Germ Zappers Coloring Book

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 1Help!Welcome!GERM ZAPPERSCOLORING BOOKFran Balkwill & Mic RolphPRESSCold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 2Germ Zappers: Coloring BookText 2002 by Fran Balkwill; Illustrations 2002 by Mic RolphPublished by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2017; All rights reservedPrinted in the United States of AmericaISBN 978-1-621821-91-510 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internalor personal use of specific clients, is granted by CSHL Press provided that theappropriate fee is paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC).Write or call CCC at 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 (978-750-8400)for information about fees and regulations. Prior to photocopying items foreducational classroom use, contact CCC at the above address. Additionalinformation on CCC can be obtained at CCC Online atwww.copyright.com.For a complete catalog of all Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Presspublications, visit our website at www.cshlpress.org.Hey! Hey!We’re theMicrobes!

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 3Planet Earth can be a dangerousplace for all living creatures,including you. You can usuallyescape from erupting volcanoesand floods.You can protect your body from theblazing Sun and freezing snow.But wherever you live andwhatever the weather, you cannotescape GERMS!They won’tget us!!GURGLE!3

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 4Your body is made of millions andmillions of complicated cells. Some ofthe most important cells protect youfrom invisible germs and attack anythat dare to invade your body.Well, we didn’tknow that!Doh!!Your skin cells make a thick deadcell layer. It is impossible for germsto penetrate this.4Cells up your nose and down your lungsare fringed with microscopic hairs thatwaft away dirt, dust, and germs. Theyalso make sticky mucus (mew-cuss) totrap germs.

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 5Stomach cells make a deadly acidthat destroys anything suspicious.Yo!Hi!We’reTOUGH GUYS!!Tear duct cells make a germ zappingchemical that bathes your eyes allday and all night long.But sometimes and somehow, germs stillget through. Then they have to deal withthe most cunning defender cells of all—GERMZAPPERS!5

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 6In the front line are germ-greedy cells called neutrophils (new-tro-fils).They are not picky, they attack and devour anything dangerous.Neutrophils patrol your entire blood stream. Whenthey sense trouble they stick to the walls of theblood vessel nearest the danger zone. They quicklysqueeze their way between the blood vessel cellsand crawl toward the trouble.What asqueeze!I’m a newneutrophil!Oh! No!!Neutrophils love to dine on juicy germs.Each cell is full of powerful chemicalweapons that zap aliens. This is a deadlymission—the neutrophil dies as well!6Every hour of the day, stem cells in yourbone marrow make about five thousandmillion new neutrophils.

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 7Another cell that prowls through your body is the “Natural Killer” cell.It hunts for cells that have been infected by germs.MAKEMYDAY!Give usa kiss!Cripes!HISSSS!Infected cells can be dangerous—but theNatural Killer cell knows exactly what to do!.It sneaks up close and punches tiny holesin the membrane of the infected cell.I’m dooomed!AAARRGH!The Natural Killer cell moves away,the job is done. The damaged cell is leaking; soon it shrivels and dies.Ha! Ha!!I’M OFF!!7

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 8Eosinophils (ee-oh-sin-oh-fils),basophils (bay-so-fils), and mastcells are close relatives of neutrophils. They like to eat germs.They also fire off chemical weaponsthat kill your “larger” enemies, suchas tapeworms and roundworms.These burrow through your skin anddigestive system.8

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 9Macrophages get rid of your rubbish!They clear up the mess wheneveryou are ill or injured and wherevergerms and dirt collect.See yatomorrow!Macrophages do not usually expirewhen they meet a germ. They live tofight another day!Chomp!Chomp!!Every breath you take is full ofmicroscopic dust and dirt. Millions ofmacrophages gobble up this junk tokeep your lungs clean and tidy.All these attacking cells belong toyour innate (in-ate) immune(im-mewn) system. They react toinvader dangers and they do it fast!Normally, they are all you need tokeep you fit and healthy.9

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 10Sometimes, skulking germs manageto outwit these germ zappers. That iswhen you need your adaptive(add-ap-tiv) immune system.And the cell that gets this going iscalled a dendritic (den-drit-ick) cell.This is a highly efficient guard cell.Wherever the outside world meetsyour insides, you will find dendriticcells waiting patiently, everwatchful.Aha!LUNCH!!Deedle dum!!10

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 11Dendritic cells capture germs, thenzoom off to one of the best meetingplaces in your body for germzappers. It is called a lymph (limf)node. In lymph nodes, dendritic cellsalert the most sophisticated germzapping cells of all, lymphocytes(lim-foe-sites).Strange though it may seem,you have thousands of differentlymphocyte squads, each oneprogrammed to fight a particulartype of germ. When a patrollingsquad finds a dendritic cell thathas captured its own germ, thelymphocytes multiply into millionsand millions—armed to fight thatparticular germ and no other.Help!You’re alymphocyte forsore eyes!That’s aterrible joke!11

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 12Some lymphocytes attack and kill everycell in the body that is infected with theirparticular type of germ.Other lymphocytes release antibodies(an-tee-bod-ees). Antibodies are “guidedmissiles” that cling to “their” germ.Hisss!ZAP!Yummy!An antibody-coated germ makes a reallytasty meal for macrophages andneutrophils. An antibody-coated germis no longer harmful.12Oooops!And if that germ ever dares to invadeyour body again, the lymphocytesquad will recognize it and attack,in double-quick time!

