Vincent Racaniello

Immune

A Life Sciences and Science podcast

#12 in Life Sciences · 🇿🇦 #15 in Life Sciences · 🇫🇷

Good podcast? Give it some love!

About the show

A podcast about the body's defenders against disease.

Newest episodes

Diet, aging, obesity, and immunity with Emily Goldberg

Nov 10, 2026 32 min

Emily Goldberg joins Immune at the annual AAI conference to discuss her groundbreaking research on ketogenic diets and T cells, fasting and obesity, molecular signals that regulate inflammation, and the biology of healthy aging. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Emily Goldberg Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Ketone bodies trigger immune responses (Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 2024) Ketogenic diet protects against flu infection (Sci Immunol, 2019) HDACs catalyze lacylation (J Biol Chem 2025) Immunometabolic response to fasting (iScience, 2025) Immune-metabolic preservation of healthy aging (Tansl Med Aging, 2020) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune 109: Allergic to red meat? Scientists discover a potential new treatment

Oct 27, 2026 1 hr 10 min

On this episode of Immune, the team explores two fortuitous discoveries: caspase inhibitors that hitch a ride through gasdermin D pores to selectively shut down proinflammatory cytokine secretion, and human monoclonal antibodies against malaria that were repurposed to block allergic antibody binding to red meat allergens in alpha-gal syndrome. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server GasderminD pores deliver drugs (Nature, 2026) Potential alpha-gal syndrome treatment (J Clin Immunol, 2026) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Fascination with Flavivirus B cell responses with Tulika Singh

Oct 20, 2026 32 min

Tulika Singh joins Immune at AAI2026 to talk about the international partnerships that advance research on immunity to emerging flaviviruses and her research on the impact of prior Zika virus infection on susceptibility to Dengue virus disease. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Tulika Singh Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Harris Research Lab 2025 STAT Wunderkind award to Dr. Singh Neutralization of Zika with IgM developed in pregnancy (Cell, 2022) Infection history shapes Dengue response (Nat Comm, 2024) Longitudinal profiling of antibodies following Dengue infection (Nat Comm, 2026) Exposure to Zika and risk for Dengue (Sci Transl Med, 2024) AAI Public Policy Fellows Program Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Similar podcasts

The Naked Scientists Podcast The Naked Scientists

Unexplainable Vox

Ask the Naked Scientists Dr Chris Smith

Science Friday Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Short Wave NPR

Stuff To Blow Your Mind iHeartPodcasts

The Quanta Podcast Quanta Magazine

From Our Neurons to Yours Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford University, Nicholas Weiler

All episodes

Diet, aging, obesity, and immunity with Emily Goldberg

Nov 10, 2026 32 min

Immune 109: Allergic to red meat? Scientists discover a potential new treatment

Oct 27, 2026 1 hr 10 min

Fascination with Flavivirus B cell responses with Tulika Singh

Oct 20, 2026 32 min

Immune Booster 36: Innate immune brakes with Carla Rothlin

Oct 6, 2026 34 min

Carla Rothlin joins Immune at AAI2026 to talk about her career studying inflammation regulation and how she co-founded the Global Immunotalks virtual seminar series. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Carla Rothlin Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server TAM receptor signaling in immune homeostasis (Annu Rev Immunol, 2015) MerTk in retinal pigment epithelial cells (Sci Adv, 2023) Modifiers determine MerTk function (Elife, 2022) Re-evaluating MerTk knockout mice (Int J Mol Sci, 2024) TAMs for checkpoint blockade in cancer therapy (Immunol Rev, 2017) Global Immunotalks on YouTube Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

B cells go broad and live long

Sep 30, 2026 1 hr 22 min

Immune tackles papers on the breadth of human B cell responses following mRNA vaccination and on the role of mitochondria and reactive oxygen species in plasma B cell maintenance. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Stephanie Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server mRNA flu vaccine expands B cell breadth (Nat Immunol, 2026) Mitochondrial ROS and plasma cells (Nat Commun, 2026) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune Booster 37: Secret lives of neutrophils with Tanya Mayadas

