 | GIANTmicrobe - Nerve Cell
Motor neurons, sensory neurons, interneurons...keeping them straight is enough to give you a nervous breakdown. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Amoeba
The word "amoeba" comes from the Greek word meaning "to change" because of their constantly changing shape. Learn what is so remarkable about the amoeba's genome. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Bird Flu
Bird flu has a very hard time infecting humans. With this GIANTmicrobe you can find out why that may be bad news. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Platelet
It is no surprize that, under a microscope, platelets look like little plates. These smallest cells in blood are primarily responsible for preventing bleeding by clotting. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Common Cold
Billions of people a year catch the cold. Now you can get one too -- without getting sick! Learn all about the Common Cold with this cuddly companion. Throw one to a friend and exclaim, "Don't catch a cold!" Approximately 10 cm tall (4 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - The Flu
This guy may not look too tough, but don't let his cute looks fool you! Once he and his friends show up you're in for a pretty lousy time. Learn about his weaknesses so you can avoid unwanted encounters. Approximately 13 cm tall (5.5 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Sore Throat
No one likes having a sore throat, unless it's a Giantmicrobe! Find out what makes Streptococcus bacteria more than just your average sore throat virus. Approximately 14 cm tall (5.5 inches). |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Stomach Ache
Having a stomach ache can be loads of fun ... if it's a Giantmicrobe, of course! (And this one will tell you how to keep his friends away.) Approximately 17 cm tall (7 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Ulcer
Guess what? Stress doesn't cause ulcers -- microbes do! But we guarantee that this little guy will give your most stressed out pal a laugh. Approximately 14 cm tall (5.5 inches). |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Athlete's Foot
Fumbled the pass? Let the goal through? No sweat! Our happy cheerleader is sure to make you smile. Approximately 18 cm tall (7 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Bread Yeast
Come and get it! This microbe is a baker, and a brewer -- and a scientist to boot. Pretty amazing! Learn about the chemistry that yeast adds to bread and other goods. Approximately 14 cm tall (5.5 inches). |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Ebola
Since its discovery in 1976, Ebola has become the T. Rex of microbes. Very nasty, but fortunately, very rare. Approximately 19 cm tall (7.5 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Mono
A kiss is just a kiss -- unless she's around! 95% of the population has encountered this sweetie pie. Find out who gets her special love. Approximately 10 cm tall (4 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - The Plague
Improved hygiene and readily available antibiotics keep this bad boy at bay. But what a history. One teacher bought six for her medieval history class. She handed them out at random to represent the third of the population that perished... a very powerful lesson. Approximately 13 cm tall (5.5 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Bad Breath
Oral malodor is no laughing matter. But don't give spicy foods all the credit. Microbes deserve their share of the glory, too. Make someone smile (as long as they've brushed first.) Approximately 15 cm (6 inches). |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Bed Bug
Our Bed Bug won't bite -- but tuck someone in with it and we guarantee a smile and pleasant dreams! Approximately 13 cm (5 inches).
Goes great with the Nova Video "The Unknown World " Item NOVA-50. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Bookworm
Yes, the bookworm is a real worm that likes to dine on wood pulp. Do you have a favorite bookworm? We do! And our book-lover is sure to interest just about any bibliophile. Approximately 18 cm tall (7 inches).
Goes great with the Nova Video "The Unknown World " Item NOVA-50. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Dust Mite
Unless you live in Antarctica, you've got millions of dust mites living in your house (and we didn't even count the ones in those corners you keep meaning to clean). See what you're up against -- or put these little reminders where they're needed most! Approximately 13 cm (5 inches).
Goes great with the Nova Video "The Unknown World " Item NOVA-50. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Sleeping Sickness
Are you tired? Working too hard? Feeling a bit cranky? Do you think you might have sleeping sickness? This little fellow will sing you a lullaby you'll never forget. Spread by the bumblebee-sized Tsetse fly, this little fellow traumatizes more that 20,000 people each year. Approximately 22 cm long (9 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Cough
Coughs aren't just for smokers anymore -- now anybody can get one! Bordetella pertussis is the bacteria that causes "whooping cough," a serious cough that can last up to six weeks. This little guys is not as prevalent today thanks to the DPT vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis). Approximately 13 cm tall (5.5 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Ear Ache
Have you heard? Ear aches are the number one cause of emergency room admission each year. Most ear aches in young children are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. (There is no confirmation that ear aches in adults are caused by young children.) It seems that the short, straight tubes in children's ears give this little microbe easy access. Approximately 14 cm tall (5.5 inches). |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Flesh Eating Bacteria
While this little germ has been gobbling up the headlines lately, it had been around for centuries. It is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, the same microbe responsible for strep-throats. Highly devastating and fast-spreading, it can consume an inch of flesh an hour and is NOT known for its table manners.
