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[[File:Twi-T-Virus.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"t" virions through a microscope.]]
 
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'''Tyrant Virus''', otherwise known as the '''t-Virus''', is the general name given to a series of mutant [[Progenitor virus]] strains. Initially developed by [[Umbrella Pharmaceuticals]] in the late 1960s, the primary goal of the "t-Virus Project" was to effectively eliminate the need for a large-scale conventional army and generate revenue to go to their eugenics program, the [[Project W|Wesker Project]]. This required two things: the virus had to be highly-contagious to the point of infecting an entire target population and guarantee a 100% mortality rate.<ref name="Wesker1">''Wesker's Report II'', Chapter 1.</ref><ref name="Wesker2">''Wesker's Report II'', Chapter 2.</ref> Such a virus was impossible due to such contagions' tendencies to kill too many people at once and prevent further spread. By 1978 development moved from creating a lethal, highly-contagious virus to one that would mutate hosts to become physically stronger and remain alive despite organ failures and severe brain damage, the latter leading to murderous aggression and an obsessive hunger to the state of cannibalism.<ref name="Wesker1" /> With the 1981 discovery of a statistical 10% of any population is naturally immune,<ref name="Wesker2"/> Phase 2 of the research project focused on creating workarounds. and the pioneering Arklay Laboratory team under Dr. William Birkin engineered a new species of animal that would hunt down and kill survivors, beginning with simple Bio-Organic Weapons such as the [[Web Spinner]], but breaking ground with the genetically-chimeric [[Hunter α]].<ref name="Wesker2" /> In the mid-1980s, the t-Virus Project focused on creating intelligent bio-weapons, most famously the [[Tyrant]]s.<ref>''Wesker's Report II'', Chapter 4.</ref> After the collapse of Umbrella in the early 2000s, the t-Virus became available to dozens of organizations with the means to finalize Umbrella's research in their own way and dominate the weapon industry. Independently developed mutagens such as t-Abyss were developed thanks to this.
[[Image:T_virus.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
 
The '''Tyrant-Virus''', more commonly known as "''t-Virus''", is the second mutagenic virus discovered by the founders of the [[Umbrella Corporation]]. While the ''t-Virus'' is responsible for the creation of the majority of their Bio-Organic Weapons (or B.O.W.s), the original intent was to create the perfect B.O.W.: the [[Tyrant]].
 
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
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As the t-Virus is a series of independently developed strains and not a single virus, new strains do not necessarily rely on recent research by other teams.
Midway through the twentieth century, the [[Progenitor virus]] (also known as the Mother Virus) was discovered by Lord [[Ozwell E. Spencer]], Sir [[Edward Ashford]], and [[James Marcus]]. These three gentlemen had a certain economic position and decided to begin research upon the virus. Most of the research was carried out by Marcus, as Ashford died in 1968 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 Corporation Management Training facility|Corporation's Training facility]], putting the vast resources of Umbrella into his hands.
 
   
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===Initial development===
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, much to the confusion of Marcus and his assistants, new Umbrella Trainees [[Albert Wesker]] and [[William Birkin]].
 
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From the Progenitor Virus' discovery in December 1966, the ultimate goal of Dr. [[Oswell E. Spencer]] and his colleagues Dr. [[Edward Ashford, 5th Earl Ashford|Edward Ashford]] and Dr. [[James Marcus]] was the birthing of a new age of eugenics with mutagenic viruses improving the human race. To fund this program, dubbed the Wesker Project, it was agreed that strains of the virus should be engineered as a military product, leading to the creation of Umbrella Pharmaceuticals as a front for this research. Research on Progenitor strains was conducted simultaneously in different laboratories, with Ashford; Marcus and Spencer all engaging in independent research. t-Virus research began in the late 1960s, soon after Umbrella was founded.<ref>''[[Resident Evil CODE:Veronica]]'' (2000), file: "[[Alexander's Memo]]"</ref>
   
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Dr. James Marcus' research reached a breakthrough on January 13, 1978, which warranted his coining of the name "t-Virus" to divorce the strain from Progenitor Virus.<ref>''[[Resident Evil Archives]]'', page 266</ref><ref>''[[Resident Evil 0]]'' (2002), file: "[[Leech Growth Records]]"</ref><ref>''[[Resident Evil 5]]'', file "[[Telegram from James Marcus]]"</ref> The new strain mutated in the bodies of leech test subjects. Using the virus on humans saw a very different response compared with Progenitor infection, rather than dying the infected instead became aggressive, were found to have cannibalistic impulses, lost intelligence and suffered from significant necrosis.<ref name="history">''Resident Evil 5'' (2009), file: "[[History of RESIDENT EVIL]]"</ref>
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 circa [[1978]].
 
