Paul W. Ewald
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'''Paul W. Ewald''' is an [[evolutionary biology|evolutionary biologist]], specializing in the evolution of [[infectious disease]]. He received his B.Sc. in 1975 from the [[University of California, Irvine]], in Biological Sciences and his Ph.D. in 1980 from the [[University of Washington]], in [[Zoology]], with specialization in [[Ecology]] and [[Evolution]]. He is currently director of the program in Evolutionary Medicine at the Biology Department of the University of Louisville [http://www.louisville.edu/a-s/biology/history.html].
Ewald asserts, along with a growing body of [[peer review]]ed studies published in mainstream scientific journals, that many common diseases of unknown origin are in fact the result of the presence of slowly acting [[infections]] caused by [[viruses]], [[bacteria]] or [[protozoa]]. For example, [[cervical cancer]] can be caused by the [[human papilloma virus]]; some cases of liver cancer are caused by [[hepatitis]] C or B; the bacteria ''[[Helicobacter pylori]]'' has been proven to cause stomach [[ulcers]]. His research extends these findings to a wide variety of other ailments.
Ewald disagrees with the popular theory that [[genes]] alone dictate certain disease susceptibility. He says "A disease-causing gene that reduces survival and reproduction would normally eliminate itself over a number of generations." One example of this is [[schizophrenia]]; patients with the mental illness rarely reproduce. Schizophrenia may be caused by [[Borna]] virus. He argues that this disease would have already been eliminated if it were from a strictly genetic cause. He also points out that in the case of gene sharing [[identical twins]] where one develops [[breast cancer]], the other twin has only a 20% chance of developing the disease.
His background in [[evolutionary biology]] helped form these theories, not to discredit a fateful case of diarrhea in the late 1970s. His first thought during this bout was that his body was using diarrhea to expel the [[pathogen]] and he should avoid anti-diarrheal medication. Looking at the problem from the standpoint of the organism, expulsion was not an [[evolutionary]] benefit. The only benefit to the pathogen causing the sickness would be the potential transmission to other hosts; much like the particulate expelled during coughing, diarrhea can be a means of distribution. This thinking sparked his curiosity of the [[evolutionary]] process of infections.
Another major influence has been the [[AIDS]] virus which is inactive for years (allowing it to spread) before [[Terminal illness|terminal]], [[Chronic (medicine)|chronic]] and deteriorative ailments incapacitate and finally kill the victim.
The alleged evolutionary disadvantage of homosexuality has led Ewald to argue that it might be caused by an as-yet undetected virus working [[in utero]] that triggers hormonal responses. (See [[pathogenic theory of homosexuality]]).
==Quotes==
*"It opens our eyes to many quite weird possibilities about disease that most medical scientists, tending to be unaware of current evolutionary thought, don't think of." - Paul W. Ewald
==Books & articles by Paul W. Ewald==
===Popular books by Paul W. Ewald===
* ''Plague Time: The New Germ Theory of Disease'', Anchor, 2002, ISBN 0-385-72184-6
===Academic books and articles by Paul W. Ewald===
* "Transmission Modes and the Evolution of Virulence, with special reference to Cholera, Influenza, and AIDS," ''Human Nature'', Vol. 2, No. 1, 1991, pp. 1-30.
* ''[[Evolution of Infectious Disease]]'', Oxford University Press, 1993, ISBN 0-19-506058-X.
* "Emerging pathogens: Insights from evolutionary biology," ''Emerging Infectious Diseases'', Vol. 2, 1995, pp. 245-257.
* "The evolution of virulence: a unifying link between ecology and parasitology," ''Journal of Parasitology'', Vol. 81, pp.659-669.
* "Vaccines as evolutionary tools: The virulence-antigen strategy," in ''Concepts in Vaccine Development'' (S. H. E. Kaufmann, ed.), Walter de Gruyter & Co:Berlin, 1996, pp. 1-25.
* "Alternative transmission modes and the evolution of virulence," (with Giulio De Leo), in ''Adaptive Dynamics of Infectious Diseases: In Pursuit of Virulence Management'' Series: Cambridge Studies in Adaptive Dynamics (No. 2), (Ulf Dieckmann ed.), 2002, ISBN 0521781655.
* "Virulence Management in Humans," in ''Adaptive Dynamics of Infectious Diseases: In Pursuit of Virulence Management'' Series: Cambridge Studies in Adaptive Dynamics (No. 2) (Ulf Dieckmann ed.), 2002, ISBN 0521781655.
==Popular articles about Paul W. Ewald==
* Steve Mirsky, ''Profile: Paul W. Ewald, A Host with Infectious Ideas,'' May 2001, [[Scientific American]].
==External links==
*[http://www.quantumbalancing.com/news/new_germ_theory.htm A New Germ Theory]. Originally published in The Atlantic Monthly magazine, February 1999
* [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol2no4/ewald.htm Guarding Against the Most Dangerous Emerging Pathogens: Insights from Evolutionary Biology, by Paul W. Ewald, CDC website]
*[http://www.webpediatrics.com/pandas.html PANDAS (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococci) and PITAND (Paediatric Infection-triggered Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders)]
*[http://www.pbs.org/kcet/closertotruth/explore/show_05.html Closer to Truth: PBS TV show, with Paul Ewald and others.]
*[http://www.isteve.com/2000_Paul_Ewald_on_Germs_Genes_and_Diseases.htm Biologist Paul Ewald Says Germs, Not Genes, Cause Most Killer Diseases]
*[http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19990701-000031.html The Infection Connection] by Harriet Washington, Psychology
Today, Jul/Aug 99, Examines the possible connection of microorganisms with psychological problems.
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[[Category:University of Washington alumni]]