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Epidemic!  The World of Infectious Disease

An electronic version of a former exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution's American Museum of Natural History, this site provides links to online resources, as well as a teacher's guide, which can be downloaded in PDF format.  The online kids' magazine "Infection Detection Protection" is loaded with fun microbe mysteries, information about detecting and preventing bacteria and other harmful microbes, and a history of important discoveries in epidemiology (some of these features require Macromedia Shockwave, downloadable from this site). 

Microbes:  Invisible Invaders, Amazing Allies

This site constitutes the abbreviated, online version of a major traveling exhibit sponsored by Pfizer and produced by BBH Exhibits in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health.  Features include:  "What is a Microbe"; "The Microbe Dictionary"; "Microbe of the Month"; and "Microbes Quiz."  You can also check out the traveling exhibit schedule to find out when the exhibition will arrive at a museum near you.

Stalking the Mysterious Microbe

Epidemic!  The World of Infectious Disease

An electronic version of a former exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution's American Museum of Natural History, this site provides links to online resources, as well as a teacher's guide, which can be downloaded in PDF format.  The online kids' magazine "Infection Detection Protection" is loaded with fun microbe mysteries, information about detecting and preventing bacteria and other harmful microbes, and a history of important discoveries in epidemiology (some of these features require Macromedia Shockwave, downloadable from this site). 

MicrobeWorld

This site, produced by the American Society for Microbiology as a tie-in to the PBS Series "Intimate Strangers:  Unseen Life on Earth,"  offers of wealth of information and activities for both teachers and students.  Educators will welcome MicrobeWorld Activities, a handbook of hands-on projects, which can be downloaded in PDF format, and the Explorers Journal, an online report from educators, detailing their classroom experiences with the Microbes" section provides information about the five main types of microbes, "Amazing Microbes Facts & Tales" (including "The Microbe That Saved a Village from the Nazis," and "The Microbe That Survived Being Stranded on the Moon"), and a "Microbe Portrait Gallery," featuring electron microscope scans.

Stalking the Mysterious Microbe

Produced by the American Society for Microbiology, this site, hosted by "Sam Sleuth," provides kids with several "Microbe Mysteries," a collection of simple and fun microbe experiments, a lesson on why handwashing is important, a section on careers in microbiology, an overview of microbe biology, and a discussion of helpful and harmful microbes.

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Big Picture Book of Viruses

A great supplemental resource for advanced biology students, this site provides online tutorials and online courses on introductory microbiology, virology, mycology, and parasitology; a virology video clip library; and an introduction to viral taxonomy. Developed by Dr. Robert Garry at the Tulane University School of Medicine.

Demonstrating an Epidemic

From Access Excellence, this experiment "allows students to experience a small scale 'epidemic,' demonstrating the ease with which disease organisms are spread, and enables the student to determine the originator of the 'epidemic.' Students will transfer live bacteria by hand contact, then transfer an inoculum to a nutrient agar plate for 24 hour incubation. After incubation, plates are observed for growth of the microbial agent."

Microbe Zoo

Created by the Communications Technology Lab at Michigan State University, the Microbe Zoo features an abundance of information about and images of useful microbes.  "Dirtland" looks at essential agricultural microbes, microbes that live in your house, those that prey on other bacteria, and those that consume toxins.  "Animal Pavilion" features microbes which live off animal hosts, including humans.  "Snack Bar" provides a fascinating look at well-known foods such as cheese, bread, and root-beer, produced with the aid of microbes.  "Space Adventure" looks at ways that microbes can help us in human exploration of the galaxy.  "WaterWorld" examines microbes which inhabit freshwater and marine environments.

Microbes in the News

From the Digital Learning Center for Microbial Ecology, this site provides an index to literature about microbes in popular science magazines.  A summary of each article, and bibliographic information, are included.  Categories include "Heroic Microbes"; "Dangerous Microbes"; "Ancient Microbes"; and "Strange Microbes."

MicrobeWorld

This site, produced by the American Society for Microbiology as a tie-in to the PBS Series "Intimate Strangers:  Unseen Life on Earth,"  offers of wealth of information and activities for both teachers and students.  Educators will welcome MicrobeWorld Activities, a handbook of hands-on projects, which can be downloaded in PDF format, and the Explorers Journal, an online report from educators, detailing their classroom experiences with the activities .  "The Wonders of Microbes" section provides information about the five main types of microbes, "Amazing Microbes Facts & Tales" (including "The Microbe That Saved a Village from the Nazis," and "The Microbe That Survived Being Stranded on the Moon"), and a "Microbe Portrait Gallery," featuring electron microscope scans.

The Virtual Cell

Developed by Matej Lexa at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, The Virtual Cell is a collection of still images, texts and movies covering the structure and functioning of a typical plant cell.  Users can zoom in on actual scanned electron micrograph images, and even dissect them.

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