   
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The nearby Arklay Laboratory also worked on mutant strains of Progenitor and had done so since its opening with Progenitor "Type A" and "Type B" strains. In the 1970s they also used "t-Virus" as the name of their new strains. This team made their own breakthrough in 1978 under the leadership of Dr. William Birkin. Fascinated by [[Ebola virus|Ebola]]'s potential as a weapon, Birkin noted that people would be killed too quickly for it to work in war adequately. A modified t-Virus strain with RNA from Ebola was created, which led to their independent creation of Zombies. Spencer was, however, unsatisfied with the virus the Arklay team was developing, as approximately 10% of people were believed to be naturally immune to the new strain.<ref name="Wesker2"/> To guarantee a near 100% success rate in battle, the Arklay team bonded a human egg and reptilian DNA through the virus in 1981, creating the "[[Hunter]]," a creature that would be used in battle to kill these remaining survivors.<ref>''Wesker's Report II''.</ref> Because the t-Virus can make genetic recombination between different species comparatively easy, this virus was mass-produced within Umbrella and supplied to each research facility for new B.O.W. model development.<ref>[[BIOHAZARD GUN SURVIVOR OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK]], "B.O.W. Profiles" section.</ref>
Though most of the research for the virus took place within the [[Arklay Research Facility|Arklay Laboratory]] underneath the [[Spencer estate]] near 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''.
 
   
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At some point, following this, the Arklay team began working on a new strain of the virus discovered in the body of a zombie. This strain enabled the "[[V-ACT]]" process, which mutated the bodies of unconscious zombies. Other facilities such as the later NEST experimented with a further mutation of this strain which mutated the infected into [[Licker]]s. As development moved on to realise the [[Tyrant Project]], the [[ε strain]] was completed in 1998, which increased the chances of a Tyrant being successfully developed. The project was successful with the creation of the [[T-002]], from which the [[T-103]] models were derived.
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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A third group researching the t-Virus development was located in Antarctica, led by Dr. Edward Ashford and his son, [[Alexander Ashford|Alexander]]. As Alexander was not a trained virologist, he was unable to lead the project after his father's sudden death. And research was effectively halted there for over a decade until the genetically-engineered [[Alexia Ashford]] developed a [[t-Veronica Virus|new t-Virus]] by infecting a queen ant with the Progenitor Virus, the queen itself already being infected with an [[ancient virus]] endemic to ants. Alexia went into hiding soon after infecting herself with the virus, and it was believed until fifteen years later that her experiments had failed.
As well, William Birkin, grown conceited as being credited as the creator of the t-virus, 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), the [[Plant 43|Ivies]] (flowers grown to unnatural proportions and given animal instincts, locomotion and rudimentary defence mechanisms), the [[Chimera]]s (a mixture between a fly and human given vague humanoid appearance, increased size and mass, improved claws, and better reflexes), the [[Cerberus]]' (infected dogs), and most importantly, the crowning achievement of Birkin's career for the time: the [[Tyrant]]s.
 
   
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=== Later research ===
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 Parasite]] (by then reputed to kill all its hosts, no matter how strong, in a matter of twenty minutes) 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, so after she outlived her capacity when Birkin extracted what would become the G-Virus deep from her, he had her killed and disposed of.
 
