Microbe Midway - Printable A4 Cards & Field Manual (Ages 6-16)

Microbe Midway Field Manual

Defend the Gut Barrier | Official Game Guide & Microbiology Briefing

DOC-A4-01 | HOW TO PLAY

DEFEND THE 100 HP GUT BARRIER WALL!

Your intestine is protected by trillions of friendly microscopic defenders. In this fast-paced 90-second arcade battle, command the microbiome defense! Zap invading pathogens, protect friendly probiotics, harvest prebiotic superfood snacks and unleash bio-electric SCFA Super-Shots.

90s

Timer

100 HP

Barrier

8-10

SCFA Goal

STEP 1 Zap Villains

Click or tap invading red pathogens before they reach your gut wall. Each zap earns +50 PTS and prevents tight junction damage!

+50 PTS | ZAP ON SIGHT

STEP 2 Save Heroes

Allow green probiotic friends to swim through safely! Each survivor heals +5 HP barrier and fills your Super-Shot gauge. (-15 PTS if shot)

+1 SCFA | PROTECT HEROES

STEP 3 Eat Snacks

Tap prebiotic snacks! Bananas trigger Slo-Mo time, Onions grant 2x score multiplier, Garlic provides a Shield and Kefir summons a Probiotic Rush!

PREBIOTIC POWER-UPS

STEP 4 Super-Shot!

When your lightning bolt glows yellow with short-chain fatty acid energy, tap it! Releases a bio-electric pulse vaporizing all active pathogens!

ARENA-WIDE SCREEN CLEAR

Diet Selection Protocols

High-Fibre Diet (Recommended)

Feeds good bacteria! Probiotics spawn much more frequently and your Super-Shot charges with only 8 friends.

Balanced Diet (Homeostasis)

A healthy equilibrium of beneficial flora and opportunistic bacteria with standard 10-charge meter.

High-Sugar Diet (Expert Mode)

Feeds nasty pathogens! Fast invasion waves with a sweet +25% bonus score for surviving players.

Boss Battles & Timed Events

Slime Fortress Boss (Timer = 45s)

A giant bacterial fortress protected by sticky slime hydrogel! Rapid-click to smash its armor (+2000 PTS).

Cortisol Rush & Enraged E. coli

Stress surges at 65s make invaders swim +50% faster! If barrier health drops below 50%, E. coli mutates.

Phage Hunter Drones

Collect blue phage pods to launch autonomous viral nanobots that seek and zap bad bacteria automatically!

Cadet Pro-Tips:

Combos: Chain hits for 2x to 10x UNSTOPPABLE streak!

Accuracy: Avoid shooting green allies to keep barrier health.

Timing: Save Super-Shot for 45s Biofilm Boss waves.

Specimen Quick Reference Matrix

Specimen	Classification	Biological Trait / Superpower	Action	In-Game Effect
C. difficile	Pathogen (Bacillota)	TcdA & TcdB Enterotoxins	ZAP	+50 PTS (Prevents -15 HP Damage)
Salmonella	Pathogen (Pseudomonadota)	Type III Secretion System	ZAP	+50 PTS (Fast Swimmer)
H. pylori	Pathogen (Campylobacterota)	Urease Acid Hydrolysis	ZAP	+50 PTS (Mucus Burrower)
Commensal E. coli	Opportunist (Pseudomonadota)	LPS Endotoxin Complex	MONITOR	+10 PTS (Turns Enraged below 50% HP)
Enraged E. coli	Virulent Pathogen	Virulence Factor Inversion	ZAP	+50 PTS (2x Hyper Speed Breach)
Lactobacillus	Probiotic (Bacillota)	L-Lactic Acid Fermentation (pH < 4.5)	SAVE	+1 SCFA Charge & +5 HP Barrier Heal
Bifidobacterium	Probiotic (Actinomycetota)	Acetate and Butyrate Fuel	SAVE	+1 SCFA Charge & +5 HP Barrier Heal
S. boulardii	Probiotic Yeast (Ascomycota)	Toxin Protease Digestion	SAVE	+1 SCFA Charge & Neutralizes Toxins
Prebiotic Snacks	Superfoods (Inulin & Allicin)	Resistant Starch & Quercetin	SNACK	Slo-Mo Time / 2x Multiplier / Shield
Biofilm Bunker	Mega-Boss Consortium	Extracellular Polymeric Slime	SMASH	+2000 PTS (Clears Fortress Wave)

Microbiome Ecology Science Brief

You have over 100 trillion good bacteria in your intestine helping digest food, synthesize vitamins and train your immune system. Beneficent microbes ferment dietary fiber into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs like butyrate), providing over 70% of energy to colon cells and reinforcing tight junctions against disease!