This GIANTmicrobe is appropriate for more serious discussions. Approximately 14 cm tall (5.5 inches). |
 | GIANTmicrobe - HIV
This plush can be used as a visual aid with your health curriculum. Use it to teach your students the fact about H.I.V., such as: - H.I.V. kills CD4 cells, or T-helper cells
- Once the immune system is compromised, a person develops AIDS (acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome)
- H.I.V. is most commonly transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person
- Insect bites and sweat carry almost no risk of transmission
- Studies show that drying H.I.V. infected fluids can reduce viral presence by 90-99%
- There is no vaccine for H.I.V. and no cure for AIDS
This GIANTmicrobe is appropriate for more serious discussions. Approximately 10 cm tall (4 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Hepatitis
This plush can be used as a visual aid with your health curriculum. Use it to teach your students the fact about Hepatitis, such as: - HAV is spread primarily by unsanitary food and water
- HBV is transmitted in bodily fluids and can cause chronic liver disease
- HCV is perhaps the most dangerous: no vaccine is available
- HDV occurs only in the presence of HBV
- HEV is relatively mild and non-chronic
- HFV and HGV are newly identified; their connection with liver disease is debated
This GIANTmicrobe is appropriate for more serious discussions. Approximately 10 cm tall (4 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - TB
TB can infect any part of the body, but typically targets the lungs and throat. Because it can remain in a latent state for periods of time, it can be difficult to track its source. Can lead to persistent cough, chest pain, weakness, night sweats, even coughing up blood. Approximately 15 cm tall (6 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Louse
The original "cooties," these little guys are one of the most common communicable conditions suffered by children. Having a lousy day? We've got a solution. Scratch your head, and try guess what it is! One of the most unwelcome visitors in schools across the country. Approximately 15 cm tall (6 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Giardia
If you go down to the woods today, you're in for a big surprise... especially if you drink water contaminated with this little critter. Commonly found in lakes and rivers, Giardia.infection is sometimes refered to as "hiker's diarrhea." Approximately 15 cm tall (6 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Pimple
Thanks to propionibacterium, nearly 100% of the population suffers with acne during their teenage years. Got a blemish? Give our little fellow a big squeeze, and you're sure to feel better! Approximately 13 cm tall (5.5 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Syphilis
GLO-525 Syphilis This plush can be used as a visual aid with your health curriculum. Use it to teach your students the fact about Syphilis, such as: - Syphilis has an incubation period of several weeks to several months.
- Infection leads to sores, rashes and flu-like symptoms.
- Syphilis infection makes a patient more susceptible to H.I.V.
- Long term infections can lead to brain damage, insanity and death.
- Antibiotic resistant strains are starting to emerge.
This GIANTmicrobe is appropriate for more serious discussions. Approximately 15 cm tall (6 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Gonorrhea
This plush can be used as a visual aid with your health curriculum. Use it to teach your students the fact about Gonorrhea, such as: - Gonorrhea is one of the most common STDs in the world.
- Infection brings about itching, burning, abdominal pain and more.
- Some infected person show NO symptoms.
- Gonorrhea can lead to complications in pregnancy and birth defects.
- Gonorrhea can raise the risk of H.I.V. transmission by up to 500%.
- Antibiotic resistant strains are starting to emerge.
