When people hear the words parasite and pathogen, the immediate reaction often is to view them as hostile entities, seeking to advance their own existence at the expense of their host organisms. And yet some human populations have long co-existed with potential disease-causing microbes, suggesting that they co-evolved to arrive at some kind of benign co-existence.
A classic example of this is the pathogen, Helicobacter pylori, which can cause ulcers and gastric cancer. Many different strains exist throughout the world and there is evidence that populations that have lived with particular varieties of these pathogens for long periods of time have less severe forms of those diseases—and sometimes no disease at all—than those that did not.
The next Science Café Cleveland will offer a discussion with Scott M. Williams, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, on pathogens and parasites.
Williams will present “Why We Can (Sometimes) Get Along: Parasites, pathogens, and human evolution” Monday, July 10, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Music Box Supper Club (1148 Main Ave., Cleveland).
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Limited menu options will be available for purchase.
Science Café Cleveland is sponsored by the CWRU chapter of Sigma Xi, WCPN ideastream and the Music Box Supper Club.
More information is available at case.edu/affil/sigmaxi/2017July10Event.html.