Description

Brain cell keyring: For the child at heart Code GMK0100

Show everyone you've got brains with this cute brain cell keyring! There are around 100 billion of these in your brain, each of which can connect with up to 10,000 others... that's some serious networking! Approximately 10cm long.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Giant Algae plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Anabaena spp. Code GM0010

Ever been to the river and seen the water green? It could be from this algae growing throughout the water column. Great for learning about effects of nutrient runoff into our waterways.
Length is approximately 15 cm.
For children 3 years and up

Giant Bad Breath plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Porphyromanas gingivalis. Code GM0040

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is caused by gas emissions from bacteria left in your mouth. Solution? Brush, rinse and floss your teeth often!
Length is approximately 15 cm.
For children 3 years and up

Giant Beer and Bread Yeast plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Saccharoomyces cerevisiae.
Code GM0060 (giant), GMGG0060 (gigantic)

One of the first microbes humans 'domesticated for our use... for food! There is a whole range of different yeasts in the world, but this is our favourite.

Width is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 30cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant Black Ant plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc: Creepy crawly fun! Code GM0065

Black ants are found all over the world - in fact there over 10,000 species of ants and most likely more to be discovered. This plush toy is modelled on Lasius niger. Measures about 19cm in length.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Giant Black Death plush toy!
Yersinia pestis
Code GM0070 (giant), GMGG0070 (gigantic)

This rat borne pestilence caused havoc in Europe in medieval times. It has not been eradicated so keep an eye for rats in your house! .

Length is approximately 10 cm (giant) or 60cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant Brain Cel plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Incl Neuron up close. Code GM0100 (giant), GMGG0110 (gigantic)

Shows the dendrites and myelin sheath quite well. Purchase 2 to show how a synapse works for your class!

Length is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 60cm (gigantic). For children 3 years and up

Giant cavity-causing bacteria plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc. Streptococcus mutans.
Code GM0110

The reason why you brush your teeth (hopefully!). Build up of these bacteria can cause cavities due to the production of acid on the tooth enamel. Also known as 'plaque'. Time to brush and floss!

Length is approximately 15 cm. For children 3 years and up

Giant Chickenpoxplush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Varicella-Zoster virus. Code GM0120

The affliction that quite a few kids get during primary school. This toy might just cheer them up!

Length is approximately 15 cm.
For children 3 years and up

Giant Common Cold plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Rhinovirus. Code GM0160 (giant), GMGG0160 (gigantic)

This little virus is the cause of those winter coughs. Use the toy as an introduction to the spread of airborne disease... cover your mouth when you cough! Yes, we know that technically not a microbe!

Width is approximately 10 cm (giant) or 30cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping.For children 3 years and up

Giant Ebola plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Hemorrhagic fever. Code GM0240 (giant), GMGG0240 (gigantic)

This dangerous African virus was discovered in 1976. Causes a deadly bleeding disease and is often fatal. The mutation of this virus was the subject of the movie 'Outbreak'. Yes, we know that technically not a microbe!

Length is approximately 10 cm (giant) or 60cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant E. coli plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Great for teaching hygiene!Code GM1015 (giant), GMGG1015 (gigantic)

This little bacteria can be found everywhere and is one of the major causes of food poisoning.

Length is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 60cm (gigantic). For children 3 years and up

Giant Flesh Eating Bacteria plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Streptococcus pyogenes.
Code GM0280 (giant), GMGG0280 (gigantic)

Not really the nicest bacterium to cause problems in your system. Also can cause sore throats (hence 'strep' being part of many brand names of sore throat medication).

Length is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 60 cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant Flu plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Orthomyxovirus. Code GM0290 (giant), GMGG0290 (gigantic)

For such a benign little thing it sure can hit you hard! This virus is easily spread around and is recognized to be a major cause of days off work worldwide, costing millions of dollars in lost productivity.

Length is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 60 cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant Food Poisoning plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc: Waiter, there's a 'bug' in my soup! Code GM0292

There are so many causes of food poisoning; viruses, bacteria, toxins and pesticides. This one, Bacillus cereus, is one of the more common. If these bacteria colonise your food to high levels you are sure to get very sick. Solution - cook your meals thoroughly, eat them while still fresh and refrigerate as soon as possible.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Giant Gangrene plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Clostridium perfringens. Code GM0295

You really don't want this bacterium reproducing in your wound. Gangrene can require amputation... so get to a doctor early and follow their advice!

Length is approximately 15 cm.
For children 3 years and up

Giant Giardia plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Giardia lamblia. Code GM0320

You might remember this one from a few years ago when Sydney's water supply was deemed to have too much Giardia in it; causing widespread panic and Sydney-siders having to drink bottled water. Whilst the pandemonium was great, the actual danger was more acute for babies, the sick and the elderly. Still, it'll make you sick if you get too much of it in your system.

