I’m Christina Kackos Brunelle. I received my PhD in Biomedical Sciences with in 2022. I’m a virologist who loves a good outbreak-apocalypse story. Here I'll break down the science behind pop culture outbreaks and how they relate to real-life science.
Analysis
Why fungal infections are so difficult to treat ***Spoilers for The Last of Us on HBO Max*** “And there are no treatments for this. No preventatives, no cures. They don’t even exist. It’s not possible to make them.” This statement, made by Dr. Neumann at the beginning of
Analysis
Replacing spores with tendrils in The Last of Us ***Spoilers for The Last of Us on HBO Max*** The Last of Us has been heralded as one of, if not the best, video game adaptations ever made1,2. Countless side-by-side comparison videos of the show and the game showcase the
Analysis
The Pathology of Rabies Virus and its Zombie Apocalypse Risk ***Spoilers for The Last of Us on HBO Max*** Even after deciding that cordyceps will most likely not cause the downfall of humanity, I can’t say I feel any better while watching The Last of Us every Sunday. After
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How likely is a cordyceps pandemic as depicted in The Last of Us? ***Spoilers for The Last of Us on HBO Max*** I hate zombies, and when I say hate I mean really hate. Something about undead cannibals overrunning the known world elicits a visceral repulsion in me. A primal
News
This is Of Microbes and Men, a brand new site by Christina Kackos Brunelle that's just getting started. Things will be up and running here shortly, but you can subscribe in the meantime if you'd like to stay up to date and receive emails when new