Dr Michael Mosley explores the bizarre and fascinating world of parasites by turning his body into a living laboratory and deliberately infesting himself with them.
By the end of his infestation, Michael learns a new-found respect for these extraordinary creatures, which can live off and even take control of their hosts for their own survival.
These short films are from the BBC Two series, Michael Mosley: Infested! Living with parasites.
This series is suitable for teaching biology at KS4/GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4/5 in Scotland.
Infested by hookworm. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley investigates hookworms - large parasites which invade our immune system. He meets a sufferer of Crohn’s disease who infected himself with hookworms to reduce his symptoms.
Infested by leeches. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley interviews a surgeon who is pioneering the use of leeches in medical research.
Infested by lice. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley visits a 'delousing salon' in London to collect live head lice.
Infested by tapeworms. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley visits Kenya to see how the beef tapeworm needs to infect both beef cattle and humans to complete its life-cycle.
Infested by Toxoplasma gondii. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley describes the infection of household cats with Toxoplasma gondii.
Infested with malaria. video
In this short film Dr Michael Mosley investigates the parasite Plasmodium that carries malaria. This disease kills more than half a million people per year.