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New viral strains were developed towards the end of Umbrella's existence and the years following. One such version was the [[t+G-Virus]], a t-Virus strain which was able to enhance infected bodies with the ability to discharge electricity. [[Tyrant Abyss virus|t-Abyss]] was created under the oversight of [[Morgan Lansdale]], which grafted the genome of [["The Abyss"|another virus]] onto a t-Virus strain. [[Tyrant Phobos virus|t-Phobos]] was engineered by Dr. [[Alex Wesker]] to trigger mutations in humans when it came into contact with certain levels of stress hormones indicative of fear. [[Chrysalid Virus|C-Virus]] was a heavily re-engineered strain of t+Veronica used by [[Neo Umbrella|Neo-Umbrella]] in 2012 for bioterror purposes.
   
 
==Infection==
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 slowly was corrupted by the infectious agent. Before long, the Arklay laboratories had fallen; as the former Umbrella Training Facility was thought deserted, an Umbrella team (likely to be the [[U.B.C.S.]]) was dispatched to destroy the infection from there, before Marcus wiped out the entire platoon with his army of leeches.
 
 
From there, stories started stemming from the forest; several killings took place and an elite team of paramilitary units, 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. Rebecca in particular killed the reborn Marcus and his army, thereby shutting off a massive source of infection. All of them ended up holed up in the massive Spencer Estate and its adjacent areas, where later the [[S.T.A.R.S.]] [[S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team|Alpha team]] entered as well, after suffering a similar fate at the hands of a pack of [[Cerberus]]'.
 
 
Later on, the remaining members of S.T.A.R.S. met up at the underground laboratory where the [[Tyrant T-002]] was kept. This [[Tyrant]] killed, albeit temporarily, Albert Wesker, and was destroyed by a rocket blast in the second brawl it offered the remaining S.T.A.R.S..
 
 
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 shut down.
 
 
Still, another outbreak was induced in late 1998, on Rock Fort Island, this time by the revived Albert Wesker and his new organization, codenamed HCF. This ended in the partial demolition of the Umbrella installations there and the total destruction of the South Pole Umbrella Research Center.
 
 
Yet another occurring on [[Sheena Island]]; an Umbrella owned Tyrant Factory. Hundreds of people from across the globe were kidnapped and taken there to be made into Tyrants. This infection was caused by the - now mad with power - Commander [[Vincent Goldman]]. The island was "sterilized."
 
 
A final outbreak occurred on an Umbrella-owned luxury cruiser, the [[Spencer Rain]] caused by an ex-Umbrella terrorist. All crew and passengers were transformed into [[tG Zombie]]s with the new cross virus, the [[tG virus]] which was formed with the merge of "t" and "G". The ship was destroyed.
 
 
No matter how many outbreaks have been produced by it, the t-virus remains a constant threat to global safety.
 
 
 
==[[Infection]]==
 
 
===Effects of Infection===
 
===Effects of Infection===
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{{See also|T-Virus 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.
 
 
The t-virus kills and replaces mitochondrial organelles with a replica of itself. The virus then combines with other cells to produce energy. The energy produced is just enough to power the motor neurons and the basic lower brain functions. Not only that, but this bypasses the entire circulatory system, which makes the heart and lungs redundant systems that can be disposed of. 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. 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.
 
 
However, the t-virus can only properly function by consuming the cell in order to produce its energy and to divide via mitosis to spread around the body. 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 telencephalon, better known as the cerebrum, 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 as a [[V-ACT]], commonly referred to 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 Suspen-Dead 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 untampered specimens were destroyed in the destruction of Raccoon City.
 
 
In ''Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles'' Wesker states in a file that he sees 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 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 mutations, 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. This description has very little (if any) difference from the true writer's intent. 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 Research Facility is that the scientists and researchers there were infected once the t-virus contaminated the water supply. However, this theory is practically confirmed to be false because Dr. Marcus admitted he was the one who released the t-virus at the Spencer Mansion, in addition to contaminating the Umbrella-owned train, the [[Ecliptic Express]]. However, the virus can be transmitted by water, as proved when rats which had consumed samples of the t-virus infected water supply of Raccoon City, leading to the historical zombie epidemic.
 
 
*'''''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 Research Facility the cleanup 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). Throughout the Resident Evil titles, only the non-canon 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.
 