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 13Your germ zapper defender cells need tobe able to contact each other reallyquickly, if they are to work to keep youhealthy. Defender cells send each othermessages using special chemicals calledcytokines (sigh-toe-kines).Cytokines summon more germzapping cells to a trouble spot and makethem absolutely ravenous for the enemy.YAK!YAK!YAK!YAK!!YAK!YAK!YAK!YAK!But what exactly are these invisibleenemies that your cells have to fight?13

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 14BACTERIA!Most bacteria are your friends andallies, not enemies. They aremicroscopic single-cell creatures,about one hundred times smallerthan any human cell. They livealmost everywhere on Planet Earth,from the frozen Antarctic, to boilinghot springs. They are found in thesoil, where they support thefragile web of life.14There are even bacteria living insideyou. They digest the food that youcannot and make vitamin K, whichhelps your blood to clot.

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 15Only a few types of bacteria canmake you ill. These menacingmicrobes multiply inside yourbody, or in the food that you eat.As they grow, they releasedangerous poisons that canmake you feel very sick.They gotme too!15

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 16As usual, your neutrophil cavalry will seekout and destroy most invading bacteria.But sometimes there are just too many, andthe neutrophils are overwhelmed.Help!!Aha!Dendritic cells are next on the case! Theyare busy alerting lymphocyte squads in thenearest lymph nodes.Oi!The lymphocyte squad multiplies andmakes antibody weapons that attack thedangerous bacteria.Bump!Biff!Bash!Bonk!Most of the time, your germ zapping cells win these battles, but sometimes they need help.Your doctor may give you special medicines called antibiotics (an-tee-by-ot-icks), which killbacteria, but not human cells.16

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 17One hundred years ago, manymillions of children died each yearof infections caused by bacteria.The children were often poor, livingin cramped and dirty homes.Invisible microbes easily pollutedtheir food and water.Scientists and doctors in the 21stcentury understand a lot aboutbacteria. They have taught us how tokeep food and homes safe from thishidden micro-menace. But in someparts of the world, where poverty, war,and famine still exist, young childrencontinue to die from bacterialinfections.17

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 18And then there are even smaller andmore loathsome enemies—VIRUSES!Viruses are about100 times smallerthan bacteria!Bacterium18

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 19Almost everyone (includingyou!) will suffer from a virusinfection this year. But althoughviruses can make you feelquite ill, your germ zapperscan beat most of them andyou will soon feel better.ConjunctivitisColds, Measles, andMumpsPolio andColdsEbolaGastroenteritisSmallpox (eradicated)InfluenzaLeukemiaWartsEncephalitisTop of the PoxBronchitisRubellaDiarrheaVIRUSCHART19

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 20Viruses are devious. These tiny alien invaders, about 100 times smaller than bacteria, cannotdo their deadly work without cells in your body.Later.Hee!Hee!!Viruses cause trouble by getting inside yourbody and then inside your cells.Once inside a cell, the viruses take over.They turn the cell into a production linemaking many more viruses.Later still.Ooooooh!These viruses infect more cells, which make more viruses, which infect more cells, and so onuntil you feel really ill!20

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 21ACCCHOOO!YUK!Your friend in the back row propels billionsof virus particles across the school bus.Virus-filled droplets are suckeddown inside your body when you breathe.Coooeeee!!The virus makes an enzyme that chomps through the protecting mucus. It just takes onesingle virus to get inside one single cell beneath the mucus to start you feeling really sick.21

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 22Meanwhile, deep inside your body.Ooooof!You feel OK, but the virus is taking over.Each infected cell makes ten thousand ormore viruses each day.Cells in your lungs, breathing tubes andnose become virus factories—then they die!Your Natural Killer cells are overwhelmed.But dendritic cells alert the mightylymphocyte squads.Emergency! Cytokine messages calldefender cells to battle. Hot, shivery andaching, you cough, sneeze and wheeze.Guess what? You have the flu!Follow us!I’m notwell!

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 23At last there are enough lymphocytes todestroy infected cells—and the virus doesnot like the heat of your fever.You still here?.New lining cells replace those that die, andmacrophages and dendritic cells return totheir lairs.Yep!Powerful antibody missiles seek out the viruses outside your cells and remain in your bloodstream for several months. Leftover lymphocytes die off—only a few remain to patrol thebody in case that virus attacks again.23

GERMZAP Book 10X10 GERMZAP Book 16/08/16 11:50 AM Page 24Life would be very difficult withoutyour germ zapper cells! We know thisbecause there are some childrenwhose defender cells do not workcorrectly.I feel a bitoff color!A few kids are born with neutrophilsthat cannot destroy germs. Otherkids do not make enoughantibodies. Such children havemany more illnesses than you do.They have to take many specialmedicines to help them stay healthy.We’re useless!24