Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Micro is swimming down the bloodstream and having fun as he swims with the red and white blood cells. In the distance he sees something that is definitely not a blood cell. Curious, he approaches it. He can tell it is a bacterium, like himself, however he is unsure if it really belongs there.
"Excuse me," he says, "are you new around here?"
The bacterium slowly turns around. He is long, sort of tube-shaped, and has a tail. The stranger narrows his dark eyes, staring at Micro intimidatingly.
"Yes, I'm new," the stranger finally says. "I also cause my victims severe pain and uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea. If people don't drink enough liquids, they quickly die of dehydration."
Micro certainly doesn't like the sounds of that, and speeds away. He takes a quick glance behind him and is glad to see that the stranger hasn't followed. What bacterium did Micro meet?
2. Micro, though having fled from the frightening bacterium, can't help but feel excited at having come across one of the many enemies his mother has told him about. Before he can think too much about it though, he comes across a worm-like microbe. Micro doesn't have to talk to this bacterium to know what it is! He can remember his mother telling him about the countless times this bacterium has gone out of control. He can remember her telling him that 1347 - 1353 was the most well-known pandemic, caused by infected fleas transmitting the disease to humans. It took several years for it to spread throughout Europe. Micro recalls that for this particular pandemic, the disease was coined 'The Black Death'. What disease is it?
3. Micro is excited when he comes across yet another bacterial cell. This one is a tall, elongated oval shape. It watches Micro approach. Once again, Micro has listened to his mother closely enough to remember that this bacterium is mycobacterium leprae: the bacterium that causes leprosy.
"Is there a reason you're here?" the leprosy bacterium asks Micro.
"I just wanted to meet you."
"I see." He sighed. He begins explaining how he liked it much better when everyone thought he was much more contagious than he really is because back then he was usually left alone. The microbe goes on about the history of leprosy and how the disease was around in Biblical times and is still around today. He leaves Micro with the information that no one in the world is protected from leprosy and a pandemic can easily occur. Was the bacterium telling Micro the truth with this last bit of information?
4. Micro, feeling slightly down after his last encounter, collides right into the next microbe he meets. Once again, it is worm-like in shape. Micro has no idea what bacterium it is.
"Who are you?" he asks.
The bacterium, who is considerably larger than Micro in size, tells him he has one chance to get it right or else he'll wish he never lived. He gives Micro the following clues: "The disease I cause used to kill the highest number of deaths in woman after childbirth. I also am a threat to the lives of their newborns. After the discovery of penicillin I stopped being a big killer in the developed world. That being said, I am still cause the death of about half a million woman every year in developing countries."
What should Micro say to ensure his existence?
5. Phew, that was a close call. A few minutes later, when Micro comes across yet another bacterial cell, he begins to think this a bit unrealistic. This bacterium greets Micro amicably.
"Hi," she says, "I just came here from pediculus humanus corporis."
"Uh...pardon?"
She laughs. "A body louse, of course. I cause a fever and sometimes even delirium. I also cause a rash, pains, and a really bad headache. People can avoid me though. They just have to stay clear of overcrowded places and make sure they are hygienic. I've been the cause of death for many soldiers, including those in the two World Wars and Napoleon's troops."
"Oh! I know what disease you cause," says Micro. He then shouts it out and she nods. What disease is it that Micro shouts out?
6. Pleased with himself at having known what bacterium he just met, Micro hums to himself as he continues along down the bloodstream. It's not long before he comes across another worm-like microbe. This one is very long and its body is spiraled around itself.
"Who are you!?!" the bacterium shouts.
"I...I'm Micro," he replies in a stammer, suddenly very afraid.
"YOU'RE just a little runt. I, however, am not. I used to be quite widespread and very feared, until something supposedly more fearsome came along. My symptoms follow a pattern of three stages. Genital sores, a rash, and then I invade the entire body which includes even more sores. I have been called many things by many nations but I am most known by my nickname the 'great pox'."
Micro, getting sick and tired of these haughty bacteria, just goes away. He knows what it is anyway. What disease is he thinking of?
7. Glad to have left the last bacterium alone, Micro continues down through the bloodstream, twisting and turning around the blood cells as he goes. He hears a voice and stops to turn and see who it is. 'Just great,' Micro thinks to himself, 'another bacterium!' Before he can say anything, the stranger speaks.
"I am an ancient, chronic disease. I am known by a variety of names due to my ability to affect nearly every part of the body. The most common type of me affects the lungs and is spread through airborne droplets. Depending on what type you have, I can make you cough blood, have night sweats, give you swollen lymph glands, disfigure your face, and more. Do you know who I am?"
Micro shrugs and the bacterium glares at him and inches forward, ready to strike. Panicked, Micro cannot remember what disease this is. Can you help him out?
8. Breathing heavily, Micro manages to get away unscathed. He barely gets past a group of red blood cells when something taps him on the back. Micro screams and jumps to find himself face to face with another bacterium.
"Sorry," says the bacterium, "I was just wondering if you could tell me where the head is. I'm looking for the brain."
"Why?" asks Micro cautiously.
"I cause a disease sometimes known as the 'sleepy sickness' that can put people into a coma. I caused a pandemic from 1916 - 1927. Nowadays I keep pretty quiet but as you can see I still infect people now and then. These humans are pretty lucky though because there's a drug known as L-dopa, normally used for those with Parkinson's disease, that a man named Oliver Sacks tried on people whom I had infected back in the 60s. It works and they wake up but have to keep taking it to ensure they stay awake. Anyway, you know where the brain is? That's the place I infect."
Micro points up ahead and instructs the bacterium where to go. The bacterium thanks him and leaves. Micro is thankful that this one wasn't threatening because he doesn't know what disease it causes. What disease did Micro just encounter?
9. Micro is unsurprised when, a minute later, he meets yet again another bacterium. This one is blocking his way.
"Excuse me," Micro says.
"No! Not unless you tell me what disease I cause."
"Um...could you give me a couple hints?" asks Micro. "The others did."
The bacterium sighs. "Very well. I'm caused when food or water is contaminated with human feces. If you have me then you'll likely be experiencing abdominal pain, headache, rash, and fever. I kill 10% - 20% of those I infect. There is now a vaccine for me. It's been discovered that people can not have me yet be a carrier thus they're able to transmit me to other people."
"Oh! I know!" shouts Micro and he goes on to say the answer. What does Micro say?
10. Micro is nearly done is stroll through the bloodstream and home is just around the corner. He comes across one last bacterium. This one looks a little, well, chunky to say the least. It's eying Micro as he passes by.
"Hey, don't you know who I am? What I can do?" it asks Micro in a hiss.
Micro shrugs and the bacterium groans. "I'm the best bacterium out there! Hospitals fear me because I can be so difficult to treat! I cause a staph infection that can cause a painful rash, fever, aches, chest pain, and fatigue. And that's only some of my symptoms! I can enter through the body through an opening such as a cut. People usually get me in hospitals but the number of people who get me in the committee is increasing. Now...please don't disappoint me by saying you still don't know who I am!"
Micro is fairly sure he's correct and answers the bacterium. What is his answer?
Source: Author
Vesuvius79
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
crisw before going online.
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