Tyrant Virus

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#REDIRECT [[T-Virus]]

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[[File:Twi-T-Virus.jpg|thumb|right|"t" virions through a microscope.]]

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The '''Tyrant virus''', more commonly known as the "t-Virus", is the first mutagenic virus discovered by the founders of [[Umbrella]]. While the Tyrant virus is responsible for the creation of the majority of their [[Bio Organic Weapons]] (or {{abbr|title=Bio Organic Weapon|abbr=B.O.W.}}s), the original intent was to create the perfect {{abbr|title=Bio Organic Weapon|abbr=B.O.W.}}: the [[Tyrant]].

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==History==

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On [[1966#December 4|December 4th, 1966]], the [[Progenitor virus]], (also known as the '''Mother''' or '''Founder''' virus)<ref>''Resident Evil Code: Veronica'', [[Alexander's Memo]]</ref> was discovered by Lord [[Oswell E. Spencer]] and [[James Marcus]].<ref>''[[Resident Evil 5]]''</ref> These gentlemen, along with Sir [[Edward Ashford]], a family friend of Spencer, held a certain economic position and decided to begin research upon the virus. Most of the research was carried out by Marcus, after Ashford died in July 1968<ref name="history">''Resodent Evil 5'', [[History of RESIDENT EVIL (file)]]</ref> and Spencer was already occupied by his burgeoning chemical corporation, Umbrella. Marcus had little resources to pool into the investigation, until Spencer agreed to employ him as a researcher and later Director of his [[Umbrella Research Center|corporation's Training facility]], putting the vast resources of Umbrella into his hands.

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Marcus overbid his hand, greedy for the power to finally invest serious amounts into his research, demanded numerous resources to perfect and improve what he envisioned was his life's work. This led to friction between Marcus and Spencer who, to compensate from the crippling economic demands laid by Marcus, demanded that he create a virus with a '''100% effectiveness rate''',<ref name="wreport2">[[Wesker's Report II]] (Part 2)</ref> much to the confusion of Marcus and his assistants, new Umbrella Trainees [[Albert Wesker]] and [[William Birkin]].

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The Umbrella Corporation used its finances to secretly develop the virus under the radar of international authorities. In time, Marcus further evolved the virus, creating the first effective bio-weapon to be produced in large quantity and be closely studied by the [[Umbrella Corporation]]. By adding the virus to leeches, the attributes of both were combined, and the t-Virus soon saw the light in [[1978]].<ref name="history"/>

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Though most of the research for the virus took place within the [[Arklay Laboratory]] underneath the [[Spencer Mansion]] façade, some eight miles North-west of Raccoon City, and the Umbrella Training facility under Marcus' orders, covered by the American Umbrella offices, Spencer's Umbrella empire in Europe raced against Marcus to adequate the t-Virus to create a virus with an even greater destructiveness. Marcus' dreams to overthrow Spencer and his attitude towards the virus as a "money-spinning tool" for Umbrella were never fulfilled, as he was murdered before he could enact them. Birkin came to be known within Umbrella circles as the true creator of the t-Virus.<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Resident Evil 2]] - [[Annette Birkin]] refers to William as "The man who created the t-Virus"</ref>

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During those years, vast numbers of t-viral strains were developed in the Arklay Laboratory, and tested upon one solitary test subject: [[Lisa Trevor]]. For years, she was subject to intense biological torture, which, despite all odds, she survived.

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As well, William Birkin, grown conceited as being credited as the creator of the t-Virus,<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>[[Resident Evil 0]] - William walks to a dying Marcus and tells him he will "take over" his research</ref> spawned a myriad of biological weapons to serve as backup to the virus, to ensure a 100% death ratio in any populace the virus should be released. Among these are the [[Hunter]]s (created by fusion of a human fertilized egg with t-Virus infected reptilian DNA),<ref name="wreport4">Wesker's Report II (Part 4: Enter Nemesis)</ref> the [[Plant 43|Ivies]] (flowers grown to unnatural proportions and given animal instincts, locomotion and rudimentary defense mechanisms),{{Verify}} the [[Chimera]]s (a mixture between a fly and human given vague humanoid appearance, increased size and mass, improved claws, and better reflexes),{{Verify}} the [[Cerberus]] (infected dogs - specifically Dobermans), and most importantly, the crowning achievement of Birkin's career for the time: the Tyrant.

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Later, Lisa Trevor's body, by now a melting pot of unthinkable disease, had deteriorated to inhuman levels. Noting she was, while not a [[zombie]], incredibly stronger, slightly more intelligent, and impervious to all damage, Birkin decided to test the [[NE-α Type]] (by then reputed to kill all its hosts, no matter how strong, within five minutes of gaining control over it)<ref name="wreport4"/> in her. The results astounded even Birkin: Lisa's body, by then a hideous amalgam of all viruses ever tested on her, overcame the parasite and absorbed its rejuvenation properties, giving her even more destructive capabilities, greater strength, and total invulnerability to gunfire. Even with shackles she could not be bound. After she outlived her capacity when Birkin extracted what would become the G-virus deep from within her, he had her killed and disposed of. Though, due to the properties of the primitive G-virus within her veins, death would not take her away that easily. She would spend the next decade hiding underneath the [[courtyard]].

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When the time came in early-1998, James Marcus revived, rejuvenated by the immense power of the first t-Virus strains, coordinated into a steady pace by his own DNA and that of his leeches. For more than three decades, the t-Virus threat had been averted, but at the time of his awakening, the Arklay woodland was slowly corrupted by the infectious agent. Before long, the Arklay laboratories had fallen. The Laboratory was seemingly infected by infected water, causing its employees to fall to anarchy over the relatively long period of time between May 11<ref>[[Keeper's Diary (remake)]] - May 11th entry</ref> and late June, 1998.

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The believed-to-be abandoned Training facility fell as well. Two Umbrella teams sent to evaluate it for re-activation were killed by the creatures from within and outside of the facility.

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From there, stories started stemming from the forest; several killings took place and an advance party of an elite paramilitary unit -, the [[S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team]] - was sent from [[Raccoon City]] to destroy the threat, oblivious to its real cause. Only four of these members, [[Rebecca Chambers]], [[Enrico Marini]], [[Kenneth J. Sullivan]], and [[Richard Aiken]] survived the night. All of them had holed up in the massive mansion and its adjacent areas. The next evening, the [[Special Tactics And Rescue Service|S.T.A.R.S.]] [[S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team|Alpha team]] sought refuge in the mansion as well, after losing a man to an attack by the multitude of cerberuses, mutated Dobermans, which infested the grounds.