 
==t-virus History in The Movies==
 
'''"Warning: Non-Canon Material"'''
 
 
The "t-virus" was developed by Dr. [[Charles Ashford]] in order to reverse the inevitable cellular breakdown in his daughter [[Angela Ashford]]. The virus acts by stimulating pre and post-mortem cellular growth, with the unfortunate side effect of basically killing the host in the process. To counter this, Ashford developed an anti-virus. When the t-virus was used, and kept in check by the anti-virus, Angela Ashford could avoid the debilitation that had kept her father confined to a wheelchair.
 
   
 
Like any other viruses, t-Viruses make contact with a cell's membrane and insert their genetic coding into the cell. The cell absorbs the viral genome into its own, which hijacks the cell's intended functions, using them to produce virions similar to the original. The new virions are then released from the host cell and infect the neighboring cells, which starts the process all over again.<ref>Wikipedia: [[Wikipedia:Viral replication#Baltimore Classification System|Viral Replication at Wikipedia]]</ref>
The effects of the virus in the movies do not differ widely from the game virus. There are a few exceptions:
 
   
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Different t-Viruses can react in different ways to humans. Before 1978, the t-Virus simply killed people, but the independent accomplishments of Marcus' and Spencer's labs led to zombification as the typical outcome of infection. Higher brain functions among the infected almost cease entirely and zombies can only perform minor tasks such as turning doorknobs. It should be noted that while zombification is known to result in brain damage and necrosis, the hosts are not, in fact, dead, as the t-Virus is incapable of reanimating dead tissue. Even with a shut down of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, or apparent brain death, infected people do not die. Since some of the traits of zombies are the decomposed skin and the lack of pulse, they are often mistaken for reanimated corpses.
*The rate of infection varies, but is generally much shorter than the games, depending on the severity of an infected person's wounds. In the movies, a severely injured Rain lasts less than two and a half hours, while Carlos Oliveira goes for more than three before showing any outward signs of infection. In both cases, the subject lasts longer in the games.
 
   
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In viral strains capable of the "V-ACT" process, unconscious zombies are known to mutate in an hour or so. [[Crimson Head]]s develop razor-sharp claws, sharp canine teeth and their hearts pump blood rapidly across the body, resulting in their crimson hue. Other strains instead create "[[Licker]]s," which are humans whose skin has entirely rotted away to show the muscles. Their brains are exposed, and they have powerful, long tongues that can be used as whips to attack people. An oddity of V-ACT is a creature known as "[[Suspended]]." Only one specimen of this creature is known to have existed. What it actually was is unknown, though it is possible to have been the result of a zombie ceasing its mutation mid-transformation.
*Bio-weapons like the licker are produced differently in the movies. A licker is created by direct injection. Similarly, a scratch from a licker can cause mutation.
 
   
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There are rare cases where a human responds differently to t-Virus infection and transforms into a dominant mutant. These mutations are the result of unique genetic factors that only one in ten million people displays. People with this genetic quality were highly prized by Umbrella, as they could be turned into bio-weapons known as [[Tyrant]]s.
*A stronger strain of the t-virus also exists, accidentally created by [[Sam Isaacs]] when he treated zombies with a serum derived from the blood of the [[Alice clones]]. The resulting "[[Enhanced Zombie]]" carried a much stronger viral load; once bitten, even multiple doses of the anti-virus could not remove the infection.
 
   
 
===Means of infection===
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The t-Virus is capable of various methods of subject infection. Research files supplied in the Arklay Laboratory identify the virus as having a protein structure.
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* '''Injection''': Due to its importance in bio-weapons development, the direct injection of the virus into an organism's body was considered by Umbrella to be the "primary" means of infection.
   
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*'''Water'': '''''<nowiki/>''Arklay Dam and the Raccoon Sewage Treatment Plant were contaminated with the virus, leaking into the city's water supply as a result and infecting many civilians.''
==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.
 
   
 
*'''Direct Fluidic Transmission'':'''''<nowiki/>'' Anyone attacked by an infected host in close combat, be it by bite, scratch, gash, or stab may have the virus transferred to their bloodstream via contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues. Umbrella Corp. believes this to be a secondary means of infection. It is not a precise form of infection, however, as dry bites are a possibility.''
The first is an unnamed vaccine developed by Douglas Rover of the Umbrella Medical Service at [[Raccoon General Hospital]] (depicted in ''[[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis]]'') 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]] explosives 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 vaccine for [[Jill Valentine]] (who had been infected by the t-virus) and manage to escape moments before the hospital's destruction.
 