Length is approximately 15 cm.
For children 3 years and up

Giant Housefly'plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc: Shoo fly, don't bother me! Code GM0405

Part of every Australian's life, Musca domestica, carries bacteria from garbage tips and 'unmentionables' into your home and onto your food! This plush toy measures about 14cm in length.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Giant Kissing Disease plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Epstein-Barr Virus. Code GM0430 (giant), GMGG0430 (gigantic)

One of the most common virus forms found in humans. Strangely, whilst 95% of the adults between 354 and 40 years have been infected, very few people are symptomatic (i.e. feel sick). When adolescents are infected it is known to cause glandular fever 35% to 55% of the time.
Yes, we know that technically not a microbe!

Width is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 30 cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant Mad Cow Disease plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
Code GM0480 (giant), GMGG0480 (gigantic)

This disease is sad to see in cows, you probably have seen footage from the United Kingdom outbreak. Difficult to control once it gets hold in a cow population, drastic measures are often needed.

Width is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 50 cm (gigantic). The patterns on the toy are variable. Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant Mosquito plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc: The sound of summer... Code GM0520

Unfortunately this insect's bite isn't just itchy afterwards; it can be a site of a serious infection eg. malaria or west nile virus. There are many species of mosquito, whereby the feed of blood is used by the female mosquito for protein. The plush toy measure about 13cm in length.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Giant Malaria plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc: Parasitic pain... Code GM0490

Anyone who has travelled to Africa is well aware of this parasite. The malaria parasite is transferred by the Anopheles spp. mosquito and is responsible for many, many, deaths across the world each year.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Giant MRSA plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Code GM0525

Okay, these guys are kind of freaky. They are the 'super bugs' you keep hearing about in hospitals. The resistance has been caused by people overly using antibiotics, allowing the Staphylococcus to slowly become resistant due to natural selection... Lesson - don't over do your medication if it's not needed!
Length is approximately 15 cm. For children 3 years and up

Giant Nerve plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc: Nervous? Code GM0490

Cute little fella! This nerve chows the dendrites and axon that is used to send electrical signals around the body. What message do you want him to carry?
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Giant Penicillin plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Penicillium chrysogenum. Code GM0550 (giant), GMGG0550 (gigantic)

The discovery of penicillin revolutionised the way we treat infection and is directly linked to the extension of the average human life span.

Length is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 60cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant Platelet plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc: He's so cute! Code GM0573

This little guy will release lots of protein in the event of a blood vessel rupture... forming the commonly known scab! If your platelets don't work in your bloodstream it can be a major problem... either clotting your blod up or alternatively you won't stop bleeding. Fortunately modern medicine can in most cases help to restore normal numbers and functionality... phew!
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Giant Red Blood Cell plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Erythrocyte. Code GM0610 (giant), GMGG0610 (gigantic)

These are the reason you need iron in your diet. Red blood cells carry oxygen using the protein haemoglobin to bind it up. You simply cannot live without them.
Width is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 30cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant Red fire ants plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc: Once bitten, very shy. Code GM0605

The red fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, originates from South America and is known for it's painful bite and large marching colonies. Unfortunately they can hitch rides in shipping containers to other countries where they have become serious pests.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Giant Salmonella plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Salmonella typhimurium.
Code GM0640 (giant), GMGG0640 (gigantic)

Have too much of this little guy in your food and you'll know about it. Can be very toxic in high doses.

Length is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 60cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant Sea Sparkle plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc!
Noctiluca spp.
Code GM0660

This causes bioluminescence when you swim through the ocean, especially on a well moonlit night.
Our Director remembers having to count these on a marine studies field trip back in University.

Length is approximately 15 cm. For children 3 years and up

Giant Stomach Ache plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Shigella spp. Code GM0730 (giant), GMGG0730 (gigantic)

Not our favourite thing to have on a sunny weekend. If left untreated you may end up with full blown dysentery. That'll ruin your year...

Length is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 60cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Giant T4 Bacteriophage plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Search and destroy. Code GM0735

Great for discussing bacteriophages and how they operate. Yes, we know that technically they are not a microbe!

Length is approximately 15 cm. For children 3 years and up

Giant Toxoplasmosis plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc!
Toxoplasma gondii. Code GM0756

Hmmm, this is why you were told as a kid not to play with cat poo. It's a parasite that causes flu-like symptoms in healthy people, however can be fatal if your immune system isn't up to fending it off. Yuck.

Length is approximately 17 cm.
For children 3 years and up

Giant White Blood Cell plush toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc! Leukocyte. Code GM0800 (giant), GMGG0800 (gigantic)

These are cells are in your blood to fight infection. Hopefully you don't have too many in your blood right now, otherwise it means your either sick or about to be sick.

Width is approximately 15 cm (giant) or 30cm (gigantic). Please note that the 'gigantic' version is on a special order basis... allow up 5 extra business days of shipping. For children 3 years and up

Swine flu giant microbe toy by GIANTmicrobes Inc: Oink, (cough), oink... Code GM0734

The influenza A virus H1N1 exploded onto the world scene as people began contracting the illness worldwide due to infected people crossing open international borders. The harsh reality is that very little could be done - short of stopping international trade and travel! A nasty little one this one. The soft toy measures approximately 15cm in length.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.

Microbe soap dispenser by GIANTmicrobes Inc: Wash your hands! Code GMMD0060

What better way is there to remind kids to wash their hands than this? Preschoolers and young primary school students love this.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.