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Later on, the remaining members of {{abbr|title=Special Tactics And Rescue Service|abbr=S.T.A.R.S.}} met up at the underground laboratory where the [[Tyrant (T-002 Type)]] was kept. This Tyrant killed Albert Wesker temporarily, and was killed by a rocket blast in a skirmish with the remaining S.T.A.R.S as it attempted to foil their rescue by returning Alpha team pilot Brad Vickers.

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After the demolition of the manor, the virus sources were thought stopped definitively, but when William Birkin's subterranean laboratories were attacked by Umbrella's Black Ops in September 1998 in an effort to retrieve his G-virus, another outbreak ensued. This infection encompassed all of Raccoon and ended in the forced termination of the entire city. Umbrella was immediately exposed as creator of the virus due to the enormous amount of evidence produced from the scarce survivors, and was systematically dismantled and shut down.

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Still, another outbreak was induced in late 1998, on Rock Fort Island, this time by the revived Albert Wesker and his new employers, referred to only as [[the Organization]]. This ended in the partial demolition of the Umbrella installations there and the total destruction of the South Pole Umbrella Research Center.

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Yet another occurred in 1998, this time on [[Sheena Island]]; an Umbrella-owned "[[Tyrant Plant]]". Hundreds of adolescents from across the globe were kidnapped and taken there to be dissected, to retrieve a hormone important for Tyrant development.<ref>[[How to extract Beta Hetero Nonserotonin]]</ref> This infection was caused by the - now mad with power - commander [[Vincent Goldman]]. The island was "sterilized" when facility's self-destruct system was activated.

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Another occurred in 2002 on an Umbrella-owned luxury liner, the ''[[Spencer Rain]]'', which was caused by an ex-Umbrella researcher-turned bio-terrorist named [[Morpheus D. Duvall]], who was fired after the company used him as a scapegoat for the disaster at the Arklay facility.{{Verify}} The ship's crew and its passengers were transformed into zombies, or were killed by the {{abbr|title=Bio Organic Weapon|abbr=B.O.W.}} cargo being shipped out. The liner was destroyed when it crashed into an island which housed the -also infested- [[Umbrella Atlantic Facility]].

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Also in 2002, an Amazonian organ-trafficing crime syndicate got hold of "t" and the similarly named, but otherwise unrelated, "[[t-Veronica virus]]". Receiving "t" and {{abbr|title=Bio Organic Weapon|abbr=B.O.W.}}s through a black market group involving [[Ada Wong]], the syndicate's leader, [[Javier Hidalgo]], prepared himself for warfare. He also purchased T-Veronica through Albert Wesker, and proceeded to use it to treat his wife from an unfortunate degenerative condition. After his daughter ran off, Javier, in a fit of rage, released the t-Virus throughout the surrounding area. The virus spread to at least two villages, transforming their inhabitants into zombies. [[Leon S. Kennedy]] and [[Jack Krauser]] ended Javier's rule with the assistance of his daughter.

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A bioterrorist attack in 2005 India was halted by WilPharma's t-vaccine. This attack was actually planned by a WilPharma researcher, who wanted to demonstrate power of the virus and its vaccine to potential buyers on the black market.

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The last known outbreak occurred in 2005, within the [[Harvardville]] Airport, where the infection began after a single zombie entered the building and began to attack people within the building. A small-scale outbreak happened at the nearby [[WilPharma Corporation]] bio-dome facility, after a bomb was detonated. Both facilities were eventually sterilized, however.

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Then sometime after the Raccoon City outbreak a series of bioterrorist attacks started happening all over the world and so far the virus used in said attacks was the t-virus.

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===Development timeline===

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*February 3, 1978: Marcus begins his experiment on the Leeches by infecting them with the Progenitor virus.<ref>[[Leech Growth Records]]</ref>

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*September 19, 1978: Marcus confirms the existence of the t-Virus.<ref name="Diary">[[Marcus' Diary 1]]</ref>

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*October 23, 1978: Marcus ceases experimenting on rodents, citing Humans as being the perfect guinea pig to prove its abilities.<ref name="Diary"/>

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*January 13, 1979: Marcus ends his research with the Leeches.<ref name="Diary"/>

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*January 31, 1979:<small>see February 11</small>

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*February 11, 1979: Spencer has employees attempt to steal Marcus' research.<ref name="Diary"/>

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*1988: Marcus is assassinated and credit for the virus' creation goes to his student William Birkin, who was a conspirator.<ref>[[Marcus' Death]]</ref>

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*1993: An experimental t-Virus variant designated "[[T-JCCC203]]" is used in human experimentation.

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*2002: A merger between a "t" antibody and the G-virus is created. The virus is named "[[t+G virus|t+G]]".

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==Incidents==

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These are the following list of biohazard incidents involving the t-Virus. There are other small scale outbreaks in other parts of the world but information of them is unavailable.

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*[[Arklay Mountains outbreak|Mansion Incident]] (1998) - Unleashed by the reanimated James Marcus to exact his revenge on Umbrella.

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*[[Raccoon City Destruction Incident]] (1998) - Unleashed due to the failed attempt by the [[Umbrella Security Service]] to steal the [[G-virus]] from William Birkin, later spread by rats.

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*[[Rockfort Island outbreak]] (1998) - Unleashed due to the attack on [[Rockfort Island]] committed by the [[Hive/Host Capture Force|H.C.F.]] led by Albert Wesker

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*[[Antarctic outbreak]] (1998) - Accidentally released

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*[[Sheena Island outbreak]] (1998) - Unleashed by facility commander Vincent Goldman

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*[[Spencer Rain outbreak]] (2002) - Unleashed by former Umbrella executive Morpheus D. Duvall onboard the ''Spencer Rain''

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*[[Atlantic Facility outbreak]] (2002) - Occurred due to poor security protocols.

