Considering the number of unique cell types and proteins that make up the immune system and how they interact together, I decided to try a Magic: The Gathering-style card game for my class on the immune system. In this game, a bacterial or viral infection begins and the students work cooperatively to wipe out the infection. Bacteria are represented by glass stones and undergo exponential growth. To defeat this infection, students need to activate parts of the innate response early to keep that growth in check while they take the time to bring to bear the full strength of the adaptive response. Viruses are represented by the red tri beads. They can infect cells, represented by the Othello (or Reversi) pieces. Living cells are white, dead cells are black. Viruses reproduce in the cells, eventually bursting forth and moving on to infect other cells. To combat a viral infection, students need to train the killer T-cells quickly to eliminate the infected cells.
This system is rich with possibilities. I’d like to take this game further and have the part of the infection played by another player or team. I’d also like to generalize the cells and proteins and include mechanisms for the differentiation of both. It would be interesting to see what strategies the players develop as they play and how those strategies relate to the strategies the immune system uses to combat infections.
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