Tags: Visual edit apiedit |
|||
| (65 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | {{ |
+ | {{Articletype|prime}} |
| + | [[File:Twi-T-Virus.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"t" virions through a microscope.]] |
||
| − | {{DISPLAYTITLE:t-Virus}} |
||
| + | '''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. |
||
| − | [[File:Twi-T-Virus.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"t" virions through a microscope.]]'''Tyrant Virus''', commonly abbreviated as "t-Virus", is the name given to a series of strains of the [[Progenitor Virus]] that were engineered by the [[Umbrella Corporation]] in the 1970s and 1980s. With the exception of a variant created by [[Alexia Ashford]], the t-Virus variants were created primarily for military uses due to their ability to trigger violent genetic mutations in the infected. |
||
==History== |
==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. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | 211211221 |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | From the Progenitor Virus' discovery in December 1966, the ultimate goal of Dr. |
+ | 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> |
| − | Dr. James Marcus' research |
+ | 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 nearby Arklay Laboratory |
+ | 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> |
| + | 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. |
||
| ⚫ | A third group researching the t-Virus development was located in Antarctica, led by Dr. |
||
| ⚫ | 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. |
||
| − | === Use on the black market === |
||
| − | In 1998, a series of biohazard outbreaks involving the t-Virus began to occur. Several outbreaks were caused in the Arklay Mountains region due to the machinations of the Queen Leech, which had bonded with the DNA of James Marcus and became a veritable clone of the former scientist. 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>{{Cite game|title=Resident Evil|developer=Capcom|publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd.|file=[[Keeper's Diary]]}}</ref> and late June, 1998. |
||
| + | === Later research === |
||
| − | 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. |
||
| + | 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. |
||
| − | |||
| − | Later on, the remaining members of 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 the psychological development of the [[Hypnos-T Type]].<ref>''Resident Evil Survivor'' (2000), file: "[[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.<ref name="Emergency Fax">{{Cite game|title=Resident Evil: Dead Aim|developer=Capcom|publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd.|file=[[Emergency FAX from Paris Branch]]}}</ref><ref name="Recon">{{Cite game|title=Resident Evil: Dead Aim|developer=Capcom|publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd.|file=[[Reconstructuring Notice]]}}</ref> The ship's crew and its passengers were transformed into zombies, or were killed by the B.O.W. specimens prepared for auction and display purposes. The liner was destroyed when it crashed into an island which housed the -also infested- [[Umbrella Waste Disposal Facility]]. |
||
| − | |||
| − | Also in 2002, an Amazonian organ-trafficking crime syndicate got hold of "t" and the similarly named, but otherwise unrelated, "[[t-Veronica virus]]". Receiving "t" and B.O.W.s through a dummy company of the Russian branch of Umbrella, the syndicate's leader, [[Javier Hidalgo]], armed his organization with biological weapons. He also purchased t-Veronica through Albert Wesker, and proceeded to use it to treat his daughter from the same illness as her mother. 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 Corporation's t-vaccine. This attack was actually planned by a WilPharma Corporation researcher, who wanted to demonstrate power of the virus and its vaccine to potential buyers on the black market. |
||
| − | |||
| − | Another 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. |
||
| − | |||
| − | The last known outbreak occurred in 2010, in [[Philosophy University]], Australia where Rebecca Chambers was teaching as a guest lecturer. The BSAA forces stopped the outbreak from spreading further. |
||
| − | |||
| − | 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=== |
||
| − | *September 19, 1977: Dr. Marcus' project on altering Progenitor reaches a breakthrough, and he coins the variant "t-Virus".<ref name="Diary">''Resident Evil Zero'' (2003), file: "[[Marcus' Diary 1]]"</ref> |
||
| − | * February 3, 1978: Marcus begins his experiment on leeches by infecting them with the modified Progenitor virus.<ref>''Resident Evil Zero'' (2003), file: "[[Leech Growth Records]]"</ref> |
||
| − | * July 31, 1978: t-Virus research begins in the Arklay Laboratory. Led by Dr. Birkin, the team intends to merge the genomes of Progenitor and Ebola to create a military weapon that would kill entire enemy populations. |
||
| − | |||
| − | *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-February, 1979: Spencer has employees steal Marcus' research.<ref name="Diary" /> |
||
| − | *1981: The Aklay team begins creating B.O.W.s as a means of killing the 10% of people found to be immune to their Progenitor-Ebola "t" strain. |
||
| − | |||