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*[[Operation Javier (event)|Operation Javier]] (2002) - Unleashed by drug lord Javier Hidalgo to the amazonian ecosystem

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*[[Caucasus outbreak]] (2003) - Unleashed by Albert Wesker

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*[[Resident Evil: Degeneration|India Bioterrorist Attack]] (2005) - Unleashed by [[Miguel Grandé]]'s guerrilla forces and several WilPharma Corporation employees

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*[[Harvardville Airport outbreak]] (2005) - Unleashed by [[Curtis Miller]], also caused by an infected passenger onboard a plane which crashed shortly to the airport

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*[[Air Dome Laboratory outbreak]] (2005) - Unleashed by [[Frederic Downing]]

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==Infection==

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===Effects of Infection===

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The t-Virus is built like many viruses, but not all. As the virus makes contact with a cell's membrane, it inserts its genetic coding into the cell. The cell absorbs the viral genome into its own genetic make-up, which takes over the cell's functions. The cell begins to produce offspring of the original virus. The new viruses are then released from the host cell and infect the neighbouring cells, which starts the process all over again.<ref>[[Wikipedia:Viral replication#Baltimore Classification System|Viral Replication at Wikipedia]]</ref>

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The t-Virus kills and replaces mitochondrial organelles with a replica of itself.{{Verify}} The virus then combines with other cells to produce energy.{{Verify}} The energy produced is just enough to power the motor neurons and the basic lower brain functions.{{Verify}} The reanimated host body is then left with the intense need to feed in order to replenish energy supplies without having to sacrifice its own tissue.{{Verify}} Actions taken by the host in this time period greatly resemble that of "zombies" depicted in horror movies, and are thus dubbed by that name.{{Verify}}

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However, the t-Virus can only properly function by consuming the cell in order to produce its energy. This slow breakdown of cells leads to the gradual breakdown of the host, causing necrosis. The virus incorporates itself into the host's DNA, which substantially alters it. This is why creatures, such as bees and spiders, only have very minor mutation, such as increased size, when compared to the human mutation caused by the virus.

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Should the human host be alive at the time of t-Virus infection, all higher brain functions are destroyed. This leaves only the cerebellum to govern behaviour. This leaves the infected host with a very animalistic behaviour. As the virus spreads, it damages the hypothalamus. This produces a massive flood of neurotransmitters, enzymes, and hormones such as norepinephrine and dopamine. These effects, combined with the painful symptoms of the infection, induce a psychotic rage, persistent hunger, and increased aggressiveness in those infected.

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Should the human host be dead at the time of infection, only enough energy is produced to power the lower brain functions. These functions are responsible for the most primal instincts, such as walking and eating.

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In either case, their late-stage appearance and behaviour are characteristics of their name-sake, a zombie.

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Should a late-stage human host be rendered unconscious, the body will lay in a dormant phase appearing to be dead. In actuality the host is rapidly mutating due to the t-Virus becoming hyperactive. Within the time frame of an hour, the decayed skeletal and muscular system is reconstructed into a stronger and more durable form. Development can be seen of sharp canine teeth and razor claws, fresh blood seeps into remaining skin giving it a reddish hue, advances in decomposition, and intact eyes become a bright white. Umbrella researchers at the Arklay Laboratory have dubbed this stage "[[V-ACT]]", referring to the resulting creature also known as a "Crimson Head". To awaken, the brain must be jolted back to consciousness with a slight but important increase in intelligence, and large increase in agility and aggressiveness. As a consequence of this rapid mutation, cellular breakdown hits a critical point where the host cannot regenerate properly and can be killed permanently.

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If by chance a human t-Virus host should survive past the secondary Crimson Head mutation with little or no damage, the virus may actually strengthen the damaged/remaining cells, resulting in a [[Licker]], a Crimson Head mutation taken to an extreme. The closest piece of evidence of this possibility would be the [[Regis Licker]] or "Suspended" that is encountered in Raccoon City's [[Apple Inn]]; as the specimen seemed to be going through the stages of mutation resulting in the change from a Crimson Head to a Licker. This is evident due to the "licking" and hanging abilities present in both Suspended and Lickers, but also the layer of skin still attached along with the majority of human physical traits. In regular Lickers, the host possesses a long, powerful tongue, from which it derives its name, and enormous claws. The skin has all but disappeared, revealing the underlying muscle, and the brain is exposed. It is not known though how much more mutation can actually occur past the form of Lickers, as all known un-tampered specimens were destroyed in the destruction of Raccoon City.

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Wesker notes that he observes similarities in the apparently random mutations endowed by the virus (as examples he mentions the mutations undergone by [[Sergei Vladimir]] and what he knew of [[Queen Leech|James Marcus]]' mutations) and explains he believes that the host's mindset is a crucial factor in explaining the mutation (e.g.; Vladimir becomes what Wesker calls "a monster whose very body is the picture of suffering", revealing what Wesker considered to be Vladimir's true self, and the rejuvenation experienced by Marcus, an aged man who understandably desired control and the restoration of his vibrant youth, characteristics that were carried to his own eventual mutation, including his true madness and the horrific mutation that overcame him in the end), and briefly wonders where does this theory fit with his own mutations.

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This theory fits in with the introduction of one of the steroids necessary for the creation of the mass-produced Tyrant, the ''[[Beta Hetero Nonserotonin]]'', and it could signify the virus manifests itself in different forms depending upon the presence or absence of certain hormones in the human brain. Following this thread, it is not a ridiculous assumption to believe either certain viruses are better at producing certain types of mutations depending upon said hormones.

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===Means of Infection===

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The t-Virus is capable of various methods of subject infection. Research files supplied in the Arklay Mountains facility identify the virus as having a protein structure. As such, it is likely that any known methods of viral of Umbrella's experimentation (known as [[Bio Organic Weapon]]s) with the t-Virus were initiated by direct injection of the virus into the host. This was considered Umbrella’s primary means of infection.

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*'''''Water:''''' One of the theories for the initial outbreak at the Arklay Laboratory is that the scientists and researchers there were infected once the t-Virus contaminated the water supply.

