007: Gnarly! The Surfer Biome Project – Mr. Cliff Kapono

Mr. Cliff Kapono is a PhD student at the University of California San Diego. The human body is covered with trillions of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa), and these microbes produce lots of different chemicals that affect humans in many different ways. Kapono’s thesis studies are based on the idea that surfers spend a lot of time in the ocean, so their microbiomes are likely influenced by all the marine microbes and chemicals. Kapono is systematically studying the microbial communities found on surfers around the world, to discover the signature of a surfer biome. Kapono is an avid surfer, and manages to personally check out the waves at the surf spots where he enrolls participants in his project. Kapono discusses surfing, microbiomes, and his Hawaiian heritage.

Discussants (in alphabetical order):

Dr. Neal Guentzel (Professor and Parliamentarian of STCEID, UTSA)

Dr. Karl Klose (Professor and Director of STCEID, UTSA)

Please visit http://www.cliffkapono.com/new-page/ to find more information about Mr. Kapono’s projects.

microTalk is supported, in part, by the American Society for Microbiology. Visit asm.org to discover more microbiology resources and content.