Sep 22, 2026 35 min

Tanya Mayadas joins Immune to talk about her road to study neutrophils and her research findings on neutrophil antigen presentation and novel neutrophil targeting therapies. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Tanya Mayadas Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Tanya recently appointed department chair and director Neutrophils, von Willebrand factor and P-selectin (Cell, 1991) P-selectin knockout mouse (Cell, 1993) Neutrophils as antigen presenting cells in cancer (Nat Comm, 2021) Neutrophils elicit broad anti-tumor immunity (Cancer Res Comm, 2026) FcR-mediated neutrophil recruitment (Circulation, 2009) Neutrophil classification and heterogeneity (Immunity, 2025) Neutrophils in Lupus (Curr Op Rheumatol, 2019) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune Booster 35: Human immunology and Dengue virus infection with Adam Waickman

Sep 8, 2026 41 min

Adam Waickman discusses the unusual reason he got into studying immunology just in humans, his important studies on Dengue virus vaccine antibodies, and the problematic phenomenon of antibody dependent enhancement. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Adam Waickman Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Waickman Lab Website Dengue virus human infection model (Sci Trans Med, 2022) mRNA vectored antibody against Dengue (Antiviral Res, 2025) B cell receptor enhancement of Dengue (PLoS Path, 2024) Dengue infection macrophage transcriptional profiles (J Virol, 2025) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Breakfast of champions

Aug 25, 2026 1 hr 23 min

Immune reviews new research that shows a boost in T cell function after eating and the potential for the cGAS-STING pathway to be a new lupus therapeutic target. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Stephanie Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server T cell immunity boosted after eating (Nature, 2026) Inhibiting autoimmunity through TLR7-cGAS (Nat Comm, 2026) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Decoding antiviral signaling networks with Stacy Horner

Aug 19, 2026 38 min

Stacy Horner discusses her work on innate detection of viruses, viral countermeasures, and the role of m(6)A RNA modifications in regulating antiviral immunity. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Stacy Horner Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Hepatitis virus proteases block host response (J Virol, 2012) Host RNA binds to MAVS (Science, 2024) m6A modifications modify innate response to viruses (Cell Chem Biol, 2024) UFMylation coordinates MAVS assembly for antiviral responses (bioRxiv, 2025) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immunity to pesky parasites and peanuts with Scott Smith

Aug 4, 2026 57 min

Scott Smith talks about his research on cloned individual antibodies and how those studies have shifted his thoughts on the role of IgE in parasite defense and food allergy. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Scott Smith Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Complement control proteins in poxvirus evasion (J Virol, 2000) Complement control protein reduces xenotransplant rejection (Transpl Proc, 2002) Engineering therapeutic antibodies (J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2023) Antigens in peanut allergy anaphylaxis (J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2025) Using human antibodies to identify parasite antigens (J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2022) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Science and podcasting with Kathryn Knoop and Marion Brunck

Jul 28, 2026 1 hr 3 min

Kathryn Knoop and Marion Brunck join the Immune team to talk about their research and their podcast "Mucosal Immunology". Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Stephanie Langel, and Brianne Barker Guests: Kathryn Knoop and Marion Brunck Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Knoop: Oral tolerance in early life review Knoop: Gamma delta T cells in neonatal sepsis Knoop: EGF and IgA in breastmilk Brunck: FcGR's in PMNS Brunck: CRISPR KO to study FcGR's in human PMN Brunck: Leukocytes in breastmilk review Mucosal Immunology podcast Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Natural infection versus vaccine protection with Jenna Guthmiller

Jul 21, 2026 42 min

Jenna Guthmiller talks about how she became interested in immunology and her exciting research on how different responses to vaccines and infection shape future responses to infection. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Jenna Guthmiller Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Broadly neutralizing flu antibodies (Nature, 2022) First exposure antibodies to H1N1 flu (Sci Transl Med, 2021) Long lasting B cells to chimeric flu vaccine (Immunity, 2025) Vaccine strategies to target HA anchor epitope (Nat Comm, 2025) Pre-existing immunity shapes flu response (Sci Trans Med, 2020) From Immune 35: SARS-CoV-2 infection severity linked to anti-spike (mBio, 2021) Guthmiller lab Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Tumor bacteria undermine immunotherapy

Jun 30, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Immune discusses a snippet on how EBV infection alters the immunopeptidome and promotes multiple sclerosis, and a paper on head and neck cancers harboring bacteria that create an immunosuppressive environment and promote immunotherapy resistance. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Stephanie Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server EBV, Golli-MBP presentation and multiple sclerosis (Cell, 2026) Intratumoral bacteria promote resistance to cancer immunotherapy (Nat Cancer, 2026) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune Booster 31: NOD-like receptor discovery with Gabriel Nunez

