T-Virus
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The Tyrant Virus (simply referred to as the T-Virus) is a fictional virus from the Resident Evil series. The T-Virus was initially created by the Umbrella Corporation to mutate organisms into lethal biological weapons and supersoldiers. The T-Virus has played a major role in the Resident Evil video game and movie franchise.
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[edit] History
[edit] Development
As mentioned in Capcom's Wesker Report text, the Umbrella Corporation was inspired by the sheer destructive force of the recently-discovered Ebola Virus to create a destructive biological weapon. Initially, the project’s development was centered on the Progenitor Virus, which was discovered by Umbrella’s founders decades ago. While the United Nations had banned the development of various biological weapons years before the project’s start, Umbrella masked the project's development by posing as a benevolent pharmaceutical company researching into cures, and it situated the entire development phase of the project underneath the Arklay Research Facility. During the summer of 1978, Albert Wesker and William Birkin arrived at the Arklay Research Facility to assist the project.
The virus’ purpose conjured much controversy among Umbrella’s employees. While Ozwell E. Spencer wanted to use the virus for militaristic purposes, co-founder Edward Ashford wished to use the virus to benefit humanity. Following Ashford’s demise, Spencer easily redirected the project to create potent warriors.
James Marcus, another co-founder of Umbrella, discovered that one could easily bypass the compatibility restraints of the Progenitor virus, by combining a parasitic organism with the virus. His breakthrough with combining leech DNA to the Progenitor created the "Tyrant Virus" (T-Virus), which lead to the development of the Tyrant, a “fighting biological weapon”.
Unfortunately, the early versions of the virus caused human recipients to mutate into mindless abominations. Further examination revealed that only a handful of recipients possessed the DNA needed to mutate into more desirable results.
[edit] Release
After trials of countless experimentation, Marcus was able to begin the initial development of Umbrella’s Tyrants. His research was disrupted by Ozwell E. Spencer, who insisted on moving the Tyrant project to a research facility located in the Arklay Mountains. While at Arklay, Spencer instructed protégés Albert Wesker and William Birkin to assassinate Marcus. As Marcus began to drift into the netherworld, the queen leech, one of his infected specimens, bonded with him, and managed to save his life.
Marcus vowed a bloody vendetta against the Umbrella Corporation and released the T-Virus into the Spencer Mansion and Arklay research facility, eventually transforming all personnel on the grounds into zombies. The Mansion soon turned into a madhouse, rampant with a plethora of malicious Umbrella test-subjects.
As seen in Resident Evil 0, Marcus also released the T-Virus on the Ecliptic Express, a train reserved for Umbrella’s high profile employees. The T-Virus transformed the trains passengers into a horde of cannibalistic “zombies”. In addition, he sent a video transmission to Wesker, and Birkin, promising to crush them for their treachery.
The problems soon set off a chain of events that was depicted in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. The T-Virus was leaked into the Raccoon City. Ultimately, the U.S. Government destroyed the city with a nuclear missile in order to control the outbreak. Umbrella code named this 'Code XX'.
[edit] Characteristics
The T-Virus, similar to any other virus, is essentially a protein crystal with a RNA core. Once the virus makes contact with a cell, it is able to infiltrate into nucleolus, and manipulate the cell's DNA, ultimately resulting in the T-Virus becoming an essential part of the cell. As the cell begins to replicate through mitosis, the virus is copied with each division. This makes it different from most active, non-fictional viruses in that it "co-operates" with the cell to reproduce rather than destroying it.
Over a period of time, the T-Virus will destroy a cell's mitochondria, and replace it with a special organelle, which produces a newfound form of energy. As the body becomes self sufficient on this energy, the respiratory and circulatory systems will become vestigial, ending the body's dependence on oxygen.
While Edward Ashford, the co-founder of the Umbrella Corporation, intended to use this method to better the medical community and humanity, his partners chose to exploit it. By manipulating the virus' genetic structure, James Marcus was able to create the regeneration process only if the host's body begins to sacrifice its own cells to help fuel the process. Ultimately, this degeneration will lead to the grotesque deformities of its host. Because of the host's rotting flesh, cannibilistic nature, and impaired intelligence, the newborn creatures were simply referred to as "Zombies".
The host of the virus need not be deceased at the time of infection. If the host is alive during the time of infection, one's frontal lobes will slowly deteriorate, insidiously deprecating one’s intellectual and higher thought process. More primitive brain structures will soon take control of the body, resulting in irrational and animalistic behavior. Symptoms of infection include painful skin irritation, insatiable hunger, and spontaneous outbreaks of antipathy towards people or inanimate objects.
If the host is subdued after the virus is able to take control of the body, it will enter a dormant state. During this period, the body will undergo a metamorphosis, resulting in the host being rejuvenated with stronger muscular and skeletal features. Also, the metamorphosis will force blood to exfoliate through the skin, giving a host a more ghoulish appearance, which is complemented by the growth of deadlier claws and teeth. Though these fiends, formerly known as "V-ACTs", possess incredible destructive capabilities, once they were killed, they will not regenerate. Furthermore, either incinerating or decapitating the corpse of a slain carrier can prevent metamorphosis.