Heroes & Villains Deck

Cut-and-Play Character Cards | 8 Cards per Sheet (Ages 6-16)

DECK SHEET 1 | CARDS 01–08

GUT HERO THE ACID DEFENDER

Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Gut Heal+5 HP Barrier

Super-Shot+1 SCFA Charge

PhylumBacillota

Superpower: Makes friendly lactic acid that lowers gut pH, creating an invisible acid shield that stops bad bacteria from growing!

PROTECT HERO: CHARGES SUPER-SHOT +1 SCFA

GUT HERO THE FORTRESS BUILDER

Bifidobacterium

Bifidobacterium longum

Gut Heal+5 HP Barrier

Super-Shot+1 SCFA Charge

PhylumActinomycetota

Superpower: Munches on healthy fiber and turns it into cellular energy (SCFAs), gluing gut cells together like cement!

PROTECT HERO: REPAIRS BARRIER +5 HP

HERO YEAST THE TOXIN CHOMPER

S. boulardii

Saccharomyces boulardii

Gut Heal+5 HP Barrier

Super-Shot+1 SCFA Charge

TypeFriendly Yeast

Superpower: A friendly probiotic yeast that acts like a microscopic sponge, neutralizing nasty toxins before they upset your tummy!

PROTECT HERO: CHARGES SUPER-SHOT +1 SCFA

GUT VILLAIN THE TOXIC SPORE TERROR

C. difficile

Clostridioides difficile

Score+50 Points

Damage-15 HP Hazard

ToxinTcdA & TcdB

Villain Trick: Hides inside tough armor spores and shoots toxins that poke holes in the gut wall. Zap it before it strikes!

ZAP VILLAIN ON SIGHT +50 PTS

GUT VILLAIN THE SPEED DEMON

Salmonella

Salmonella enterica

Score+50 Points

SpeedFast Swimmer

WeaponT3SS Needles

Villain Trick: Uses tiny biological needles to inject tricks into gut cells. It swims fast, so keep your finger ready!

ZAP VILLAIN ON SIGHT +50 PTS

GUT VILLAIN THE ACID DRILLER

H. pylori

Helicobacter pylori

Score+50 Points

WeaponUrease Acid Drill

HabitatStomach Mucus

Villain Trick: Produces a chemical shield that neutralizes stomach acid so it can burrow into the protective mucus layer.

ZAP VILLAIN ON SIGHT +50 PTS

OPPORTUNIST THE DOUBLE AGENT

E. coli (Normal)

Escherichia coli

Score+10 Points

StatusCommensal

RiskTurns Angry <50%

Secret Nature: Lives peacefully in healthy tummies, but if the gut barrier is damaged, it can mutate into an angry attacker!

MONITOR / ZAP FOR POINTS +10 PTS

VIRAL RUSH THE BERSERKER BREAKER

Enraged E. coli

E. coli (Virulent Mutation)

Score+50 Points

Speed2x Hyper Speed

ThreatBreach Hazard

Berserk Mode: Appears when gut barrier drops below 50% or during stress. Swims at double speed straight at your wall!

ZAP IMMEDIATELY: FAST THREAT +50 PTS

Boss & Superfoods Deck

Cut-and-Play Character Cards | 8 Cards per Sheet (Ages 6-16)

DECK SHEET 2 | CARDS 09–16

MEGA BOSS THE SLIME FORTRESS

Biofilm Bunker

Extracellular Matrix Slime

Boss Armor10 Rapid Hits

Reward+2000 Points

SpawnTimer = 45s

Boss Challenge: Bad bacteria build a sticky fortress of slime to hide from immune defenders. Rapid-click to smash it!

RAPID CLICK TO SMASH FORTRESS +2000 PTS

SUPERFOOD THE SLO-MO TIME BENDER

Banana Prebiotic

Inulin & Resistant Starch

Power-UpSlo-Mo Time

Duration6 Seconds

NutrientResistant Starch

Healthy Perk: Full of resistant starch that good gut bacteria love to eat, slowing down time so you can aim with ease!

TAP SNACK: SLOWS DOWN TIME SLO-MO 6S

SUPERFOOD THE 2X SCORE BOOSTER

Onion Flavonoid

Inulin & Quercetin Antioxidant

Power-Up2x Multiplier

Duration10 Seconds

NutrientOligofructose

Healthy Perk: Packed with prebiotic fiber that feeds good microbes and doubles every point you score for 10 whole seconds!

TAP SNACK: 2X SCORE MULTIPLIER 2X POINTS

SUPERFOOD THE BARRIER SHIELD

Garlic Allicin

Allicin Organosulfur Shield

Power-UpForcefield

DefenseAbsorbs Hits

CompoundAllicin SAC

Healthy Perk: Releases allicin, a natural defense compound that shields your gut wall from harmful bacterial attacks!