Jun 23, 2026 40 min

Gabriel Nunez discusses the discovery of NOD-like receptors, NOD1 and NOD2, in inflammatory bowel disease and how travel and taking a moment to enjoy local culture and art influences his creativity. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Gabriel Nuñez Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server HLA and antigen presentation (Hum Immunol, 1987) Bcl2, cell death, and B cells (Nature, 1991) Discovery of NOD1 (J Biol Chem, 1999) Discovery of NOD2 (J Biol Chem, 2001) Mutation in NOD2 and connection to Crohn's disease (Nature, 2001) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Infant Immunology with Martha Alexander-Miller

Jun 9, 2026 49 min

Martha Alexander-Miller discusses why newborn and infant immune responses to vaccines are generally less effective and how we can make vaccines safer and more effective. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Martha Alexander-Miller Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Flu HA nanoparticle vaccine (Nat Comm, 2025) Sex-dependent adjuvant activity in newborns (Vaccines, 2024) Flu vaccine with R848 adjuvant (Vaccines, 2023) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

All about allergies

May 26, 2026 1 hr 20 min

The Immune team talks about two papers on the effect of sleep and environment on seasonal allergies. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Sleep is needed for condition dependent allergic responses (PNAS, 2020) Original paper on allergy to artificial rose (Am. J. Med. Sci. 181, 45–56 (1886)) One of multiple personalities allergic (Am J Clin Hypn, 1983) Environmentally driven immune imprinting protects against allergy (Nature, 2026) News and Views on immune imprinting paper (Nature, 2026) Immune 90 discussion of "dirty mice" Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology

May 20, 2026 1 hr 3 min

Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology May 19, 2026 Today Dr. Kevin Kohl, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how he and his colleagues study the interplay between animals, their resident gut microbes, and the overarching concept of the holobiont. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Kevin Kohl Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode The One Health Microbiome Center at Pennsylvania State University. A very fine essay on the holobiont concept for non-microbiologists. A general introductory overview of the holobiont concept. The holobiont concept and the coral symbiosis. A partial history of the development of the holobiont concept. Dr. Casadevall suggests that context and thus outcomes describes the term "pathogen," and a similar analysis applies to the holobiont. A very short description of the holobiont concept. Another overview of the holobiont concept in general, coauthored by Dr. Kohl. Some basic rules for thinking about the holobiont concept. A video introduction to the holobiont concept, by Dr. Seth Bordenstein. I highly recommend this essay by the science writer Carl Zimmer, "The Human Lake," to think of the connections between lake ecology and microbial interactions with humans. Another wonderful article recommended by Dr. Kohl, by Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai and coauthors, detailing the impact microbes have on animals over evolution and development. The wood rat – creosote – microbiome connection to the holobiont concept, discussed on this podcast (coauthored by Dr. Kohl). The fascinating work by Dr. Kohl and colleagues showing the relationship between tadpole development and pond microbes discussed in this podcast. A must read article by Dr. Kohl and colleagues, "Through the microbial looking glass: our shifting understanding of the holobiont and microbes as mediators of organismal biology," illus...

Immune regulation and science communication with Nicholas Jackson

May 19, 2026 31 min

Nicholas Jackson, AKA Nick the Immunologist, talks about being a graduate student, social media creator, and his research on cytokine tools to investigate regulatory T cells. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Nicholas Jackson (Nick the Immunologist) Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Richard DiPaolo lab IL-2, TGFb and Tregs preprint Nick the Immunologist on TikTok Nick the Immunologist on Instagram Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immunometabolism, Inflammation, and Building Biotechs with Luke O'Neill

May 5, 2026 44 min

Luke O'Neill recounts his role in discovering key components of the TLR signaling pathway, explains how pursuing unexpected research questions keeps him motivated, and reflects on his experiences as an entrepreneur founding biotech companies. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Luke O'Neill Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server O'Neill lab Identification of MAL in the TLR signaling pathway (Nature, 2001) GDF 15, immunometabolism and anti-inflammatories (An Rev Pharmacol Tox, 2026) Itaconate and regulation of inflammation (Nat Metab, 2024) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune Booster 27: Interferons, JAKs, and STATs with George Stark