   
 
==Known treatments==
The second serum is '''[[Daylight]]''' (depicted in ''[[Resident Evil Outbreak]]''), developed by [[Greg Muller]] and [[Peter Jenkins]] of the [[Raccoon University]]. 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.
 
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Prototype antibodies for the t-Virus were available to Umbrella staff, including mercenaries within the [[Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service|UBCS]]. However, due to the unstable nature of RNA viruses, these antibodies could not offer permanent protection. The staff at Incineration Disposal Plant P-12A transformed into Zombies when the virus they were constantly exposed to mutated significantly enough to cause the antibody to become useless. The consumption of [[Herbs|certain medicinal herbs]] and regular [[Anti-virus|anti-viral pills]] can slow down t-Virus mitosis temporarily.<ref>Resident Evil: Revelations (2012), file: "[[Botany Plants with Medicinal Properties - 3rd Edition]]"</ref><ref>''Resident Evil Outbreak'' (2003), item: "[[Anti-Virus (L)]]"</ref>
   
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A [[Vaccine (RE3)|vaccine]] was created at the [[Raccoon General Hospital]].<ref>''[[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis]]''</ref> Faced with infected patients flooding the wards, the staff desperately tried to create a vaccine to halt the outbreak. Though they were successful, the staff had transformed into Zombies before any of them could use it. The only known sample of the vaccine synthesized was used to treat former S.T.A.R.S. officer [[Jill Valentine]], who had been infected by the [[Nemesis-T Type]].
The third is a reagent designated "[[AT1521]]," developed by the research team operating from within Umbrella's official Raccoon City facility. Surviving members of the team (including [[Linda]] and [[Carter]]) return to the facility in order to retrieve the serum for full-scale production of a cure to help prevent the spread of the t-virus in ''[[Resident Evil Outbreak File #2]]''. It has similar features to the Daylight serum; and it was suggested that it was a prototype or, as Carter states, a 'sample'. 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 T-0400TP]] not long after its initial appearance). However, Linda did remember the raegents base, and thus was able to remake a sample.
 
   
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[[Daylight]] was engineered by Dr. Greg Mueller and Dr. Peter Jenkins at the [[Raccoon University]].<ref>''[[Resident Evil Outbreak]]''</ref> This was created through the combination of "[[T-Blood]]" and "[[V-Poison]]" to the "[[P-Base]]." It was successfully taken out of Raccoon City.
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 ubcs mercenary in the [[St. Michael Clock Tower]].
 
   
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[[AT1521]] was engineered by the staff of the Umbrella R&D Center in Raccoon City. Researchers Linda and Carter both tried to escape Raccoon City with this vaccine on October 1 with the hopes of replicating it later. The original sample was destroyed when the vial was destroyed by Tyrant R, though Linda was aware of how to create another.<ref>''[[Resident Evil Outbreak File 2|Resident Evil Outbreak File #2]]'', "[[end of the road]]"</ref>
There is one seen only within the movie world, called [[Anti-Virus]], is a dedicated, engineered antivirus 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 it was developed by Dr. [[Charles Ashford]] for his daughter, [[Angela Ashford|Angela]].
 
   
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The [[t-vaccine|t-Vaccine]] was a commercial-level vaccine produced by the [[WilPharma Corporation]] to fight bioterrorism in 2005. All but one sample of t-Vaccine were destroyed in the act of sabotage by its creator, Dr. Frederic Downing, to ensure that only bioterrorists purchasing from him had access to it. He was arrested by the Harvardville Police Department before he could sell the sample.<ref>''Resident Evil: Degeneration''</ref>
==Other Viral Strands==
 
   
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==Gallery==
*[[Progenitor Virus]]
 
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<gallery>
*[[G-virus]]
 
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Twi-T-Virus.jpg|"t" virions through a microscope
*[[T-Veronica virus]]
 
