Image: Grabhouse

9. David Pritchard

Image: New York Times Syndicate

While researchers infecting themselves with parasites for a study is nothing new, one biologist David Pritchard became famous for letting over 50 hookworm larvae burrow through his skin back in 2004. Why? Well, Pritchard believed that hookworms might be the key to understanding the body’s immune response and could eventually lead to medical treatments for immune system disorders.

According to Pritchard, hookworms were able to modify the body’s immune system’s reactions in certain situations when present in the body. However, 50 turned out to be too many, and when they reached his stomach it caused quite a bit of pain. Other members of his team infected themselves as well and were easily able to kill off the hookworms with a simple drug treatment. Studies involving hookworms and immune system disorders still continue, though we doubt Pritchard will be volunteering anytime soon.

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