Infection, Detection, Protection
Varuni Kulasekera
Infection! Play Infection! The game where YOU are the germ!

Hi, I'm Varuni Kulasekera. I'm a Medical Entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and I study how microbes get from one place to another. When harmful microbes, or germs, enter the body, they multiply and cause disease. This is called infection. Your body's defenses usually do a killer job of squelching harmful microbes. But sometimes germs multiply faster than the body can handle -- and you get sick. People come in contact with germs in many ways, including:

  • Contaminated blood: Harmful microbes can enter your body through your bloodstream.
  • Infected food or water: Dangerous microbes can enter through your mouth if you drink untreated water or swallow food that's uncooked or unwashed.
  • Disease-carrying creatures: Harmful microbes can enter your body through close contact with infected creatures.
  • Germy air: Dangerous microbes can spread through the air and enter your nose and mouth when you breathe.

Given all the ways germs can enter your body, why don't you get sick all the time? The answer: Your body has powerful defenses!

Your body's FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE against germs includes skin, mucous membranes in your nose and throat, tears, the tiny hairs in your nose, bleeding, peeing, and sweating. These protectors either block harmful microbes from entering your body, or wash them away.

If germs get beyond the FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE, your blood has a SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE known as the immune system. If germs enter the bloodstream, they will be attacked by cells called macrophages (also known as white blood cells). These cells will gobble and dissolve any foreign microbes. Our bodies also produce antibodies that go after specific diseases. For example, if you have already had chicken pox, then your body's chicken pox antibodies will make sure that you don't catch that disease again. If your doctor gives you a vaccine for a particular disease, it helps your body create antibodies for that disease. Then your body will be able to fight it in the future. To see how your body battles microbial invaders, play the "Infection!" game. You'll see how your body defends itself against infection.

Help Your Immune System Help You Stay Healthy - get 7-8 hours of sleep every night - eat a variety of healthy food - drink lots of water every day - play outside so you get fresh air and exercise

Play Infection! The game where YOU are the germ!