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*'''''Air:''''' Though there are discrepancies between canonical and non-canonical material over whether or not the t-Virus is an airborne virus, when the virus broke out in the Arklay Laboratory, the clean-up workers wore bio-chemical protection suits. This is the main argument for those who feel that the virus is an airborne pathogen, if only for a short period of time. However, the use of hazmat protective suits does not prove that the virus is airborne, but only that the workers were cautious in protecting themselves, perhaps from accidental contact with the virus (ie. touch). In Resident Evil: Code Veronica, it is implied that the t-Virus escaped from the Rockfort Island laboratory through a broken ventilation duct, resulting in a temporary airborne outbreak that contaminated nearby personnel and spread from there via the attacking zombies. Throughout the Resident Evil titles, only the live-action movies have shown it to be Airborne - yet only in the first movie, with the second and third showing it only passing through ''direct contact'' (see under).

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*'''''Direct Fluidic Transmission:''''' Anyone attacked by an infected host in close combat, be it by bite, scratch, gash, or stab will have the virus transferred to their bloodstream via contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues. The Umbrella Corp. believes this to be a secondary means of infection. For story purposes, however, most of the main characters in the games were never canonically bitten or stabbed, though even highly infectious real world viruses do not always infect the victim after one exposure (but given the relentless attacks of those infected, one exposure might not necessarily mean a single scratch or bite).

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==Known Antigens==

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There are four known serums that will cure those infected by the t-Virus, but only in its earlier stages, before it becomes completely active.

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===Umbrella Medical vaccine===

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The first is an unnamed vaccine developed by Douglas Rover of the Umbrella Medical Service at [[Raccoon General Hospital]]<ref>''[[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis]]''</ref> as a last-minute effort to halt the rapid spread of the t-Virus. However, most of the hospital's staff had already succumbed to infection before the vaccine could be properly produced even in small amounts.

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This vaccine could be cultivated by using a specialized synthesizer and inserting a medium base into the system, then combining the necessary chemicals using the control panel. The exact components that were used to create this prototype are unknown; as most of the documentation regarding its production were either stolen by [[Nicholai Ginovaef]] or destroyed after Nicholai used [[C-4]] to demolish the hospital, taking with it any evidence of the Umbrella Corporation's involvement with the hospital in the process.

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However, [[Carlos Oliveira]] was able to create a single dose of the vaccine for [[Jill Valentine]] and managed to escape moments before the hospital's destruction.<ref>[[Hospital Scene]]</ref> While the vaccine apparently did not immediately cure Jill of the virus, it did send it into hibernation, until it eventually died out. It also apparently created powerful anti-bodies within Jill, making her immune to most other viruses, even possibly [[Uroboros]].

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===Daylight===

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'''[[Daylight]]''' was developed by [[Greg Muller]] and [[Peter Jenkins]] of the [[Raccoon University]].<ref>''[[Resident Evil Outbreak]]''</ref> The actual ingredients for Daylight are:

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*[[T-Blood]] - a blood sample of a t-Virus infected creature, namely [[Thanatos]];

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*[[V-Poison]] - a sample of poison from an infected [[Wasp]]; and

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*[[P-Base]] - an unknown chemical liquid that requires preparing before being mixed. Once all the ingredients have been collected, they can be mixed together in a special chemical mixer. The mixture takes about five to seven minutes to make and thirty seconds to one minute to duplicate.

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===AT1521===

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"[[AT1521]]" was developed by the research team operating from within Umbrella's official Raccoon City facility. Linda and Carter, surviving developers of the vaccine returned to the facility on October 1, 1998 to retrieve it in hopes of wide-spread production of the vaccine.<ref>''[[Resident Evil Outbreak File 2]]'', [[End of the Road]]</ref>

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The exact details of the serum itself are unknown due to the short role it played in the storyline (the sample being destroyed by the rampaging [[Tyrant R]] not long after its initial appearance). However, Linda did remember the reagent's base, and thus was able to remake a sample.

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===t-vaccine===

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The fourth is an anti-"t" agent known as the [[t-vaccine]] created by [[WilPharma]]. Unfortunately, most of the samples were destroyed by Frederic Downing right after the [[Harvardville Airport]] t-Virus outbreak, and the last t-vaccine sample was taken by Downing so that he could sell it to bioterrorist general Miguel Grandé along with the t- and G-virus samples, but he was caught by [[Claire Redfield]] and Leon S. Kennedy before he could sell it.<ref>''Resident Evil: Degeneration''</ref> it is possible that the US Government used the last anti-virus sample to produce more in case of future outbreaks.

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===Antibodies===

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There are also some prototype antibodies for the t-Virus used by the [[Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service|U.B.C.S.]]. They were only mentioned by in a pocketbook kept by a deceased {{abbr|title=Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service|abbr=U.B.C.S.}} mercenary in the [[St. Michael Clock Tower]].<ref>''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'', [[Merc's Pocketbook]]</ref> It should be noted that no "zombified" {{abbr|title=Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service|abbr=U.B.C.S.}} members were encountered in the Clock Tower.

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Regular Anti-viral pills can slow down t-Virus mitosis temporarily.<ref>[[Anti-Virus (L)]]</ref>

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===Anti-virus===

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There is one seen only within the movie world, generically called "Anti-virus". It is a dedicated, engineered anti-virus created by Umbrella. This one is only effective if the patient does not have a large amount of the t-Virus in their bodies, or the infection is caught in the early stages. This one was shown in the first and second movie but its effects were different and was developed by Dr. Ashford for his daughter Angela.<ref>''[[Resident Evil: Apocalypse]]''</ref>

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==Trivia==

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*As the "t" and Uroboros viruses are variants of Progenitor, it can be deduced that for someone to co-exist with either of the three viruses, they must have a specific genetic trait. This trait is incredibly rare, and that only 30 people statistically have it in the United States - with a population of 300,000,000. This 1 in 10 million chance of having this trait means that Tyrant development is kept short of suitable candidates. This was the reason why Umbrella sought to clone Sergei, a carrier of this gene.

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*In the video games, the t-Virus is green in colour, but is blue in the films.

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*In ''Resident Evil Zero'' and ''Resident Evil Survivor'' the t-Virus (along with its parent virus in ''Resident Evil 5'') is visible under microscope. It should be noted that virions are generally not large enough for the naked eye to see with a standard light microscope, though [[Wikipedia:Mimivirus|some viruses]] are known to be larger than certain bacteria species.

