By looking at disease from the perspective of a microorganism, scientists have found that the main goal of any virus or other type of bug is to reproduce. Illness is just a side effect of the microorganism's efforts to multiply as much as it possibly can. Whether a virus is carried by water, air, or by other creatures, the way it spreads is a numbers game; the more hosts that are infected, the more it can reproduce, and the more it reproduces, the stronger it can become. Much depends upon the relationship between the host and the bug. Producer Loretta Williams visits Allen Herre of the Smithsonian Institute’s Tropical Research in Panama who studies the relationship among wasps, nematodes and figs. Evolutionary biologist Paul Ewald explains his ideas about rapid transmission and deadly disease. Immunologist and infectious disease expert Phyllis Kanki of Harvard University discusses the implications for women infected with HIV in West Africa. Virologist, author and public health expert Stephen Morse connects their ideas in an effort to understand why it is so difficult to eradicate certain diseases, and how we can develop more effective methods for doing so in the future.

The Soundprint documentary series features the best work of top radio producers. The award winning documentaries are renowned for drawing the listener into the story with compelling interviews, authentic voices and rich sound. From memoirs to science, health and popular culture, Soundprint creates a powerful experience the listener will not soon forget.

Deadly Evolution was produced with support from the National Science Foundation. Here are some related Soundprint documentaries:

The Clinic Produced by: Gemma Hooley

Mosquitoes in Iquitos Produced by: Dan Charles

HPV: The Shy Virus Produced by: Jean Snedegar

Soundprint Executive Producer: Moira Rankin

Technical Director: Anna Maria de Freitas

Science Editor: Ann Finkbeiner

Audio Engineer: Robin Wise

Production Assistant: Francesca Raimond