[edit] Variations
During the experimental phases of the virus, Marcus noticed that the T-virus' RNA changed pending its exposure to its host. For example, by exposing the virus to a simple houseplant, Marcus noticed a sudden increase in size and carnivorous behavior. By injecting the T-Virus into various arthropods, Marcus only noted a prodigious increase in size. Most notably, most non-mammalian organisms subjected to the virus saw a dramatic increase in size. All in all, Marcus' findings suggested the best hosts for the virus were mammals.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Resident Evil
In the 2002 film Resident Evil, the virus is released in the underground facility The Hive by the film's antagonist Spence Parks. The virus was originally intended to be smuggled out by Matt Addison and Lisa Addison by means of exposing Umbrella's illegal genetic research/genetic modifications on animal and human subjects through a secret contact (Alice). The virus escapes the facility and infiltrates Raccoon City 13 hours later.
[edit] Resident Evil: Apocalypse
In the 2004 film Resident Evil: Apocalypse, the virus has been unleashed on civilians with the virus wiping out the population of Raccoon City. It's revealed the T-Virus was developed by Dr. Charles Ashford in order to reverse the inevitable cellular breakdown in his daughter Angela. 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. The viral outbreak is quarantined when Umbrella decides to take a nuclear strike against the city.
[edit] Resident Evil: Extinction
In the upcoming film Resident Evil: Extinction, the virus managed to almost wipe out humanity following the Raccoon City outbreak.
[edit] Effects of Infection
The effects of the virus in the movies do not differ widely from the game virus. Exceptions include:
- The rate of infection varies, but is generally much shorter than the games, depending on the severity of an infected person's wounds. Case in point: In RE3, Jill was able to survive for an extended period of time (more than a day). In Outbreak, the virus accelerates when dropped on the floor or when the infected person has contacted with nerve gas.
- In the movies, a severely injured Rain lasts less than two and a half hours, while Carlos goes for more than three before showing any outward signs of infection. In both cases, the subject lasts longer in the games.
- 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.
- How the virus take over its host is also different. In the game, the host is immediately mutated into a zombie. In the movie, the virus will only start to take effect after the death of the host. It takes over the brain of the corpse and reanimate it through the use of electricity. Because of this, the resulting zombie will revert back to basic survival instincts and the only thoughts it will ever have is feeding. It was also stated by the Red Queen that the corpse will only be reanimated for 8 months before the virus perishes and the host will return to a normal rotting corpse.
[edit] Known Treatments
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.
The first one is called Anti-Virus. It is a dedicated, engineered anti-virus created by Umbrella. This one is only effective if the patient does not have a large amount of the T-Virus in their bodies, or the infection is caught in the early stages. This one was shown in the first and second movie but its effects were different and Dr. Ashford developed it for his daughter. In Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2, the Anti-Virus pill can be created by first mixing a green and a blue herb, then capsule it using a medical kit. This type of anti-virus pill cannot completely cure the virus, but it can stop the growth of the virus for a period of time.
The second is an unnamed vaccine developed by Douglas Rover of the Umbrella Medical Service at Raccoon 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 Ginovaef 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.
The third serum is Daylight (depicted in Resident Evil Outbreak), developed by Greg Muller and Peter Jenkins of the City College of Raccoon. The actual ingredients for Daylight are T-Blood (a blood sample of a T-Virus infected creature, namely T-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.
The fourth 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 not long after its initial appearance). However, the scientist Linda knew how to recreate the serum.
- There are also some prototype antibodies for the T-Virus used by the U.B.C.S. They were only mentioned in a pocketbook kept by a deceased mercenary in the Raccoon City Clock Tower.
[edit] Trivia
- In the theatrical teaser trailer of Resident Evil: Apocalypse, the T-Virus is satirized in the form of Umbrella Corporation's newest miracle drug known as Regenerate. The product is introduced in a commercial featuring a beautiful model, cool colors, and soft curves. It is claimed that it brings dead cells to life, in order to make one look and feel younger. They also disclaim that 'Some side effects may occur...' at which point, the model starts to mutate into a zombie.
- In the music video for "Clint Eastwood", by Gorillaz, the band's lead singer, 2D, is wearing a shirt with the term "T-Virus" on the front, likely a reference to the Resident Evil series. Gorillaz frequently calls on horror-movie and zombie-oriented imagery, as is clearly seen in the video.
- Generally in the games, the player character is apparently immune to infection, unless being infected is a storyline element, even then the player is not on a time-limit to cure themselves, although some games (such as the Outbreak series) do feature being infected by the T-virus and seeking a cure before time runs out as a game mechanic.
[edit] See also
- Resident Evil (series)
- Umbrella Corporation
- Tyrant (Resident Evil)
- Virus
- T-Veronica Virus
- G-Virus
- T/G Virus
