Sex, Drugs, and Parasites

Brains and Barstools brings captivating professors to downtown Toronto bars for vivid, entertaining talks that spark curiosity and connection over drinks (alcoholic and non-alchoholic options available). On Jan 14th, we present : "Sex, Drugs, and Parasites" by Prof. Nicole Mideo.

In this talk, Dr. Nicole Mideo explores what happens when malaria parasites make decisions about sex, growth, and survival—and how understanding these trade-offs could help scientists outsmart one of humanity’s most persistent killers. By figuring out why parasites are so stingy (pun absolutely intended) with their sex lives, researchers may uncover new ways to trick them — pushing malaria toward extinction instead of adaptation.

Malaria parasites face a fascinating dilemma. Inside the human body, they can either keep multiplying—making the infection worse—or switch to making sexual forms that can spread to mosquitoes and continue the cycle. But strangely, they rarely choose sex. This stingy strategy has puzzled scientists for decades and might hold the secret to how malaria parasites evade drugs, cause severe disease, and keep spreading despite global control efforts.

💡 About the incredible Professor Nicole Mideo

Dr. Nicole Mideo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto. A leading theoretical biologist, she has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers on disease dynamics and pathogen evolution.

Her work uses mathematical models and data to uncover why some parasites cause devastating disease while others remain mild, how pathogens evolve under pressure from drugs and vaccines, and how we might turn their biology against them. Her research sits at the intersection of evolution, ecology, and infectious disease — revealing that even parasites face tough choices about love, sex, and survival.

📅 Date: January 14, 2025
🕡 Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Entertainment District / Trinity Bellwoods
🎤 Speaker: Prof. Nicole Mideo, PhD

Join us for a lively and accessible evening that blends biology, evolution, and a dash of dark humor about the world’s most successful (and least romantic) parasite.

🎟 Seats are limited! Early bird tickets available for a limited time.

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