How tiny microbes make a big impact on our health Nicole Spahich

What is Microbiology? The study of things that are very small Microscopic - microbes Unicellular versus multicellular Viruses, bacteria, fungi

Staphylococcus aureus

What makes us sick? Types of sickness Cold Flu Cough Food poisoning Ear ache Infectious

Germs: bacteria, viruses and more!

Germs are everywhere

Microbe match game Where did these microbes come from? Door knob? Mouth? Shoes? Toilet seat?

Microbe match game Where did these microbes come from? Toilet seat ShoesDoor knob Mouth

Good guys versus bad guys Microbiome versus pathogens

Our microbiome

Sharing our microbes Rules: Shake hands with 3 different people Give the people you shook hands with half of each stack of stickers that you have

Sharing our microbes Rules: Shake hands with 4 different people Give the people you shook hands with half of each stack of stickers that you have Who was infected? ORANGE

How to avoid germs Wash your hands Cover your mouth when you sneeze/cough Avoid sharing food/drinks Cook and store food properly

Why do we feel sick? Toxin production by pathogens Poisons damage cells Immune system tries to get rid of the invaders Poking holes in pathogen cells Eating pathogens

Invaders! Immune system effects: Fever Runny nose/mucus production Inflammation Swelling

What happens when we get an infection? Our immune system destroys the pathogen in 2 ways: 1. Immune cells destroy pathogens White blood cells Macrophage Eat pathogens and debris Neutrophil Eat pathogens and kill by releasing toxic particles

Eating bacteria What happens when we get an infection?

Immune cells in action

What happens when we get an infection? Our immune system destroy the pathogen in 2 ways: 2. Antibodies destroy pathogens

What do antibodies do? Prevent pathogens from sticking to cells Bacteria

What do antibodies do? Help cells recognize pathogens so that they can eat them up Macrophage Neutrophil Bacteria

What do antibodies do? Each B cell produces a unique antibody that recognizes a specific piece of foreign material (e.g., pathogen) Pathogens Antibodies B cells

Let’s be antibodies Antibodies have 2 arms Antibodies are specific to their pathogen You can only pick up beads that match your given color

Let’s be antibodies Why are there blue beads left over? Why could this be a problem during infection? Why is there a pink bead left over? What would your body do at this point?

Vaccines Your body makes antibodies to pathogens before you actually get sick Inject weakened/killed form of the pathogen Parts of the pathogen that your immune system recognizes

Thanks! Any questions?