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Re2 cap11 lg.jpg|t-Virus (green) samples as seen in Resident Evil 2
*[[tG virus]]
 
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File:Image85.jpg|Rats consuming T-Virus in [[Resident Evil 2 (1998 game)]]
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File:Capture_5.png|Rats consuming T-Virus in [[Resident Evil 2|Resident Evil 2 Remake]]
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ORC T virus-bmp.jpg|t-Virus samples as seen in Operation Raccoon City (blue like in the films)
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</gallery>
   
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==Sources==
{{Succession
 
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{{Reflist|2}}
|name=t-virus
 
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{{Mutagens}}
|predecessor=[[Mother Virus]]
 
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{{Resident Evil 0 lore}}
|position=Experimental [[Umbrella]] Virus
 
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{{Resident Evil lore}}
|successor=[[G-virus]], [[tG Virus]], [[T-Cameron Virus]], [[T-JCCC203]].
 
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{{Resident Evil 2 lore}}
}}
 
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{{Resident Evil 2 remake lore}}
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{{Resident Evil 3: Nemesis lore}}
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{{Resident Evil 3 remake lore}}
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{{Resident Evil: Dead Aim lore}}
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{{Resident Evil: Degeneration lore}}
   
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[[es:Virus-T]]
[[Category:Viral Agents]]
 
[[Category:t-Virus Forms]]
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[[hu:T-Vírus]]
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[[pt-br:T-vírus]]
 
[[Category:Viral agents]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil 3: Nemesis lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil CODE:Veronica lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil Outbreak lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil Survivor lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil 0 lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil 2 lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil: Dead Aim lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil: Degeneration lore]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil 3 remake lore]]

Revision as of 00:22, 15 January 2020

Prime universe
(Capcom's primary storyline)
File:Twi-T-Virus.jpg

"t" virions through a microscope.

Tyrant Virus, otherwise known as the t-Virus, is the general name given to a series of mutant Progenitor virus strains. Initially developed by Umbrella Pharmaceuticals in the late 1960s, the primary goal of the "t-Virus Project" was to effectively eliminate the need for a large-scale conventional army and generate revenue to go to their eugenics program, the Wesker Project. This required two things: the virus had to be highly-contagious to the point of infecting an entire target population and guarantee a 100% mortality rate.[1][2] Such a virus was impossible due to such contagions' tendencies to kill too many people at once and prevent further spread. By 1978 development moved from creating a lethal, highly-contagious virus to one that would mutate hosts to become physically stronger and remain alive despite organ failures and severe brain damage, the latter leading to murderous aggression and an obsessive hunger to the state of cannibalism.[1] With the 1981 discovery of a statistical 10% of any population is naturally immune,[2] Phase 2 of the research project focused on creating workarounds. and the pioneering Arklay Laboratory team under Dr. William Birkin engineered a new species of animal that would hunt down and kill survivors, beginning with simple Bio-Organic Weapons such as the Web Spinner, but breaking ground with the genetically-chimeric Hunter α.[2] In the mid-1980s, the t-Virus Project focused on creating intelligent bio-weapons, most famously the Tyrants.[3] After the collapse of Umbrella in the early 2000s, the t-Virus became available to dozens of organizations with the means to finalize Umbrella's research in their own way and dominate the weapon industry. Independently developed mutagens such as t-Abyss were developed thanks to this.

History

As the t-Virus is a series of independently developed strains and not a single virus, new strains do not necessarily rely on recent research by other teams.

Initial development

From the Progenitor Virus' discovery in December 1966, the ultimate goal of Dr. Oswell E. Spencer and his colleagues Dr. Edward Ashford and Dr. James Marcus was the birthing of a new age of eugenics with mutagenic viruses improving the human race. To fund this program, dubbed the Wesker Project, it was agreed that strains of the virus should be engineered as a military product, leading to the creation of Umbrella Pharmaceuticals as a front for this research. Research on Progenitor strains was conducted simultaneously in different laboratories, with Ashford; Marcus and Spencer all engaging in independent research. t-Virus research began in the late 1960s, soon after Umbrella was founded.[4]

