We get tough with germs and they adapt. Rejected and unloved the germs have gone into hiding, started wearing leather with studs, gotten inked, and have come back with an attitude.

http://scienceblogs.com/sciencepunk/2011/06/super_hardass_bugs_are_colonis.php

Are you thinking of Sturgis?

I don't mean to anthropomorphism microbes, they, as far as I can tell, don't have attitudes, but sure ... after we have whipped the worse we can do to them they seem to have turned their metaphysical pain into an aggressive in-your-face stance that shares something with Sturgis. We beat on them when they were wimpy and now they are back and won't be ignored.