Apr 28, 2026 37 min

George Stark from the Cleveland Clinic reflects on his early training in biochemistry and how several sabbatical leaves sparked pivotal changes in his research trajectory, eventually drawing him to interferon signaling where he helped establish the core principles of the JAK–STAT pathway and uncovered interesting roles for interferon signaling in cancer. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: George Stark Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Stark lab Development of the Northern blotting technique (PNAS, 1977) Development of Western blotting for proteins (PNAS, 1979) Discovery of Tyk2 as a critical kinase in interferon response (Cell, 1992) Topical PALA treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer (Exp Dermatol, 2023) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune 103: Cytokines 101

Apr 21, 2026 1 hr 22 min

The Immune team talks all about cytokines, from what they are to immunotherapies against them to treat diseases. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Non-specific virus neutralization by IgM and complement (mBio 2026) Natural antibodies against viruses (Virology blog, 2009) Biologics against inflammatory cytokines (Int J Cell Bio, 2016) Biologics against allergic cytokines (JACI, 2022) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune defense against parasitic worms with Irah King

Apr 7, 2026 34 min

Irah King from McGill University talks about his passion to understand how our immune system detects and responds to helminthic worm infections, how the worms can reprogram those responses, and how these pathways might be exploited to develop new treatments for inflammatory diseases. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Irah King Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server King lab at McGill Stromal cells and disease tolerance against intestinal infection (Cell, 2025) Helminth-Microbiome Interactions in Early Life (Cell, Host, & Microbe, 2024) BCL6, CD4T cells and parasitic infection (Mucoslal Immunol, 2023) Helminths manipulate the intestinal epithelium (Trends Parasit, 2023) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Living longer without B cells

Mar 31, 2026 1 hr 13 min

The Immune team discusses a paper describing the negative effects of old B cells on T cells and longevity and a snippet on an interesting vaccine approach to promote competition between gut commensals. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Stephanie Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Vaccine enhanced competition of gut bacteria (Science 2025) B cells drive immunosenescence and aging (Sci Immunol 2026) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune Booster 25: Out of the anti-vax woods with Ellen Woods

Mar 17, 2026 1 hr 7 min

A former anti-vax mom talks about going down the rabbit hole, her mindset shift, the importance of doctors who are willing to talk with patients about vaccines, and why she is now a vaccine advocate. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Ellen Mary Woods Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server A shot at life foundation Voices for Vaccines information and advocacy What the iPhone bendgate can teach us about vaccine hesitancy Tips for conversations with vaccine hesitant people Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Tolerating pregnancy with Gabrielle Rizzuto

Mar 3, 2026 33 min

Gabrielle Rizzuto from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center discusses her work on the curious immunology of pregnancy and how a woman tolerates a genetically different baby but quickly rejects a mismatched organ donation. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Gabrielle Rizzuto Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Rizzuto lab at MSKCC Tolerance at the fetal-maternal interface (Nature, 2022) The paradox of fetal-maternal tolerance (J Exp Med, 2022) Spatially resolved timeline of fetal-maternal interface (Nature, 2023) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Ink and immunity

Feb 24, 2026 1 hr 14 min

Immune discusses how tattoo ink accumulates in lymph nodes, promotes inflammation and influences response to two different vaccines. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Stephanie Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server IL-9, CAR T cells and anti-tumor CD8 cells Tattoo ink, inflammation and vaccines Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune Booster 23: Critical windows during immune system development with Anna Beaudin

Feb 17, 2026 42 min

Anna Beaudin from University of Utah talks about the key thread of her career, development, and how that influences her research on the events happening during critical prenatal windows shapes everything from the developing immune system to hearing loss. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Anna Beaudin Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Beaudin lab at University of Utah PhD work on metabolism and development Postdoc work on hematopoietic stem cells Maternal inflammation and hematopoietic stem cell development Prenatal inflammation effect on postnatal immunity Early life inflammation and hearing loss Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

T cell signaling and selection with Leslie Berg

Feb 10, 2026 44 min

Leslie Berg talks about her career studying T cell receptor signaling, T cell development, and the importance of mentors in her career. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Leslie Berg Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Berg lab at University of Colorado Anschutz TCR thresholds and ITK (PNAS) Review on TCR signaling (Nat Immunol) Generation of TCR transgenic mice (Mol Cell Bio) T cell negative selection in TCR transgenic mice (Nature) Thymic exit of mature T cells in TCR transgenic mice (Cell) AAI past president Berg information Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune turns 100!