Dr. James Marcus' research reached a breakthrough on January 13, 1978, which warranted his coining of the name "t-Virus" to divorce the strain from Progenitor Virus.[5][6][7] The new strain mutated in the bodies of leech test subjects. Using the virus on humans saw a very different response compared with Progenitor infection, rather than dying the infected instead became aggressive, were found to have cannibalistic impulses, lost intelligence and suffered from significant necrosis.[8]

The nearby Arklay Laboratory also worked on mutant strains of Progenitor and had done so since its opening with Progenitor "Type A" and "Type B" strains. In the 1970s they also used "t-Virus" as the name of their new strains. This team made their own breakthrough in 1978 under the leadership of Dr. William Birkin. Fascinated by Ebola's potential as a weapon, Birkin noted that people would be killed too quickly for it to work in war adequately. A modified t-Virus strain with RNA from Ebola was created, which led to their independent creation of Zombies. Spencer was, however, unsatisfied with the virus the Arklay team was developing, as approximately 10% of people were believed to be naturally immune to the new strain.[2] To guarantee a near 100% success rate in battle, the Arklay team bonded a human egg and reptilian DNA through the virus in 1981, creating the "Hunter," a creature that would be used in battle to kill these remaining survivors.[9] Because the t-Virus can make genetic recombination between different species comparatively easy, this virus was mass-produced within Umbrella and supplied to each research facility for new B.O.W. model development.[10]

At some point, following this, the Arklay team began working on a new strain of the virus discovered in the body of a zombie. This strain enabled the "V-ACT" process, which mutated the bodies of unconscious zombies. Other facilities such as the later NEST experimented with a further mutation of this strain which mutated the infected into Lickers. As development moved on to realise the Tyrant Project, the ε strain was completed in 1998, which increased the chances of a Tyrant being successfully developed. The project was successful with the creation of the T-002, from which the T-103 models were derived.

A third group researching the t-Virus development was located in Antarctica, led by Dr. Edward Ashford and his son, Alexander. As Alexander was not a trained virologist, he was unable to lead the project after his father's sudden death. And research was effectively halted there for over a decade until the genetically-engineered Alexia Ashford developed a new t-Virus by infecting a queen ant with the Progenitor Virus, the queen itself already being infected with an ancient virus endemic to ants. Alexia went into hiding soon after infecting herself with the virus, and it was believed until fifteen years later that her experiments had failed.

Later research

New viral strains were developed towards the end of Umbrella's existence and the years following. One such version was the t+G-Virus, a t-Virus strain which was able to enhance infected bodies with the ability to discharge electricity. t-Abyss was created under the oversight of Morgan Lansdale, which grafted the genome of another virus onto a t-Virus strain. t-Phobos was engineered by Dr. Alex Wesker to trigger mutations in humans when it came into contact with certain levels of stress hormones indicative of fear. C-Virus was a heavily re-engineered strain of t+Veronica used by Neo-Umbrella in 2012 for bioterror purposes.

Infection

Effects of Infection

See also: T-Virus infection

Like any other viruses, t-Viruses make contact with a cell's membrane and insert their genetic coding into the cell. The cell absorbs the viral genome into its own, which hijacks the cell's intended functions, using them to produce virions similar to the original. The new virions are then released from the host cell and infect the neighboring cells, which starts the process all over again.[11]

Different t-Viruses can react in different ways to humans. Before 1978, the t-Virus simply killed people, but the independent accomplishments of Marcus' and Spencer's labs led to zombification as the typical outcome of infection. Higher brain functions among the infected almost cease entirely and zombies can only perform minor tasks such as turning doorknobs. It should be noted that while zombification is known to result in brain damage and necrosis, the hosts are not, in fact, dead, as the t-Virus is incapable of reanimating dead tissue. Even with a shut down of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, or apparent brain death, infected people do not die. Since some of the traits of zombies are the decomposed skin and the lack of pulse, they are often mistaken for reanimated corpses.

