Episode 10

"Staphylococcus aureus" (黄色ブドウ球菌) is the tenth episode of the Cells at Work! anime. It's based on the fifteenth chapter of the manga, which has the same title.

Synopsis
After a Monocyte rescues AE3803 from a germ, she heads to the nasal cavity for a warm bath -- just in time for a Staphylococcus Aureus attack.

Plot
AE3803 makes a delivery to a Normal Cell in a tight alley way and when she completes this, runs into some Platelets. Soon after, AE3803 drops off her carbon dioxide at the pulmonary sac and has them refueled into oxygen. AE3803’s senior AA5100 then joins up with her and they separate at the pulmonary vein. AA5100 does voice her concern for AE3803 as she’s known for being a magnet for trouble, but AE3803 reassures her senior that she’ll be fine.

Eventually, AE3803 is attacked by a germ who demands she hand over her oxygen. Trapped at a dead end, AE3803 is rescued by a cell in a yellow hazmat suit called a Monocyte who after exterminating the germ awkwardly runs off. U-1146 then pops out of an underground grate, which scares AE3803. Curious to know more about the cell, U-1146 explains to AE3803 its name and a bit of its background. After an explanation on the Monocyte, AE3803 and U-1146 part ways and in a rest stop area by the Pulmonary Vein, AE3803 sees the Monocyte again and runs into the Platelet again.

Afterward, a swarm of Staphylococcus Aureus appear from an abrasion in the nasal cavity area. Once again caught in the middle of an invasion, AE3803 is attacked by one of the Staphylococcus Aureus, but is rescued by U-1146. His fellow White Blood Cells then arrive at the scene and help exterminate some of the Staphylococcus Aureus causes its numbers to dwindle. Confident they’ll have the upper hand against the virus, the Staphylococcus Aureus unprecedentedly merges together into a giant version of itself.

The newly formed giant Staphylococcus Aureus easily overpowers the White Blood Cells and uses fibrin against them in a move called “Coagulase”. It’s revealed that the Staphylococcus Aureus who invaded the body before was a younger cousin of the current virus, and she was there that day for revenge against the White Blood Cells. Before the Staphylococcus Aureus could make the finishing move on the White Blood Cells, a group of Monocytes appear and then take off their suits revealing themselves to be Macrophages. From there, they overpower the Staphylococcus Aureus causing it to demerge. Left by its lonesome the single Staphylococcus Aureus tries to attack the Macrophage but dies in the process.

With the Staphylococcus Aureus problem dealt with, AE3803 approaches the head Macrophage and asks how they can perform two jobs at once. Politely the Macrophage answers that it's a secret.

Returning characters

 * AE3803
 * Platelet
 * AA5100
 * U-1146
 * Monocyte
 * Staphylococcus Aureus
 * U-4989
 * Macrophage