This GIANTmicrobe is appropriate for more serious discussions. Approximately 15 cm tall (6 inches) |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Salmonella
Salmonella is a among the leading causes of food poising, found in foods like eggnog, mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, and even frostings. A clean kitchen is the best way to keep salmonella out of your home or school, but this cute little guy is definitely the best way to bring it in! |
 | GIANTmicrobe - E-Coli
E. gads! What a fantastic way to teach your students about one of the most studied microbes. The escherichia coli bacterium was identified in 1885 and is responsible for abdominal infections and food poisoning. We hope that this cute and cuddly version is the only e. coli you ever receive! |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Mad Cow
Git along, little prions! Your students will laugh and learn with this whimsical version of a disease that is no bull. Mad Cow disease, or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), is caused by misshapen proteins that congeal into long rods that eventually inhibit brain function. Your students will go nuts, but don't blame us. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Polio
A 1950's vaccine eradicated polio from the western world, but the disease still exists in Africa, India, and South East Asia. Usually transmitted in the summer months, polio can have paralyzing consequences. Continued efforts to promote vaccination may one day eradicate the disease globally. Until then, students will enjoy learning about polio with the help of this softer (and safer!) GIANTmicrobe. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Typhoid
This little fellow causes red spots, ulceration of the intestines, and a high fever that can last for more than a month. Untreated, the mortality rate is as high as 20%. Today it is rare thanks to modern medicine. Learn why one Molly Mallon will always be remembered as "Typhoid Mary." |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Malaria
Once thought to be caused by the air in swamps, Malaria literally means "bad air." Today it is known to be caused by a parasite and transmitted by mosquitos. Each year nearly half a billion people are infected, proving fatal for more than a million, mostly children in Africa. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Lyme Disease
Now one of the most common tick-borne illnesses, this ailment was first identified not far from our home office in Connecticut. It causes aches and pains, and its now-famous bulls-eye rash. Untreated, it can lead to life-long join problems and even memory loss. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Heartworm
Heartworms are spaghetti-like parasites that live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of dogs. As they increase in numbers and grow, they can severely constrict blood supply. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Mange
This is one creepy pest! The female likes to burrow deep in the skin, lays her eggs and then dies. At these sites, an itchy, pimple-like sore will form. Modern hygiene for people, however, has mostly limited infestations to animals. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Rabies
A source of terror since ancient times, once symptoms begin, death is inevitable. Today, thanks to early treatment methods discovered by Pasteur, the death rate has dropped by 99%. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Red Blood Cell
You have about 10,000,000,000,000 of these little guys in you right now. More than enough to share. Donated blood can only be stored for six weeks and is constantly in demand. His best trick is to hold his breath until he turns blue! |
 | GIANTmicrobe - White Blood Cell
He is the body's "white-knight." If germs invade, they ride to the rescue and fight to the death. Don't let his cute looks fool you. You are looking at a highly trained killer, fighting the good fight for your health. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Chlamydia
Chlamydia is perhaps the most common of all sexually transmitted diseases. Because it often produces no obvious symptoms, treatment can easily be delayed until it is tragically late. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Pneumonia
While there are many potential causes for pneumonia, of fluid in the lungs, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Herpes
Herpes was identified more than 2500 years ago. The word "herpes" comes for the Greek word for "creep." Kinda makes you wonder what they were trying to tell us... |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Fat Cell
The average human has about 40 billion of these little guys. While people often complain about them, they actually perform a number of vital functions in the body. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Staph
This little guy has been in the news a lot lately in the form of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also know as MRSA or the "superbug." While staph is very common, the anti-biotic resistent forms are causing great concern. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Chickenpox
Possibly named for the Old English word "giccan" meaning "to itch," chickenpox is no longer the childhood rite of passage. A great example of how vaccines can change modern life. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Brain Cell
Most people have about 100 billion of these in their head. At times I feel like I've been coming up short. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Toxic Mold
Stachybotrys is the black, toxin-producing mold implicated as the cause of "sick building syndrome." |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Maggot
Though gaining respect in modern medicine as a "wound cleaner," their taste for dead flesh and fecal mater will ensure that they are always viewed by some as "icky." |
 | GIANTmicrobe - MRSA
A variation on the common staphylococcus bacteria, MRSA is highly resistant to antibiotics and can be life-threatening. It gained headlines recently as outbreaks were identified on a number of college campuses. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Penicillin
Here's one for the good-guys. Penicillin kills off bacteria by blocking a necessary enzyme. Learn how thousands of lives were saved.... by a moldy cantalope. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - T4 Bacteriophage
This spider-like microbe attacks E. coli bacteria and uses it to reproduce. T4 was used in Nobel winning research, including that of James Watson and Francis Crick. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Sperm Cell
The word "sperm" comes from the Greek word for "seed." The average man makes over a thousand of them per second, but when the race is on, only one will beat out the others to fertilize the egg. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Egg Cell
The egg, or ovum, is formed only in women. Once it is fertilized, its outer wall hardens to block additional suitors. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Toxoplasmosis
A common parasite, toxoplasmosis is well known for being spread by cats. Usually it produces little or no symptoms, but it can be a risk for pregnant mothers. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Gangrene
Gangrene is the decay and death of soft tissue. Eeeeew! This fast-spreading bacteria is often the gruesom cause. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Anthrax
Although recently thought of with great anxiety, Anthrax was once quite common, especially amongst herdsmen. It also may have been the involved in some of the plagues in the Bible. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - Swine Flu
A mutation of a common influenza that usually affects pigs, H1N1 Influenza A has made the leap to humans...and the headlines. |
 | GIANTmicrobe - West Nile Virus
Originally identified in Uganda, West Nile is spreading around the world. Amazingly, most people that become infected experience no symptoms. For a small percentage, however, the effects can be devistating. |