In the US this year, four cases of the “brain-eating amoeba”, Naegleria fowleri have been reported (Ohio, Texas, South Carolina and Florida) and one of the most tragic things about this parasite is the treatment for this rapidly progressive infection is largely unsuccessful.

However, one researcher is trying to change that.

In an interview recorded for the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show in the Tampa Bay area, Distinguished Professor at the University of South Florida’s (USF) College of Public Health, Dennis Kyle, PhD joined me for an interview about his labs work on trying to find an effective treatment for the “brain-eating amoeba”.

Dr Kyle discussed his quest for a cure by creating a system for testing thousands of natural compounds and possible drug candidates that are being tested in mice.

Kyle also talked of other research in his lab to include a treatment for the malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax.

LISTEN to the full interview below:

The Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, the first and only radio program dedicated to infectious disease and health news and information, airs every Sunday at 8 pm ET in the Tampa Bay area on AM 1380 The Biz and online at http://1380thebiz.com/

Naegleria fowleri Life Cycle/CDC
Naegleria fowleri Life Cycle/CDC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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