| − | *1988: Marcus is assassinated and credit for the virus' creation goes to his student William Birkin, who was a conspirator.<ref>''Resident Evil Zero'' (2009), scene: "[[Confrontation With Marcus]]"</ref> |
||
| − | |||
| − | *1993: An experimental oncolytic virus treatment based on the t-virus, designated "[[T-JCCC 203|T-JCCC203]]", is used in illegal medical experiment trials. |
||
| − | |||
| − | *2002: A hybrid strain of the t-virus and G-virus is created. The virus is named "[[t+G virus|t+G]]". |
||
==Infection== |
==Infection== |
||
===Effects of 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.<ref>Wikipedia: [[Wikipedia:Viral replication#Baltimore Classification System|Viral Replication at Wikipedia]]</ref> |
||
| − | 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. |
||
| + | 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. |
||
| − | Should the human host be alive at the time of t-Virus infection, all higher brain functions are destroyed. This leaves only the brainstem 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. |
||
| + | 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. |
||
| − | 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. |
||
| + | 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. |
||
| − | 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. |
||
| − | |||
| − | Depending upon the strain, the V-ACT may have different results. In the strain released in Raccoon City, most V-Acts usually resulted in creatures named by RPD staff as "Lickers". Which are completely blind and use their hearing to detect prey. At which point, they use their long tongues to strangle, impale, or decapitate their prey. At close quarters they also have sharp claws to slash their prey. Lickers may eventually evolve into a more advanced stage with larger claws. Lickers have exposed brains which serve as a weak point. |
||
| − | |||
| − | An oddity of V-ACT is a creature known as "Suspended". Only one specimen of this creature is known to exist. What it actually is, is unknown. It could be an in-between stage of a zombie and Licker or some kind of rare mutation V-ACT takes on. If it is a zombie partially evolved into a Licker, it would account for why its unable to spear prey with its tongue. It's only capable of grabbing its prey and using its tongue as a whip. |
||
| − | |||
| − | There are rare cases where a human genome can stably splice with the T-Virus's genetic material. The probability of an average human having this reaction, when exposed to the T-Virus, is approximately one in ten million. The result is a humanoid creature called a [[Tyrant]]. These creatures inherit all the enhancements of the Tyrant Virus, while lacking most of the degenerative weaknesses that result in zombies. They posses enhanced skeletal-muscular frames and superhuman strength, speed, agility, and durability, while still retaining enough intelligence to follow orders and carry out missions, making Tyrant's effective B.O.W.s. However, if a Tyrant's biological functions become unstable, it can undergo a secondary metamorphosis into a [[Super Tyrant]]. This transformation is analogous to V-Act in zombies, that results in Crimson Heads and Lickers. The subjects undergo greater bone, muscle, and cardiovascular growth and may develop features such as claws and an exposed heart. Super Tyrants are significantly harder to control, so this transformation is not preferred. To act as a failsafe, many of the mass-produced Tyrants are equipped with a [[Power Limiter]], a device that stabilizes its biological functions and prevent the creature from accidentally becoming a Super Tyrant. If the device is destroyed however, nothing will stop the transformation from happening. |
||
| − | |||
| − | 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. |
||
===Means of infection=== |
===Means of infection=== |
||
| − | The t-Virus is capable of various methods of subject infection. Research files supplied in the Arklay |
+ | 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'': '''''<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.'' |
| + | *'''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.'' |
||
| − | *'''''Air:''''' The t-virus in its original form is an airborne virus, but upon infection of an organism, it mutates into a form spread via skin and fluid contact. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | *'''''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. 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). A "Dry Bite" is possible as well, so anyone bitten has at least a 1% chance of not getting infected. Evidence for this can be seen when an Eliminator bites Rebecca Chambers during a cutscene in Resident Evil 0. |
||
| + | 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> |
||
| + | 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]]. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | 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. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | ===Raccoon General Hospital vaccine=== |
||
| − | The first is an unnamed vaccine developed by doctors 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. |
||
| + | [[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> |
||
| − | 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 [[Nikolai Zinoviev]] or destroyed after Nikolai used C-4 to demolish the hospital, taking with it any evidence of the Umbrella Corporation's involvement with the hospital in the process. |