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==Sources==

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[[Category:Viral Agents]]

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[[Category:Bioterror Agents]]

Changes: Tyrant Virus

Revision as of 15:57, 25 June 2012

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+#REDIRECT [[T-Virus]]
-[[File:Twi-T-Virus.jpg|thumb|right|"t" virions through a microscope.]]
-The '''Tyrant virus''', more commonly known as the "t-Virus"<!--Please do not change the punctuation, this spelling has been used as the official spelling in the Japanese version, as well as several English-translated games, including at least once in the original-->, is the first mutagenic virus discovered by the founders of [[Umbrella]]. While the Tyrant virus is responsible for the creation of the majority of their [[Bio Organic Weapons]] (or {{abbr|title=Bio Organic Weapon|abbr=B.O.W.}}s), the original intent was to create the perfect {{abbr|title=Bio Organic Weapon|abbr=B.O.W.}}: the [[Tyrant]].
-==History==
-On [[1966#December 4|December 4th, 1966]], the [[Progenitor virus]], (also known as the '''Mother''' or '''Founder''' virus)<ref>''Resident Evil Code: Veronica'', [[Alexander's Memo]]</ref> was discovered by Lord [[Oswell E. Spencer]] and [[James Marcus]].<ref>''[[Resident Evil 5]]''</ref> These gentlemen, along with Sir [[Edward Ashford]], a family friend of Spencer, held a certain economic position and decided to begin research upon the virus. Most of the research was carried out by Marcus, after Ashford died in July 1968<ref name="history">''Resodent Evil 5'', [[History of RESIDENT EVIL (file)]]</ref> and Spencer was already occupied by his burgeoning chemical corporation, Umbrella. Marcus had little resources to pool into the investigation, until Spencer agreed to employ him as a researcher and later Director of his [[Umbrella Research Center|corporation's Training facility]], putting the vast resources of Umbrella into his hands.
-Marcus overbid his hand, greedy for the power to finally invest serious amounts into his research, demanded numerous resources to perfect and improve what he envisioned was his life's work. This led to friction between Marcus and Spencer who, to compensate from the crippling economic demands laid by Marcus, demanded that he create a virus with a '''100% effectiveness rate''',<ref name="wreport2">[[Wesker's Report II]] (Part 2)</ref> much to the confusion of Marcus and his assistants, new Umbrella Trainees [[Albert Wesker]] and [[William Birkin]].
-The Umbrella Corporation used its finances to secretly develop the virus under the radar of international authorities. In time, Marcus further evolved the virus, creating the first effective bio-weapon to be produced in large quantity and be closely studied by the [[Umbrella Corporation]]. By adding the virus to leeches, the attributes of both were combined, and the t-Virus soon saw the light in [[1978]].<ref name="history"/>
-Though most of the research for the virus took place within the [[Arklay Laboratory]] underneath the [[Spencer Mansion]] façade, some eight miles North-west of Raccoon City, and the Umbrella Training facility under Marcus' orders, covered by the American Umbrella offices, Spencer's Umbrella empire in Europe raced against Marcus to adequate the t-Virus to create a virus with an even greater destructiveness. Marcus' dreams to overthrow Spencer and his attitude towards the virus as a "money-spinning tool" for Umbrella were never fulfilled, as he was murdered before he could enact them. Birkin came to be known within Umbrella circles as the true creator of the t-Virus.<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Resident Evil 2]] - [[Annette Birkin]] refers to William as "The man who created the t-Virus"</ref>
-During those years, vast numbers of t-viral strains were developed in the Arklay Laboratory, and tested upon one solitary test subject: [[Lisa Trevor]]. For years, she was subject to intense biological torture, which, despite all odds, she survived.
-As well, William Birkin, grown conceited as being credited as the creator of the t-Virus,<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>[[Resident Evil 0]] - William walks to a dying Marcus and tells him he will "take over" his research</ref> spawned a myriad of biological weapons to serve as backup to the virus, to ensure a 100% death ratio in any populace the virus should be released. Among these are the [[Hunter]]s (created by fusion of a human fertilized egg with t-Virus infected reptilian DNA),<ref name="wreport4">Wesker's Report II (Part 4: Enter Nemesis)</ref> the [[Plant 43|Ivies]] (flowers grown to unnatural proportions and given animal instincts, locomotion and rudimentary defense mechanisms),{{Verify}} the [[Chimera]]s (a mixture between a fly and human given vague humanoid appearance, increased size and mass, improved claws, and better reflexes),{{Verify}} the [[Cerberus]] (infected dogs - specifically Dobermans), and most importantly, the crowning achievement of Birkin's career for the time: the Tyrant.
-Later, Lisa Trevor's body, by now a melting pot of unthinkable disease, had deteriorated to inhuman levels. Noting she was, while not a [[zombie]], incredibly stronger, slightly more intelligent, and impervious to all damage, Birkin decided to test the [[NE-α Type]] (by then reputed to kill all its hosts, no matter how strong, within five minutes of gaining control over it)<ref name="wreport4"/> in her. The results astounded even Birkin: Lisa's body, by then a hideous amalgam of all viruses ever tested on her, overcame the parasite and absorbed its rejuvenation properties, giving her even more destructive capabilities, greater strength, and total invulnerability to gunfire. Even with shackles she could not be bound. After she outlived her capacity when Birkin extracted what would become the G-virus deep from within her, he had her killed and disposed of. Though, due to the properties of the primitive G-virus within her veins, death would not take her away that easily. She would spend the next decade hiding underneath the [[courtyard]].
-When the time came in early-1998, James Marcus revived, rejuvenated by the immense power of the first t-Virus strains, coordinated into a steady pace by his own DNA and that of his leeches. For more than three decades, the t-Virus threat had been averted, but at the time of his awakening, the Arklay woodland was slowly corrupted by the infectious agent. Before long, the Arklay laboratories had fallen. The Laboratory was seemingly infected by infected water, causing its employees to fall to anarchy over the relatively long period of time between May 11<ref>[[Keeper's Diary (remake)]] - May 11th entry</ref> and late June, 1998.
-The believed-to-be abandoned Training facility fell as well. Two Umbrella teams sent to evaluate it for re-activation were killed by the creatures from within and outside of the facility.
