A cunning disguise

I'm a microbiologist by degree and current work (research student in environmental microbiology, studying for a Ph.D.). Some of the information I've picked up/learned just BEGS to be drawn as cartoons. Like the fact that bacteria (and viruses) have evolved the ability to fool our immune systems by changing their 'appearance'. And yes, it can be something as superficial as this picture suggests. If they change the length of the proteins sticking out of their cell surface our rather dopey immune system doesn't recognise the pathogen that turned us into crying, sweating, miserable heaps of sickness last winter.

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I had chicken pox twice. That was my first introduction to the evil ways of pathogens.