Jan 27, 2026 1 hr 22 min

The whole Immune gang gathers with special guests Gretchen Diehl and Shruti Naik at The Incubator with an audience to celebrate the 100th episode. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Stephanie Langel, and Brianne Barker Guests: Gretchen Diehl and Shruti Naik Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Diehl: Gut microbe-specific T cell development (Nature 2021) Diehl: Bacteria-induced IL-1 is gut protective (Gut Microbes 2022) Diehl: Microbiota, macrophages, IL10, and colitis (Gut Microbes 2022) Diehl: E. coli-activated circuit restrains gut inflammation (Cell Rep 2025) Naik: Commensals control skin inflammation (Science 2012) Naik: IL-17 and hypoxic stress during skin repair (Science 2022) Naik: Human psoriasis and spatial transcriptomics (Sci Immunol 2023) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Origins of antigen receptors with David Schatz

Jan 13, 2026 30 min

David Schatz talks about his discovery of Rag genes that are critical for antigen receptor development and how that discovery depended on taking high risks and using approaches that everyone thought could never work. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: David Schatz Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Transfer of recombinase activity in non-lymphoid cells (Cell 1988) Identification of the RAG-1 gene (Cell 1989) Evolution of a recombinase (Semin Immunol 2004) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

A Nobel for immune tolerance

Dec 30, 2025 54 min

The Immune team discusses the groundbreaking discoveries of regulatory T cells, which was the topic of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Sakaguchi lab paper on FoxP3 and regulatory T cells (Science 2003) Brunkow and Ramsdell description of scurfy mouse mutation (Nature 2001) Nobel Prize writeup on Treg discoveries Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Lipid GPS for T cells with Susan Schwab

Dec 16, 2025 27 min

Susan Schwab talks about how she got the research bug, bugs she ate, and her research on how the lipid S1P helps T cells decide- should I stay or should I go. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Susan Schwab Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Schwab lab website Monocytes produce the lipid S1P to regulate T cell movement Review on S1P and immune cell migration Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

T cells on the brain

Nov 25, 2025 1 hr 31 min

Immune discusses cross-reactive antibodies to avian influenza neuraminidases and a role for gut-derived T cells in the brain to regulate eating behavior. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Steph Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Antibody cross-reactivity to influenza H5N1 (Cell Host Microbe, 2025) Gut-derived T cells regulate behavior (Nature, 2025) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Virus-immune Tug-of-war with Kristian Andersen

Nov 11, 2025 1 hr 0 min

Kristian Andersen from Scripps Research Institute joins Cindy to talk about how he got interested in virus evolution, how the immune system drives viral adaptation, and what we can learn from this research to better prepare us for the next pandemic. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Kristian Andersen Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Andersen Lab website Perspective on Immunological drivers of virus emergence Kristian's appearance on TWiV 774 Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Bystander B cells go bananas

Oct 28, 2025 1 hr 14 min

Cindy and Steph discuss a paper that challenges the textbook dogma that B cells must first bind to an antigen for antibody affinity maturation to occur, and a snippet on dysfunctional T cells during bacterial vaginosis. Hosts: Cindy Leifer and Steph Langel Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Somatic hypermutation in non-specific B cells (Immunity 2025) Dysfunctional T cells during bacterial vaginosis (J Clin Invest 2025) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

From Stars to cells with Bali Pulendran

Oct 14, 2025 29 min

Cindy sits down with Bali Pulendran at the AAI 2025 meeting where he told the story of how a childhood fascination with the cosmos grew into a career addressing fundamental questions about the human immune response, and how when an antigen enters the body it is like the big bang in how it initiates immune responses. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Bali Pulendran Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Systems vaccinology determines antibody responses and durability (Nature 2025) World's largest immunology experiment (Sem Immunol 2024) Systems Vaccinology Review (Immunity 2010) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