TAP SNACK: ACTIVATES SHIELD BLOCKS HIT

FERMENTED THE 30-STRAIN SURGE

Kefir Elixir

Symbiotic Fermented Culture

Power-UpProbiotic Rush

Microbes30+ Strains

MatrixKefiran EPS

Healthy Perk: A fermented drink containing over 30 strains of friendly microbes that rush onto screen to heal your barrier!

TAP DRINK: PROBIOTIC RUSH WAVE MASS HEAL

BIOTECH THE VIRUS HUNTER SQUAD

Phage Pod

Targeted Bacteriophage Virus

Power-UpPhage Drones

TargetingAuto-Aim

EnzymeEndolysin

Biotech Power: Deploys friendly viral nanobots that hunt only bad bacteria, popping them while leaving good bugs safe!

TAP POD: LAUNCH PHAGE DRONES AUTO-AIM

CRISIS ITEM THE EMERGENCY WIPE

Antibiotic Pill

Broad-Spectrum Medicine

EffectWipes Bacteria

CautionHits Good & Bad

TypeAntimicrobial

Medicine Fact: Lifesaving against infections, but clears both bad and good bacteria. Always eat probiotics after taking antibiotics!

EMERGENCY RESET: USE WITH CARE RESET

SUPER-MOVE THE BUTYRATE STORM

SCFA Super-Shot

Bio-Electric Short-Chain Pulse

Charge8-10 Friends

BlastWhole Arena

EnergyButyrate Fuel

Ultimate Attack: Powered by the short-chain fatty acids made by good bacteria. Blasts the screen with a lightning wave!

TAP LIGHTNING TO DISCHARGE FULL CLEAR

Diets & Mechanics Deck

Cut-and-Play Character Cards | 8 Cards per Sheet (Ages 6-16)

DECK SHEET 3 | CARDS 17–24

DIET CARD THE CHAMPION PROTOCOL

High-Fibre Diet

Plant Fiber & Prebiotics

Good BugsHigh Spawn

Super-Shot8 Charges Fast

Diet ModeRecommended

Diet Effect: Oats, apples, beans and veggies feed your good bacteria, making probiotics appear more often in the game!

PROBIOTIC BOOST PROTOCOL 8 CHARGES

DIET CARD THE HARMONY MASTER

Balanced Diet

Healthy Homeostasis Mix

Bug Ratio50/50 Balance

Super-Shot10 Charges

Diet ModeStandard

Diet Effect: Eating a colorful rainbow of whole foods gives your gut ecosystem the balance it needs for everyday strength.

HEALTHY HOMEOSTASIS 10 CHARGES

DIET CARD THE CANDY RUSH CHAOS

High-Sugar Diet

Simple Sugar Feast

PathogensExtreme Wave

Bonus+25% Score

Diet ModeExpert

Diet Effect: Too much sugary treats feeds fast-growing bad bugs! Harder to survive, but earns you +25% extra points.

EXPERT CHAOS: +25% BONUS SCORE +25% PTS

ANATOMY THE 100 HP DEFENSE WALL

Gut Epithelium

Intestinal Barrier Wall & MUC2

Max Health100 HP

Thickness1 Cell Thin!

ProteinsClaudin Junctions

Body Secret: Your gut wall is only one single cell thick! Tight junction proteins seal it tight like bricks in a castle wall.

DEFEND THIS WALL TO WIN 100 HP

EVENT CARD THE STRESS HORMONE RUSH

Cortisol Rush

Gut-Brain Stress Signal

TriggerTimer = 65s

Bug Speed+50% Velocity

Duration10 Seconds

Body Secret: Feeling super stressed releases cortisol hormones into your gut, causing bad bacteria to speed up for 10 seconds!

SURVIVE 10-SECOND SPEED RUSH RUSH WAVE

BIOTECH BOT THE AUTONOMOUS ZAPPER

Phage Drone

Microscopic Virus Nanobot

AimAuto-Target

MissionSeek Bad Bugs

ActionTarget Lysis

Nanobot Action: Land on bad bacteria using spider-like legs, drill into their cell wall and pop them from the inside!

AUTOMATIC PATHOGEN LYSIS AUTO-ZAP

BIO-FUEL THE CELL SUPER-SNACK

SCFA Fuel

Butyrate, Acetate and Propionate

Cell Fuel70% Colon Energy

PowerSeals Barrier

MoleculesFatty Acids

Microbe Secret: Butyrate is the favorite power fuel for your gut cells, giving them the energy to stay tightly connected!

POWERS UP YOUR GUT CELLS BIO-FUEL

ECOLOGY THE 100-TRILLION ALLIANCE

Microbiome Diversity

Symbiotic Microbial Richness

Allies1,000+ Species

DefenseResistance

EcologyHomeostasis

Master Secret: Having thousands of different friendly microbe species leaves no room for bad bugs to take over. Diversity is power!

ULTIMATE MICROBIOME SHIELD ECO-SHIELD