||
| + | 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> |
||
| − | 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>''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'' (1999), scene: "[[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]], another virus strain extracted from the Progenitor Virus. |
||
| − | ===Daylight=== |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| − | *[[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 widespread 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 Corporation]]. 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 this 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|UBCS]]. They were only mentioned by in a pocketbook kept by a deceased UBCS mercenary in the [[St. Michael Clock Tower]].<ref>''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'' (1999), file: "[[Merc's Pocketbook]]"</ref> It should be noted that no "zombified" UBCS members were encountered in the Clock Tower. But they also notes that the virus had already mutated and already neutralized the Antibodies effects. |
||
| − | |||
| − | Regular Anti-viral pills can slow down t-Virus mitosis temporarily.<ref>''Resident Evil Outbreak'' (2003), item: "[[Anti-Virus (L)]]"</ref> |
||
| − | |||
| − | ==Further notes== |
||
| − | *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 specific genes that vary between them. 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, while the green canisters are speculated to be the antidote. |
||
| − | |||
| − | *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. |
||
| − | *In Resident Evil 2, the color of the T-virus is green while in Operation Raccoon City, the color of the virus is blue. |
||
| − | **In the first film of Resident Evil, the color of the T-virus is cyan instead of green but in a zig-zag design and the latter antivirus is lime green. |
||
| − | *According to [[Luis Sera]], a t-Virus sample was being held at the Madrid Police Department in 2004. |
||
| − | *Several viruses created later were based on the t-virus, including the [[G-Virus]], [[T-Veronica virus]], [[Uroboros virus]], [[T-Phobos Virus]] and the [[C-Virus]] which was a combination of an enhanced veronica virus and the G-virus. |
||
==Gallery== |
==Gallery== |
||
<gallery> |
<gallery> |
||
Twi-T-Virus.jpg|"t" virions through a microscope |
Twi-T-Virus.jpg|"t" virions through a microscope |
||
| − | Re2 cap11 lg.jpg| |
+ | Re2 cap11 lg.jpg|t-Virus (green) samples as seen in Resident Evil 2 |
| + | File:Image85.jpg|Rats consuming T-Virus in [[Resident Evil 2 (1998 game)]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | File:Capture_5.png|Rats consuming T-Virus in [[Resident Evil 2|Resident Evil 2 Remake]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
</gallery> |
</gallery> |
||
==Sources== |
==Sources== |
||
{{Reflist|2}} |
{{Reflist|2}} |
||
| − | |||
{{Mutagens}} |
{{Mutagens}} |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | {{Resident Evil 2 remake lore}} |
||
| + | {{Resident Evil 3: Nemesis lore}} |
||
| + | {{Resident Evil 3 remake lore}} |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| − | [[de:T-Virus]] |
||
[[es:Virus-T]] |
[[es:Virus-T]] |
||
[[hu:T-Vírus]] |
[[hu:T-Vírus]] |
||
[[pt-br:T-vírus]] |
[[pt-br:T-vírus]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | [[Category:Resident Evil 3: Nemesis lore]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | [[Category:Resident Evil 0 lore]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | [[Category:Resident Evil 2 lore]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Resident Evil: Dead Aim lore]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Resident Evil: Degeneration lore]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Resident Evil 3 remake lore]] |
||
Revision as of 00:22, 15 January 2020
Prime universe
(Capcom's primary storyline)
(Capcom's primary storyline)
"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
"t" virions through a microscope
t-Virus (green) samples as seen in Resident Evil 2
Rats consuming T-Virus in Resident Evil 2 (1998 game)
Rats consuming T-Virus in Resident Evil 2 Remake
t-Virus samples as seen in Operation Raccoon City (blue like in the films)
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wesker's Report II, Chapter 1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wesker's Report II, Chapter 2.
- ↑ Wesker's Report II, Chapter 4.
- ↑ Resident Evil CODE:Veronica (2000), file: "Alexander's Memo"
- ↑ Resident Evil Archives, page 266
- ↑ Resident Evil 0 (2002), file: "Leech Growth Records"
- ↑ Resident Evil 5, file "Telegram from James Marcus"
- ↑ Resident Evil 5 (2009), file: "History of RESIDENT EVIL"
- ↑ Wesker's Report II.
- ↑ BIOHAZARD GUN SURVIVOR OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK, "B.O.W. Profiles" section.
- ↑ Wikipedia: Viral Replication at Wikipedia
- ↑ Resident Evil: Revelations (2012), file: "Botany Plants with Medicinal Properties - 3rd Edition"
- ↑ Resident Evil Outbreak (2003), item: "Anti-Virus (L)"
- ↑ Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
- ↑ Resident Evil Outbreak
- ↑ Resident Evil Outbreak File #2, "end of the road"
- ↑ Resident Evil: Degeneration
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
