Professor Hallux’s Antibiotics: Episode 1: Types of infection

In this episode, Professor Hallux and Nurse Nanobot learn more about the microbes in the body using the Helitelibubble, Hallux’s amazing invention that can shrink people to the size of an atom.

The human body is full of microbes – tiny living organisms that are found pretty much everywhere on Earth but are too small to be seen with the naked eye! Most microbes are good for us and help to keep us healthy, but some can cause nasty infections like the common cold.

In this episode, Professor Hallux and Nurse Nanobot learn more about the microbes in the body using the Helitelibubble, Hallux’s amazing invention that can shrink people to the size of an atom.

• There are different types of microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi)
• Bacteria, viruses and fungi look and function very differently.
• Most microbes in the body are useful, so we need to look after them.
• Some Microbes we pick up/catch from others, and things we touch and eat can be harmful to the human body.
• Harmful microbes can cause infections!

Find out more on the FunKids website!

Professor Hallux’s Antibiotics: Episode 2: How our body protects us

In this episode, Professor Hallux and Nurse Nanobot learn more about the body’s amazing immune system by using the Helitelibubble to look at special blood cells including lymphocytes and phagocytes.

Your body normally does a great job at protecting you from infections! When you catch an infection, your body does everything it can to try and fight back.

In this episode, Professor Hallux and Nurse Nanobot learn more about the body’s amazing immune system by using the Helitelibubble to look at special blood cells including lymphocytes and phagocytes. The clever thing about the immune system is that once white blood cells have successfully defeated a microbe, it has the tools to fight it again next time.

• The human body has special defences against microbes and infections.
• It comes with its own barrier systems such as skin and hair to defend against microbes.
• And inside the human body, the immune system helps defend against microbes.
• The immune system is comprised of different cells and proteins to defend against microbes.

Find out more on the FunKids website!

Professor Hallux’s Antibiotics: Episode 3: Using Antibiotics

In this episode, Professor Hallux and Nurse Nanobot find out about Antibiotics, special medicines which help treat serious infections caused by bacteria. The very first antibiotic, Penicillin was an accidental discovery by Alexander Fleming in 1928!

If you’re poorly, you might go to the doctor and get some medicine to help rid you of your horrible infection. Most coughs and colds get better on their own.

In this episode, Professor Hallux and Nurse Nanobot find out about Antibiotics, special medicines which help treat serious infections caused by bacteria. The very first antibiotic, Penicillin was an accidental discovery by Alexander Fleming in 1928!

Nurse Nanobot uses the helitelibubble to see how Hallux’s antibiotic treatment works against his pneumococcal bacterial infection.

• Antibiotics are special medicines used to treat bacterial infections.
• Antibiotics do not work against viruses.
• Most coughs and colds get better on their own.
• Help keep antibiotics working by not overusing them.

Find out more on the FunKids website!

Professor Hallux’s Antibiotics: Episode 4: Survival of the fittest

In this episode Hallux notices the bacteria under his microscope has resisted treatment with antibiotics: they are MRSA, a very common superbug. Work is at hand to develop new antibiotics but that can take time.

Superbugs are bacteria which are resistant to certain antibiotics and are very difficult to kill. Bacteria can mutate to resist the effects of an antibiotic and share their antibiotic resistance genes with other bacteria!

In this episode Hallux notices the bacteria under his microscope has resisted treatment with antibiotics: they are MRSA, a very common superbug. Work is at hand to develop new antibiotics but that can take time. An easy thing we can all do to prevent the need for using antibiotics in the first place is to stop infections spreading by washing our hands and using a tissue when we sneeze.

• Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria mutate and can no longer be killed by these medicines.
• There are different types of antibiotic resistant bacteria (examples of high priority species e.g. MRSA, E. coli, Klebisiella).
• Healthy and ill people can carry antibiotic resistant bacteria in their gut.
• Taking antibiotics encourages bacteria to become resistant.
• Bacteria can spread antibiotic resistance genes to each other!

Find out more on the FunKids website!

Professor Hallux’s Antibiotics: Episode 5: Vaccines and vaccinations

In this episode Hallux finds out how vaccines work and why they are so important. They work by stimulating white blood cells in your body to produce antibodies to fight certain diseases. Thanks to vaccines, some infectious diseases like Polio that have been responsible for the deaths of millions, have been virtually wiped out!

Vaccines are used to help prevent bacterial and viral infections.

In this episode Hallux finds out how vaccines work and why they are so important. They work by stimulating white blood cells in your body to produce antibodies to fight certain diseases. Thanks to vaccines, some infectious diseases like Polio that have been responsible for the deaths of millions, have been virtually wiped out!

The main ingredient of any vaccine is either dead or weakened versions of the disease-causing virus or bacteria, which will stimulate the immune system to be prepared if it faces the real virus or bacteria.

• Infection prevention is always better than cure!
• Vaccines are used to help prevent different bacterial and viral infections.
• Previously common deadly infections are now rare due to vaccines.
• Understand different vaccines they will have been treated with in childhood

Find out more on the FunKids website!

Professor Hallux’s Antibiotics: Episode 6: Looking after yourself

In this episode Professor Hallux finds out about campylobacter bacteria which is found on raw chicken and can cause food poisoning, leading to a nasty gut infection.

There are lots of things we can do to stop ourselves getting ill. In this episode Professor Hallux finds out about campylobacter bacteria which is found on raw chicken and can cause food poisoning, leading to a nasty gut infection.

We can prevent infections like this by washing our hands, keeping kitchen surfaces clean and using different chopping boards and knives for meat and vegetables. If we do get an infection our body’s immune system has the tools to fight the infection, and we can help by drinking plenty of fluids and getting lots of rest.

• Many infections get better on their own without antibiotics
• Antibiotics do not treat all infections
• Self-care starts at home
• If you do get ill, fluids and rest really help, potentially above antibiotics
• Local pharmacies can give advice about cough and throat remedies!

Find out more on the FunKids website!