C KEBBI-BEGHDADI¹, G GREUB<sup>1

1</sup>Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria (CRIB), Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

In the past decades, important changes occurred in habits and lifestyle of the Swiss population as well as in climatic conditions worldwide. These changes provided new opportunities for microorganisms to emerge as pathogens and enhanced the risks for the population to get in contact with them. In addition, recent advances in microbiology techniques, such as metagenomics or improved culture conditions, allowed the discovery of several new bacterial species, some of them with significant impact on human health.
To inform the general population about emerging pathogens, we intend to create and develop, in collaboration with a game designer and communication professionals, a completely new and innovative board game. Currently available games on emerging pathogens mainly stimulate anxiety and exaggerated fears, our newly developed game will conversely convey a balanced, unbiased and scientifically strong message. We will focus on different aspects related to emerging pathogens such as their reservoirs and vectors, their mode of transmission, real risks to get infected, prevention opportunities, symptoms of related diseases and existing treatments. This communication will also deliver the key messages that many microbes remain to be discovered, that most new pathogenic microbes have been identified during large outbreaks and that research may help identifying these microbes before they cause large suffering in humans. And so, this project will also increase awareness of the general population on the importance of performing research in microbiology.
This new game will be the support of extended interactions with the public since it will be launched together with a cycle of general audience conferences, given by proficient microbiologists, that will particularly emphasize three modes of transmission of these new pathogens i.e. by arthropod bites, by exposure to mammals, birds or reptiles and by exposure to water aerosols (humidifiers, air conditioning systems). Interaction with the public will also takes place thank to an active collaboration with game libraries and to the organisation of “game evenings” followed by open discussions with scientists.