-From there, stories started stemming from the forest; several killings took place and an advance party of an elite paramilitary unit -, the [[S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team]] - was sent from [[Raccoon City]] to destroy the threat, oblivious to its real cause. Only four of these members, [[Rebecca Chambers]], [[Enrico Marini]], [[Kenneth J. Sullivan]], and [[Richard Aiken]] survived the night. All of them had holed up in the massive mansion and its adjacent areas. The next evening, the [[Special Tactics And Rescue Service|S.T.A.R.S.]] [[S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team|Alpha team]] sought refuge in the mansion as well, after losing a man to an attack by the multitude of cerberuses, mutated Dobermans, which infested the grounds.
-Later on, the remaining members of {{abbr|title=Special Tactics And Rescue Service|abbr=S.T.A.R.S.}} met up at the underground laboratory where the [[Tyrant (T-002 Type)]] was kept. This Tyrant killed  Albert Wesker temporarily, and was killed by a rocket blast in a skirmish with the remaining S.T.A.R.S as it attempted to foil their rescue by returning Alpha team pilot Brad Vickers.
-After the demolition of the manor, the virus sources were thought stopped definitively, but when William Birkin's subterranean laboratories were attacked by Umbrella's Black Ops in September 1998 in an effort to retrieve his G-virus, another outbreak ensued. This infection encompassed all of Raccoon and ended in the forced termination of the entire city. Umbrella was immediately exposed as creator of the virus due to the enormous amount of evidence produced from the scarce survivors, and was systematically dismantled and shut down.
-Still, another outbreak was induced in late 1998, on Rock Fort Island, this time by the revived Albert Wesker and his new employers, referred to only as [[the Organization]]. This ended in the partial demolition of the Umbrella installations there and the total destruction of the South Pole Umbrella Research Center.
-Yet another occurred in 1998, this time on [[Sheena Island]]; an Umbrella-owned "[[Tyrant Plant]]". Hundreds of adolescents from across the globe were kidnapped and taken there to be dissected, to retrieve a hormone important for Tyrant development.<ref>[[How to extract Beta Hetero Nonserotonin]]</ref> This infection was caused by the - now mad with power - commander [[Vincent Goldman]]. The island was "sterilized" when facility's self-destruct system was activated.
-Another occurred in 2002 on an Umbrella-owned luxury liner, the ''[[Spencer Rain]]'', which was caused by an ex-Umbrella researcher-turned bio-terrorist named [[Morpheus D. Duvall]], who was fired after the company used him as a scapegoat for the disaster at the Arklay facility.{{Verify}} The ship's crew and its passengers were transformed into zombies, or were killed by the {{abbr|title=Bio Organic Weapon|abbr=B.O.W.}} cargo being shipped out. The liner was destroyed when it crashed into an island which housed the -also infested- [[Umbrella Atlantic Facility]].
-Also in 2002, an Amazonian organ-trafficing crime syndicate got hold of "t" and the similarly named, but otherwise unrelated, "[[t-Veronica virus]]". Receiving "t" and {{abbr|title=Bio Organic Weapon|abbr=B.O.W.}}s through a black market group involving [[Ada Wong]], the syndicate's leader, [[Javier Hidalgo]], prepared himself for warfare. He also purchased T-Veronica through Albert Wesker, and proceeded to use it to treat his wife from an unfortunate degenerative condition. After his daughter ran off, Javier, in a fit of rage, released the t-Virus throughout the surrounding area. The virus spread to at least two villages, transforming their inhabitants into zombies. [[Leon S. Kennedy]] and [[Jack Krauser]] ended Javier's rule with the assistance of his daughter.
-A bioterrorist attack in 2005 India was halted by WilPharma's t-vaccine. This attack was actually planned by a WilPharma researcher, who wanted to demonstrate power of the virus and its vaccine to potential buyers on the black market.
-The last known outbreak occurred in 2005, within the [[Harvardville]] Airport, where the infection began after a single zombie entered the building and began to attack people within the building. A small-scale outbreak happened at the nearby [[WilPharma Corporation]] bio-dome facility, after a bomb was detonated. Both facilities were eventually sterilized, however.
-Then sometime after the Raccoon City outbreak a series of bioterrorist attacks started happening all over the world and so far the virus used in said attacks was the t-virus.
-===Development timeline===
-*February 3, 1978: Marcus begins his experiment on the Leeches by infecting them with the Progenitor virus.<ref>[[Leech Growth Records]]</ref>
-*September 19, 1978: Marcus confirms the existence of the t-Virus.<ref name="Diary">[[Marcus' Diary 1]]</ref>
-*October 23, 1978: Marcus ceases experimenting on rodents, citing Humans as being the perfect guinea pig to prove its abilities.<ref name="Diary"/>
-*January 13, 1979: Marcus ends his research with the Leeches.<ref name="Diary"/>
-*January 31, 1979:<small>see February 11</small>
-*February 11, 1979: Spencer has employees attempt to steal Marcus' research.<ref name="Diary"/>
-*1988: Marcus is assassinated and credit for the virus' creation goes to his student William Birkin, who was a conspirator.<ref>[[Marcus' Death]]</ref>
-*1993: An experimental t-Virus variant designated "[[T-JCCC203]]" is used in human experimentation.
-*2002: A merger between a "t" antibody and the G-virus is created. The virus is named "[[t+G virus|t+G]]".
-==Incidents==
-These are the following list of biohazard incidents involving the t-Virus. There are other small scale outbreaks in other parts of the world but information of them is unavailable.
-*[[Arklay Mountains outbreak|Mansion Incident]] (1998) - Unleashed by the reanimated James Marcus to exact his revenge on Umbrella.
-*[[Raccoon City Destruction Incident]] (1998) - Unleashed due to the failed attempt by the [[Umbrella Security Service]] to steal the [[G-virus]] from William Birkin, later spread by rats.
-*[[Rockfort Island outbreak]] (1998) - Unleashed due to the attack on [[Rockfort Island]] committed by the [[Hive/Host Capture Force|H.C.F.]] led by Albert Wesker
-*[[Antarctic outbreak]] (1998) - Accidentally released
-*[[Sheena Island outbreak]] (1998) - Unleashed by facility commander Vincent Goldman
-*[[Spencer Rain outbreak]] (2002) - Unleashed by former Umbrella executive Morpheus D. Duvall onboard the ''Spencer Rain''
-*[[Atlantic Facility outbreak]] (2002) - Occurred due to poor security protocols.
-*[[Operation Javier (event)|Operation Javier]] (2002) - Unleashed by drug lord Javier Hidalgo to the amazonian ecosystem
-*[[Caucasus outbreak]] (2003) - Unleashed by Albert Wesker
-*[[Resident Evil: Degeneration|India Bioterrorist Attack]] (2005) - Unleashed by [[Miguel Grandé]]'s guerrilla forces and several WilPharma Corporation employees
-*[[Harvardville Airport outbreak]] (2005) - Unleashed by [[Curtis Miller]], also caused by an infected passenger onboard a plane which crashed shortly to the airport