From unvaccinated to vaccine advocacy with Liz Marnik

Oct 7, 2025 1 hr 5 min

Elizabeth Marnik, also known as Science Whiz Liz, grew up unvaccinated, yet she is now an immunologist, science communicator, and advocate for vaccines–this is her story. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Elizabeth Marnick Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server More about Liz on her webpage ScienceWhizLiz on Instagram From the Science Classroom with Science Whiz Liz on Substack Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune 96: How to floss a mouse

Sep 30, 2025 1 hr 10 min

Immune discusses the potential future of delivering vaccines by flossing your teeth and how antibodies in human milk shape the normal immune responses in newborns. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Steph Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Floss-based vaccination (Nat Biomed Engineering 2025) Press article on Floss-based vaccine paper (Sci News) Human milk IgA promotes immune development (PNAS 2025) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Teaching and communicating immunology with Aimee Pugh Bernard

Sep 16, 2025 33 min

Cindy speaks with Aimee Pugh Bernard from University of Colorado about her career and her passion for teaching and communicating immunology to the public. Host: Cindy Leifer Guest: Aimee Pugh Bernard Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server More about Aimee on her webpage Funsizeimmuninja on Instagram Fun Size Science video partnership with Unbiased Science Funsizeimmuninja Substack Society for Leukocyte Biology Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Mitochondria for everyone

Aug 26, 2025 1 hr 2 min

Immune discusses how cancer cells swap mitochondria with T cells and then digs in for a discussion of an unusual checkpoint blockade that failed for cancer but could be repurposed for autoimmune inflammation. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Steph Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Cancer cells steal mitochondria from neurons for metastasis (Nature 2025) Cancer cells donate damaged mitochondria to T cells to impair them (Nature 2025) PD-L1 binding to CD80 on the same dendritic cell needed for migration (Sci Adv 2025) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Vaccine ground rules with Shane Crotty

Aug 12, 2025 39 min

Cindy talks with Shane Crotty about his teenage days driving 3 ½ hours every weekend to have his first research experience in marine biology, how that eventually led to studying how vaccines work and how we can make them better, and how immunology research and publishing got a turbo-boost during the pandemic. Hosts: Cindy Leifer Guest: Shane Crotty Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Immune 85 discusses Crotty lab paper on human upper airway immunity Shane Crotty on TWiV657 SARS-CoV-2 immunity Shane Crotty on TWiV684 Persistence of SARS-CoV memory Shane on TWiV802 Another epitope Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune 94: The nose knows

Jul 29, 2025 1 hr 15 min

The Immune team goes up the nose to discuss cytotoxic T cells activating complement through secretion of granzyme K to drive inflammatory nasal polyps and how IgA-producing B cells are made in the nose. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Steph Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server CD8 T cells in recurrent airway inflammation (Nature 2025) Where IgA producing B cells arise that protect the nose (Nature 2024) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune Booster #14: In the eye of immune responses with Darren Lee

Jul 8, 2025 28 min

From the 2024 Society for Leukocyte Biology meeting, Cindy and Brianne talk with Darren Lee to discuss his career, how he got interested in immunology of the eye, and how his team visualizes immune responses of the eye in real time with the hope of better understanding autoimmune uveitis. Hosts: Cindy Leifer and Brianne Barker Guest: Darren Lee Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server The eye is an immunosuppressive environment (Adv Drug Delivery Rev 2023) Tregs control autoimmune uveitis (Sci Rep 2025) TIGIT, Tregs, and autoimmune uveitis (J Leuk Biol 2024) Society for Leukocyte Biology Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune 93: Macrophages managing memory B cells

Jun 24, 2025 1 hr 16 min

Vincent and Cindy discuss differences between MPox-specific T cell responses following infection and vaccination, and lymph node macrophage control of memory B cell localization and trafficking that might be important for choosing which arm to get a vaccine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Cindy Leifer Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Different T memory response to MPox infection or vaccination (Nat Comm 2025) Macrophages direct B cell recall responses after vaccination (Cell 2025) Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Microbiome and regulation of gut inflammation with Justin Wilson

Jun 10, 2025 25 min

From the 2024 Society for Leukocyte Biology meeting, Cindy and Brianne sit down with Justin Wilson to talk about how he got into research and his more recent studies on innate immune sensors and the interaction between the gut microbiome and inflammation related to inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. Hosts: Cindy Leifer and Brianne Barker Guest: Justin Wilson Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Francisella tularensis undermining macrophage defenses (Infect Immunity) AIM2 suppressing colon cancer (Nature Med) NLRP12 regulates gut microbiota homeostasis (Cell Host Microbe) Oral bacteria and carcinogenesis connection (Microbiol Mol Bio Rev) Society for Leukocyte Biology Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Gut symbiont breaks antibody

