A challenge in teaching microbiology is that microbes are invisible and therefore abstract, making it difficult to create mental associations between microbial activities under discussion and the relevant microbes. Thus, representing these key players through images is essential.

Moreover, since microbes are invisible, they also lack personality. However, children and adolescents love personalities—so much so that some can even become role models.

To address this significant gap—portraying these key players and revealing their “personalities”—we are creating the Microstar Portrait Galleries, concise descriptions of the most fascinating characteristics of star microbes in the field, generously illustrated to provide visual representations of some of our most intriguing “bugs.”