-*[[Air Dome Laboratory outbreak]] (2005) - Unleashed by [[Frederic Downing]]
-==Infection==
-===Effects of Infection===
-The t-Virus is built like many viruses, but not all. As the virus makes contact with a cell's membrane, it inserts its genetic coding into the cell. The cell absorbs the viral genome into its own genetic make-up, which takes over the cell's functions. The cell begins to produce offspring of the original virus. The new viruses are then released from the host cell and infect the neighbouring cells, which starts the process all over again.<ref>[[Wikipedia:Viral replication#Baltimore Classification System|Viral Replication at Wikipedia]]</ref>
-The t-Virus kills and replaces mitochondrial organelles with a replica of itself.{{Verify}} The virus then combines with other cells to produce energy.{{Verify}} The energy produced is just enough to power the motor neurons and the basic lower brain functions.{{Verify}} The reanimated host body is then left with the intense need to feed in order to replenish energy supplies without having to sacrifice its own tissue.{{Verify}} Actions taken by the host in this time period greatly resemble that of "zombies" depicted in horror movies, and are thus dubbed by that name.{{Verify}}
-However, the t-Virus can only properly function by consuming the cell in order to produce its energy. This slow breakdown of cells leads to the gradual breakdown of the host, causing necrosis. The virus incorporates itself into the host's DNA, which substantially alters it. This is why creatures, such as bees and spiders, only have very minor mutation, such as increased size, when compared to the human mutation caused by the virus.
-Should the human host be alive at the time of t-Virus infection, all higher brain functions are destroyed. This leaves only the cerebellum to govern behaviour. This leaves the infected host with a very animalistic behaviour. As the virus spreads, it damages the hypothalamus. This produces a massive flood of neurotransmitters, enzymes, and hormones such as norepinephrine and dopamine. These effects, combined with the painful symptoms of the infection, induce a psychotic rage, persistent hunger, and increased aggressiveness in those infected.
-Should the human host be dead at the time of infection, only enough energy is produced to power the lower brain functions. These functions are responsible for the most primal instincts, such as walking and eating.
-In either case, their late-stage appearance and behaviour are characteristics of their name-sake, a zombie.
-Should a late-stage human host be rendered unconscious, the body will lay in a dormant phase appearing to be dead. In actuality the host is rapidly mutating due to the t-Virus becoming hyperactive. Within the time frame of an hour, the decayed skeletal and muscular system is reconstructed into a stronger and more durable form. Development can be seen of sharp canine teeth and razor claws, fresh blood seeps into remaining skin giving it a reddish hue, advances in decomposition, and intact eyes become a bright white. Umbrella researchers at the Arklay Laboratory have dubbed this stage "[[V-ACT]]", referring to the resulting creature also known as a "Crimson Head". To awaken, the brain must be jolted back to consciousness with a slight but important increase in intelligence, and large increase in agility and aggressiveness. As a consequence of this rapid mutation, cellular breakdown hits a critical point where the host cannot regenerate properly and can be killed permanently.
-If by chance a human t-Virus host should survive past the secondary Crimson Head mutation with little or no damage, the virus may actually strengthen the damaged/remaining cells, resulting in a [[Licker]], a Crimson Head mutation taken to an extreme. The closest piece of evidence of this possibility would be the [[Regis Licker]] or "Suspended" that is encountered in Raccoon City's [[Apple Inn]]; as the specimen seemed to be going through the stages of mutation resulting in the change from a Crimson Head to a Licker. This is evident due to the "licking" and hanging abilities present in both Suspended and Lickers, but also the layer of skin still attached along with the majority of human physical traits. In regular Lickers, the host possesses a long, powerful tongue, from which it derives its name, and enormous claws. The skin has all but disappeared, revealing the underlying muscle, and the brain is exposed. It is not known though how much more mutation can actually occur past the form of Lickers, as all known un-tampered specimens were destroyed in the destruction of Raccoon City.
-Wesker notes that he observes similarities in the apparently random mutations endowed by the virus (as examples he mentions the mutations undergone by [[Sergei Vladimir]] and what he knew of [[Queen Leech|James Marcus]]' mutations) and explains he believes that the host's mindset is a crucial factor in explaining the mutation (e.g.; Vladimir becomes what Wesker calls "a monster whose very body is the picture of suffering", revealing what Wesker considered to be Vladimir's true self, and the rejuvenation experienced by Marcus, an aged man who understandably desired control and the restoration of his vibrant youth, characteristics that were carried to his own eventual mutation, including his true madness and the horrific mutation that overcame him in the end), and briefly wonders where does this theory fit with his own mutations.
-This theory fits in with the introduction of one of the steroids necessary for the creation of the mass-produced Tyrant, the ''[[Beta Hetero Nonserotonin]]'', and it could signify the virus manifests itself in different forms depending upon the presence or absence of certain hormones in the human brain. Following this thread, it is not a ridiculous assumption to believe either certain viruses are better at producing certain types of mutations depending upon said hormones.
-===Means of Infection===
-The t-Virus is capable of various methods of subject infection. Research files supplied in the Arklay Mountains facility identify the virus as having a protein structure. As such, it is likely that any known methods of viral of Umbrella's experimentation (known as [[Bio Organic Weapon]]s) with the t-Virus were initiated by direct injection of the virus into the host. This was considered Umbrella’s primary means of infection.
-*'''''Water:''''' One of the theories for the initial outbreak at the Arklay Laboratory is that the scientists and researchers there were infected once the t-Virus contaminated the water supply.
