Paul W. Ewald

Vector evolution is fascinating...if you let it. To think that certain bacteria, as Ewald claims, have evolved to modify the behavior of their hosts to perpetuate their own kind is astounding to me. Have a fever? Could be that a particular infectious agent likes it that way...actually thrives in an inflammatory environment. Crave certain foods when you're sick? Maybe it's a virus who has evolved a need to absorb more of a certain food that increases when you eat more of that certain food. show more I'm simplifying of course, but... Amazing! show less

An interesting look at whether diseases that we consider to be "chronic" or "lifetyle" related may not actually be caused by viruses. No, it's not a look at whether, it's an assertion that viruses ARE at the root of many diseases that we don't now consider communicable.Probably could have been squeezed into a New Yorker article, but worth a read.