In viral strains capable of the "V-ACT" process, unconscious zombies are known to mutate in an hour or so. Crimson Heads develop razor-sharp claws, sharp canine teeth and their hearts pump blood rapidly across the body, resulting in their crimson hue. Other strains instead create "Lickers," which are humans whose skin has entirely rotted away to show the muscles. Their brains are exposed, and they have powerful, long tongues that can be used as whips to attack people. An oddity of V-ACT is a creature known as "Suspended." Only one specimen of this creature is known to have existed. What it actually was is unknown, though it is possible to have been the result of a zombie ceasing its mutation mid-transformation.

There are rare cases where a human responds differently to t-Virus infection and transforms into a dominant mutant. These mutations are the result of unique genetic factors that only one in ten million people displays. People with this genetic quality were highly prized by Umbrella, as they could be turned into bio-weapons known as Tyrants.

Means of infection

The t-Virus is capable of various methods of subject infection. Research files supplied in the Arklay Laboratory identify the virus as having a protein structure.

  • Injection: Due to its importance in bio-weapons development, the direct injection of the virus into an organism's body was considered by Umbrella to be the "primary" means of infection.
  • Water: Arklay Dam and the Raccoon Sewage Treatment Plant were contaminated with the virus, leaking into the city's water supply as a result and infecting many civilians.
  • Direct Fluidic Transmission: Anyone attacked by an infected host in close combat, be it by bite, scratch, gash, or stab may have the virus transferred to their bloodstream via contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues. Umbrella Corp. believes this to be a secondary means of infection. It is not a precise form of infection, however, as dry bites are a possibility.

Known treatments

Prototype antibodies for the t-Virus were available to Umbrella staff, including mercenaries within the UBCS. However, due to the unstable nature of RNA viruses, these antibodies could not offer permanent protection. The staff at Incineration Disposal Plant P-12A transformed into Zombies when the virus they were constantly exposed to mutated significantly enough to cause the antibody to become useless. The consumption of certain medicinal herbs and regular anti-viral pills can slow down t-Virus mitosis temporarily.[12][13]

A vaccine was created at the Raccoon General Hospital.[14] Faced with infected patients flooding the wards, the staff desperately tried to create a vaccine to halt the outbreak. Though they were successful, the staff had transformed into Zombies before any of them could use it. The only known sample of the vaccine synthesized was used to treat former S.T.A.R.S. officer Jill Valentine, who had been infected by the Nemesis-T Type.

Daylight was engineered by Dr. Greg Mueller and Dr. Peter Jenkins at the Raccoon University.[15] This was created through the combination of "T-Blood" and "V-Poison" to the "P-Base." It was successfully taken out of Raccoon City.

AT1521 was engineered by the staff of the Umbrella R&D Center in Raccoon City. Researchers Linda and Carter both tried to escape Raccoon City with this vaccine on October 1 with the hopes of replicating it later. The original sample was destroyed when the vial was destroyed by Tyrant R, though Linda was aware of how to create another.[16]

The t-Vaccine was a commercial-level vaccine produced by the WilPharma Corporation to fight bioterrorism in 2005. All but one sample of t-Vaccine were destroyed in the act of sabotage by its creator, Dr. Frederic Downing, to ensure that only bioterrorists purchasing from him had access to it. He was arrested by the Harvardville Police Department before he could sell the sample.[17]

Gallery

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 Wesker's Report II, Chapter 1.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wesker's Report II, Chapter 2.
  3. Wesker's Report II, Chapter 4.
  4. Resident Evil CODE:Veronica (2000), file: "Alexander's Memo"
  5. Resident Evil Archives, page 266
  6. Resident Evil 0 (2002), file: "Leech Growth Records"
  7. Resident Evil 5, file "Telegram from James Marcus"
  8. Resident Evil 5 (2009), file: "History of RESIDENT EVIL"
  9. Wesker's Report II.
  10. BIOHAZARD GUN SURVIVOR OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK, "B.O.W. Profiles" section.
  11. Wikipedia: Viral Replication at Wikipedia
  12. Resident Evil: Revelations (2012), file: "Botany Plants with Medicinal Properties - 3rd Edition"
  13. Resident Evil Outbreak (2003), item: "Anti-Virus (L)"
  14. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
  15. Resident Evil Outbreak
  16. Resident Evil Outbreak File #2, "end of the road"
  17. Resident Evil: Degeneration