Marsnut← Back to Home

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM / TINY TOWERS, BIG APPETITES

Macrophage Defense✳

Uninvited guests.
Very hungry security.

TISSUE HEALTH100%
ENERGY180
WAVE1/6
ACTIVE TIME0s
STOPPED0
TISSUE SECTOR 07FLU: ORIGINAL STRAIN
YOUR TISSUE. YOUR TINY SECURITY TEAM.
BacteriumFree flu virusInfected cell→ Protect the tissue
BUILD YOUR SQUADSelect a cell, then tap a numbered site. Try two macrophages and one B cell before starting.

REAL BIOLOGY, TINY THEATER. Macrophages engulf bacteria. Cytotoxic T cells target infected host cells. B cells develop into antibody-secreting plasma cells; matched antibodies can neutralize free viruses. A changed flu antigen can reduce recognition. Routes, moving infected-cell tokens, fixed towers, upgrades and instant updates are teaching abstractions.

FIELD MANUAL / HOW TO PLAY

Your immune system called.
It wants a manager.

Protect tissue through six waves in about two minutes. Deploy cells before starting; preparation, pause and popups do not use mission time.

  1. Choose a defender with its card or keys 1–3, then tap a numbered site on the map or in the deployment grid. Cells automatically target the furthest-advanced matching threat in range.
  2. Macrophages: engulf bacteria at short range. T cells: attack infected-cell tokens, not free bacteria or free viruses. B cells: represent antibody-secreting B-lineage cells; their antibodies neutralize free flu viruses.
  3. Build as you earn. Start with 180 energy. Gain 3 energy per active second and 9 per threat stopped. Tap an occupied site to select it, upgrade once for 35 energy (damage ×1.6 and more range), or recall for half its total cost, rounded down.
  4. Snack time! doubles macrophage damage for four seconds; recharges in 18 active seconds. Use S or the button.
  5. Wave four: a changed flu strain appears. Your old antibodies do only 20% damage against it. The popup freezes play. Install the free antibody update immediately, or close it and use Antibody update later. Existing original-strain flu remains susceptible.
  6. Survive! Escaped threats cost 10 tissue health (14 for infected-cell tokens). Clear all six waves before 120 active seconds with health above zero. No automatic wave skipping.

Keyboard: 1/2/3 choose cell, Tab + Enter choose site, U upgrade, S snack, P pause, M music. Restart resets the mission. Help and switching tabs pause play; press Resume when ready. Music is optional.

The science underneath the silliness

Influenza is a virus, not a bacterium. This mixed challenge keeps their targets separate. In reality, adaptive immunity takes time, antibody recognition varies, and antigenic drift does not make every antibody or T cell response obsolete. This level assumes its T-cell target remains recognizable. The software popup and instant update are metaphors for a new matched antibody response, not a medical or vaccine simulation. Timings, damage, energy, range and health are game rules.

Background: How the immune system works (NCBI Bookshelf) · CDC: How flu viruses can change.

ANTIBODY COMPATIBILITY ASSISTANT

Y!

This version is outdated

Flu has changed its surface antigens.
Your antibodies: “New haircut. Who dis?”

OLD MATCH
Original flu→NEW TARGET
Drifted flu

Old antibodies do 20% damage to drifted flu in this level. Update your B-cell squad to restore its match. T cells still target infected cells.

Mission paused. No germs were harmed during this update.

MISSION REPORT

Tiny team. Huge save.