-*'''''Air:''''' Though there are discrepancies between canonical and non-canonical material over whether or not the t-Virus is an airborne virus, when the virus broke out in the Arklay Laboratory, the clean-up workers wore bio-chemical protection suits. This is the main argument for those who feel that the virus is an airborne pathogen, if only for a short period of time. However, the use of hazmat protective suits does not prove that the virus is airborne, but only that the workers were cautious in protecting themselves, perhaps from accidental contact with the virus (ie. touch). In Resident Evil: Code Veronica, it is implied that the t-Virus escaped from the Rockfort Island laboratory through a broken ventilation duct, resulting in a temporary airborne outbreak that contaminated nearby personnel and spread from there via the attacking zombies. Throughout the Resident Evil titles, only the live-action movies have shown it to be Airborne - yet only in the first movie, with the second and third showing it only passing through ''direct contact'' (see under).
-*'''''Direct Fluidic Transmission:''''' Anyone attacked by an infected host in close combat, be it by bite, scratch, gash, or stab will have the virus transferred to their bloodstream via contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues. The Umbrella Corp. believes this to be a secondary means of infection. For story purposes, however, most of the main characters in the games were never canonically bitten or stabbed, though even highly infectious real world viruses do not always infect the victim after one exposure (but given the relentless attacks of those infected, one exposure might not necessarily mean a single scratch or bite).
-==Known Antigens==
-There are four known serums that will cure those infected by the t-Virus, but only in its earlier stages, before it becomes completely active.
-===Umbrella Medical vaccine===
-The first is an unnamed vaccine developed by Douglas Rover of the Umbrella Medical Service at [[Raccoon General Hospital]]<ref>''[[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis]]''</ref> as a last-minute effort to halt the rapid spread of the t-Virus. However, most of the hospital's staff had already succumbed to infection before the vaccine could be properly produced even in small amounts.
-This vaccine could be cultivated by using a specialized synthesizer and inserting a medium base into the system, then combining the necessary chemicals using the control panel. The exact components that were used to create this prototype are unknown; as most of the documentation regarding its production were either stolen by [[Nicholai Ginovaef]] or destroyed after Nicholai used [[C-4]] to demolish the hospital, taking with it any evidence of the Umbrella Corporation's involvement with the hospital in the process.
-However, [[Carlos Oliveira]] was able to create a single dose of the vaccine for [[Jill Valentine]] and managed to escape moments before the hospital's destruction.<ref>[[Hospital Scene]]</ref> While the vaccine apparently did not immediately cure Jill of the virus, it did send it into hibernation, until it eventually died out. It also apparently created powerful anti-bodies within Jill, making her immune to most other viruses, even possibly [[Uroboros]].
-===Daylight===
-'''[[Daylight]]''' was developed by [[Greg Muller]] and [[Peter Jenkins]] of the [[Raccoon University]].<ref>''[[Resident Evil Outbreak]]''</ref> The actual ingredients for Daylight are:
-*[[T-Blood]] - a blood sample of a t-Virus infected creature, namely [[Thanatos]];
-*[[V-Poison]] - a sample of poison from an infected [[Wasp]]; and
-*[[P-Base]] - an unknown chemical liquid that requires preparing before being mixed. Once all the ingredients have been collected, they can be mixed together in a special chemical mixer. The mixture takes about five to seven minutes to make and thirty seconds to one minute to duplicate.
-===AT1521===
-"[[AT1521]]" was developed by the research team operating from within Umbrella's official Raccoon City facility. Linda and Carter, surviving developers of the vaccine returned to the facility on October 1, 1998 to retrieve it in hopes of wide-spread production of the vaccine.<ref>''[[Resident Evil Outbreak File 2]]'', [[End of the Road]]</ref>
-The exact details of the serum itself are unknown due to the short role it played in the storyline (the sample being destroyed by the rampaging [[Tyrant R]] not long after its initial appearance). However, Linda did remember the reagent's base, and thus was able to remake a sample.
-===t-vaccine===
-The fourth is an anti-"t" agent known as the [[t-vaccine]] created by [[WilPharma]]. Unfortunately, most of the samples were destroyed by Frederic Downing right after the [[Harvardville Airport]] t-Virus outbreak, and the last t-vaccine sample was taken by Downing so that he could sell it to bioterrorist general Miguel Grandé along with the t- and G-virus samples, but he was caught by [[Claire Redfield]] and Leon S. Kennedy before he could sell it.<ref>''Resident Evil: Degeneration''</ref> it is possible that the US Government used the last anti-virus sample to produce more in case of future outbreaks.
-===Antibodies===
-There are also some prototype antibodies for the t-Virus used by the [[Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service|U.B.C.S.]]. They were only mentioned by in a pocketbook kept by a deceased {{abbr|title=Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service|abbr=U.B.C.S.}} mercenary in the [[St. Michael Clock Tower]].<ref>''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'', [[Merc's Pocketbook]]</ref> It should be noted that no "zombified" {{abbr|title=Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service|abbr=U.B.C.S.}} members were encountered in the Clock Tower.
-Regular Anti-viral pills can slow down t-Virus mitosis temporarily.<ref>[[Anti-Virus (L)]]</ref>
-===Anti-virus===
-There is one seen only within the movie world, generically called "Anti-virus". It is a dedicated, engineered anti-virus created by Umbrella. This one is only effective if the patient does not have a large amount of the t-Virus in their bodies, or the infection is caught in the early stages. This one was shown in the first and second movie but its effects were different and was developed by Dr. Ashford for his daughter Angela.<ref>''[[Resident Evil: Apocalypse]]''</ref>
-==Trivia==
-*As the "t" and Uroboros viruses are variants of Progenitor, it can be deduced that for someone to co-exist with either of the three viruses, they must have a specific genetic trait. This trait is incredibly rare, and that only 30 people statistically have it in the United States - with a population of 300,000,000. This 1 in 10 million chance of having this trait means that Tyrant development is kept short of suitable candidates. This was the reason why Umbrella sought to clone Sergei, a carrier of this gene.
-*In the video games, the t-Virus is green in colour, but is blue in the films.
-*In ''Resident Evil Zero'' and ''Resident Evil Survivor'' the t-Virus (along with its parent virus in ''Resident Evil 5'') is visible under microscope. It should be noted that virions are generally not large enough for the naked eye to see with a standard light microscope, though [[Wikipedia:Mimivirus|some viruses]] are known to be larger than certain bacteria species.
-==Sources==
-{{Reflist|2}}
-{{Viral Agents}}
-[[Category:Viral Agents]]
-[[Category:Bioterror Agents]]