systems? And autoimmunity? Well... sort of

Matt and Kevin discuss a new paper about the "subfornical organ" which (once again) undermines the idea of immune privilage, and also points to an interesting evolutionary question: why would T-cells migrating from fat to the brain affect hunger response?

Think vaccines aren't important? Kate, Kevin, and Matt discuss a paper modeling just how wrong you are - that is, unless you don't mind children dying.

Matt and Kevin speak with Abbie Smith, an assistant professor at Emory's Hope Clinic, about the current state of American biomedical science.

Mohawk Mice, Precious

I'm certain that what you've really been missing in these dark times is two guys mansplaining menstruation...but also cool immunology!

In this episode, we're talking about a strange phenomenon where the immune system seems to intentionally shuttle certain microbes from the gut to lymph nodes and the spleen.

In this episode, we're talking about the OAS-RNaseL virus-sensing pathway, and the passage of its product, 2,5-oligoadenylate, through gap junctions.

How does "rewilding" mice change their immune system? Also, an interview with an organizer of the Atlanta Stand Up for Science march!

In this episode, we're talking itch, and the sweet sweet relief you get when degranulating your mast cells.

Are you bleak, disenchanted, stressed out, and unhappy? No, we're not talking (only) about US politics, we're talking about Postdocs! And about a new paper showing how academic success is linked to publications.

Audiommunity is back! Again!

I swear, we know how to count; this episode was originally recorded back in January, but Camilla's audio file was weirdly corrupted. And in this attempt, Chadene's computer exploded, but we soldiered on without her.