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Giantmicrobes Information

GIANTmicrobes is a toy company based in Stamford, Connecticut. GIANTmicrobes manufactures plush toys resembling microbes, including a number of clinically important human pathogens. The toys, also referred to as GIANTmicrobes, are available via Internet and are also typically found at medical facilities, Toy stores, pharmacies and other health-related locations. Many are on display at MoMA. The toys were developed primarily for educational, if not in some cases ironic, value. They are found around the world and the tagging explaining the illness, pathogen or organism has been translated into over 8 languages for use in public awareness in North America and Europe.

Left to Right: The Gonorrhea and Common Cold plush toys

Contents

Appearance

The appearance of each 5-7 inch long toy is based on electron micrographs of the real microbe, thus the toys represent an approximate million-fold magnification of the actual organisms in many cases. In order to appeal to the general public and present an air of lovability, some license is taken in the design of the toys in that they are brightly colored and furry. To further anthropomorphize them, they typically feature two eyes and in some cases other facial features that are in line with some aspect of the disease they represent. Serious pathogens and bacteria, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Human Papillovirus, feature a ribbon, often corresponding to the actual microbe.

Despite this license, the toys typically maintain the salient features of their biological cousins, such as the presence of surface glycoproteins, cilia, flagella, and overall morphology. To emphasize the basic faithfulness to the actual microbes, the toys possess a tag showing the micrograph upon which their appearance is based, the scientific nomenclature of the microbe, and some general clinical facts related to the disease it causes.

Recently, the toys have become available in miniature size ("minimicrobes"), 3 microbe toys packaged in a petri dish-style box, while 15-20" sizes, called "GIGANTICmicrobes!", have been released.

Represented microbes

There are currently a number of microbes which have been represented in plush form. These are grouped by the manufacturer into several categories, which are in cases somewhat arbitrary and do not always reflect the clinical features of the diseases caused by the organisms; indeed, some microbes such as the T4 bacteriophage and Martian Life do not represent causative agents of disease in humans at all. As of 2007, microbes are grouped into Health, Maladies, Calamities, Critters, Alimentaries, Exotics, Venereals, Aerials, Ambulatories, Menageries, Aquatics, Corporeals, and Tropicals. Furthermore, the company maintains a smaller grouping of toys listed as 'Professional,' which according to the company website are geared toward health professionals but which are of similar characteristics to the other lines.

The Newest Microbes Released Fall 2010:

They can be viewed at this website: http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/main/new-products/

Current roster

The list below indicates the scientific and common names of the current set of toys produced by the company as of 2010:

Viruses

Note that the term "Microbe" does not suit a virus. Viruses are often thought to be alive by the public, but they are not alive. They do, however, have genetic material (DNA or RNA) that they inject into a host organism.

Bacteria

Eukaryotic Organisms

Eukaryotic tissues

Prions

Others

Other products

GIANTmicrobes also offers a wide variety of merchandise items.

There is a soap dispenser based on the Rhinovirus toy and is marketing an antibacterial soap for the dispenser.

There are hats, shirts, and a coffee mug for sale that display the Common Cold, Sore Throat, The Flu, and Stomach Ache.

There are tattoos featuring the toys and there is also a keychain that displays the Common Cold.

There are petri dishes that contain 3 mini-GIANTmicrobes in a clear plastic case. All 57 current varieties are available in this new toy.

Larger (15-20") variants of twenty-nine of the original toys, dubbed GIGANTICmicrobes! have been made.

There are also men's neck ties with the Common Cold, Mono, and a Brain cell.

Gift sets include the "heart burned" mini microbe box which includes: Herpes, Pox, HPV, Chlamydia and Penicillin; the "heart warming" mini microbe box which includes: Sperm Cell, Egg Cell, Mono "Kissing Disease", Penicillin, and an exclusive pink Amoeba.

For the Christmas holiday there are tree ornaments including: Common Cold, Brain Cell, Mono "Kissing Disease", E. coli and the limited-edition Red Amoeba. All are fashioned with jovial holiday wear including a Santa hat, reindeer antlers, winter scarf, candy cane, and mistletoe.

Vinyl figures are also available and come with an action-pose sticker and a flip animation book.

"Sniffles" the sound doll is an educational toy that has phrases you say after someone sneezes in five different languages. The doll is the Common Cold character.

External links

Categories:

 

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