May 27, 2025 1 hr 20 min

Steph talks about identification of gut bacteria that can digest protective mucosal antibodies and Vincent covers a new paper on Zika virus that implicates fetal phagocytes in brain invasion, which may provide insight into the devastating microcephaly outcome of infection during pregnancy. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Steph Langel, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Gut bacteria induce mucosal immunodeficiency (Science) Contribution of fetal mononuclear phagocytes to Zika virus neuroinvasion (Cell) TWiV468 discusses Zika and brain slice infection model. Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune Booster #12: Innate immunity to Archaea with Holger Heine

May 13, 2025 23 min

From the 2024 Society for Leukocyte Biology meeting, Immune talks with Holger Heine about the discovery of immune recognition of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and innate immunity to organisms within the kingdom Archaea. Hosts: Cindy Leifer and Brianne Barker Guest: Holger Heine Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server TLR8 recognizes human gut-associated archaeon (Front Immunol) The human archaeome and its relevance for health and disease (FEBS) Structural insights into TLR4 recognition of synthetic LPS mimetics (Nature Comm) Society for Leukocyte Biology Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

People, parasites, plagues, and podcasts

Apr 29, 2025 1 hr 0 min

Immune talks with David Peterson and Kim Klonowski from the University of Georgia about their careers, their People, parasites, and plagues podcast, placental malaria immunity, and and how interferons in the thymus affect T cell repertoire selection. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cindy Leifer, Steph Langel, and Brianne Barker Guests: David Peterson and Kim Klonowski Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server People, parasites, and plagues podcast Placental malaria and circumsporozoite protein-specific immunity (Trends in Parasitology) Sterile production of interferons in the thymus affects T cell repertoire selection (Science Immunology) Dickson Despommier's book People Parasites and Plowshares Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immunity to Fungi with Amy Hise

Apr 9, 2025 25 min

From the 2024 Society for Leukocyte Biology meeting, Immune talks with Amy Hise about her career in science, her current research using mouse models for investigating fungal immunity and navigating the challenges of being a mom in science. Hosts: Cindy Leifer and Brianne Barker Guest: Amy Hise MicrobeTV Discord Server Mouse model for testing drugs to treat Candida fungal infection Inflammasomes in Aspergillosis Society for Leukocyte Biology Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Music by Tatami. Logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Immune 90: Immunology of Injury

Mar 25, 2025 53 min

Immune 90: Immunology of Injury March 25, 2025 From the 2024 Society for Leukocyte Biology meeting at Michigan State University, home of the Spartans, Immune's Cindy and Brianne talk with Liz Kovacs and Jim Lederer about their careers, dirty mice, old mice, and immunity during trauma. Hosts: Cindy Leifer and Brianne Barker Guests: James Lederer and Elizabeth Kovacs Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Immune! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Jim Lederer's Neutrophil trained immunity and Trauma effects on immune cells Liz Kovacs's Aging and lung inflammation and Alcohol effects on burn patients Paper on use of "dirty mice" also known as natural immune mice Society for Leukocyte Biology Time stamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Music by Tatami. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical Send your immunology questions and comments to immune@microbe.tv Information on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

See all 148 episodes

–

0 ratings from members

Rate this podcast

No reviews yet — be the first member to rate "Immune".

This podcast, its content and its artwork are not owned by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Castquire.

Diet, aging, obesity, and immunity with Emily Goldberg

Share this podcast

Live Chart rankings

Chart history

🇿🇦 Life Sciences Best #12

Holding at #12 — the line fills in as this chart moves.

🇫🇷 Life Sciences Best #15

Holding at #15 — the line fills in as this chart moves.

Podcast details

Created by: Vincent Racaniello
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 10, 2026
Episodes: 148
Release period: Weekly
Avg. episode length: 1 hr 6 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

Links

Official website ↗ Apple Podcasts ↗ RSS feed ↗

Is this your podcast?

Claim it to show it on your profile. Using the email from your RSS feed approves it instantly.

Keep listening

Discover more podcasts like this.

Browse podcasts See the charts