by <unknown>
The problem was that the Progenitor virus was not perfected. Although it was able to prompt evolution, the success rate for doing so was extremely low while the fatality rate was disproportionately high. Its nature was unstable as well.
They intended to improve the Progenitor virus and reprogram it into a virus that was more stable and carried stronger evolutionary abilities.
The cast of Resident Evil had paved the foundation for this path they were taking.
The Umbrella Corporation had spent decades researching the Progenitor virus before finally finding the most resolute path – by merging the Progenitor virus with partial genetics of leeches, they created a brand new virus.
As an ancient annelid species, leeches possessed superior environmental tolerance and adaptability. Since the transcriptase of the two was homologous, the genetics of leeches could be used to enhance the environmental adaptability of the Progenitor virus, which also improved its stability.
With the help of the research data from the Hive, there was no need for Chen Chen's side to conduct further experimentation. They only had to use the devices from Resident Evil and apply the technique that had already been developed to fuse the two genes.
At the present, inside the level-4 biosafety laboratory, dozens of research members enclosed in protective suits made their laps around the laboratory, occupied with their tasks.
"Now conducting the fourth attempt…"
The projector placed in the center of the laboratory projected the image on the microinjector.
Inside the translucent petri dish space, a fixed straw could be seen latching onto a fist-sized bubble. The bubble took on a translucent form and a thin layer of membrane could be seen on its outside. It enclosed several tiny and oddly shaped substances on its inside.
As the straw prodded into the bubble and began its slow advance, the shape of a transparent needle could be observed on the screen.
As the two began to close in with each other, the head of the needle could be seen gently poking through the membrane layer, entering the bubble.
Finally, several drops of blue substance were injected into the bubble.
Chen Chen silently observed the ongoing operation on the display. Despite the sheer magnitude of the substances on the display, they were all smaller than the tip of a needle in reality.
For instance, the bubble shown on the display was the zygote of a leech which was only a few microns in diameter. The ISCI injection needle which appeared even smaller measured only 0.1 microns in diameter.
With this infection implantation and the addition of various chemicals, the newly born leeches now had the characteristics of the Progenitor virus.
This was a class of heterophonic chimeric substance.
After undergoing several intricate processes which include reproduction, the virus would then be extracted from the leech.
After several failed attempts, the Progenitor virus had finally properly fused with the genes of the leech, producing a new virus substance. The experiment had succeeded at last.
"It has been extracted. The virus which has been genetically restructured is displaying unique characteristics…"
Inside the laboratory, Hannibal extracted a test tube from the low-speed centrifuge. He poured the contents of the centrifuge-separated liquid into another test tube.
A liquid substance glowing blue appeared before their very eyes.
"Don't be too optimistic just yet, let's see the results first."
Li Lei reminded.
"Alright." Hannibal went to an operating bench on the side and drew 0.1ml of the liquid in the test tube, which he proceeded to inject inside an SPF grade mouse in a cage.
"Squeak!"
The little mouse squeaked in pain.
Sadly, not a soul present felt sorry for it. After injecting the virus, Hannibal put the mouse back in its cage and repeated the same sequence with the mice in other cages, injecting them one by one.
Hannibal separated the experiment animals into several groups, each group having been injected with varying dosages.
After the process was completed, Hannibal checked the time. "The time now is 2230. Based on the research details, the effects should be visible in three hours."
An assistant on the side quickly pointed to an experimental recorder to record the process of these mice being injected with the virus.
In the beginning, the mice injected with the virus appeared perfectly fine, displaying zero symptoms whatsoever.
As time passed, around half an hour later, the mice began to show signs of being agitated. They began to crawl around in their cages, appearing as if they were being threatened by some natural predator.
At the one hour mark, all of the mice in each of the cages began squeaking away loudly. The ones that had been injected with larger doses appeared to be experiencing more intense pangs of pain.
At the two hour mark, the mice that had received larger doses took a complete turn from their usual docile temperament and began bashing against the cages. The cages trembled ceaselessly but the mice themselves seemed to display no signs of being in pain.
At the two and a half hour mark, all of the mice were displaying extreme aggression. They continuously bashed against the cages in their attempt to break out of it.
As the bashing went on, their movements began to grow slower and slower until they soon curled up into a ball. It was hard to determine if they were dead or had just merely passed out.
At the three hour mark, the mice had awoken and returned to their usual state.
"They have survived the virus. They haven't died or become zombies but have become carriers of the virus."
Li Lei sharply drew in a breath of cold air upon noting this. "Doesn't this make them the same as the asymptomatic patients, able to spread the virus wherever they go?"
"That's right, that's what's threatening about the virus."
Chen Chen looked at the mice and mused. "The body of a mouse already contains many bacteria and viruses in the first place. This ended up contributing to a heightened amount of natural resistance in them that even rivals that of bats. It's not surprising that they become a source of virus infection…
"But this doesn't mean that they can be used as representative for the data. We'll still have to observe other animals first."
Chen Chen suddenly thought of the hounds infected with the virus in the movie so he added. "If I'm not mistaken, the virus should have different effects on species such as dogs and cats."
"Will we begin the animal experiments tomorrow?" Hannibal asked.
Chen Chen stayed silent for a while before declaring, "Alright, we'll begin the related animal experiments tomorrow. How many species do we have in the SPF breeding room currently?"
"We have Kunming mice, SD rats, New Zealand white rabbits, macaques, and chimpanzees. Five species in total," the assistant in charge of rearing the animals spoke up.
"We shall conduct tests on the three latter species tomorrow."
Chen Chen made a nodding gesture to affirm his decision. With that, he left the Spire laboratory.
After going through the complicated disinfection process required for leaving the laboratory, Cheng Chao who had been notified of the recent development was already waiting outside. "Boss, returning to the research center today?"
Chen Chen waved his hand. "I'm not leaving, but I need you to run some errands for me. I remember the Walvis Bay Police Department has set up an office and a prison in Eco Science City. I need you to go to the department chief and get him to give me five serious offender prisoners."
"Serious offenders?"
"Yes. Kill, rape, whatever works."
Chen Chen nodded. "After that, I'll have the Black Knights work together with you to bring the five of them back here. One more thing, I need the candidates to be physically healthy."
"I got it. I'll see to it now."
Cheng Cao nodded then turned around and left.
The reasoning for so quickly jumping in
to human experimentations was that Chen Chen understood that the T-virus was intended for humans. Although animals may be able to carry the virus, the intended host for the virus had always been humans.
It was merely an accident that the dogs were zombified after being infected with the virus. In truth, the same principle could be applied to all animals.
It was only after Cheng Cao had left when Chen Chen finally returned to his room in the Spire Experimental Base. He immediately felt a wave of drowsiness collapsing on him upon lying down on the bed as sleep took him quickly.
Chapter 214: Clinical Trial |
The Spire Experimental Base was located at -723 meters below sea level and its temperature was regulated throughout the year. There was no way to distinguish day from night.
However, as a means to not disrupt the Circadian clock, the Spire Experimental Base adopted the same routine as practiced on the surface.
The next morning at 7 o'clock, Chen Chen opened his eyes right on the dot.
Little X's well-timed message played across the speakers. "Sir Godfather, all subjects have been delivered into the inner section of the laboratory."
"Tell them I'll be there after breakfast."
Chen Chen stretched lazily before quickly getting up to wash up. After he was done, he left the room.
By the time he returned to the laboratory, all of the faculty members were in their position.
"Boss."
"Mr. Chen."
Chen Chen nodded and at the same time, looked behind him consciously.
At the present, a wall at the back of the laboratory was withdrawing into the ceiling, revealing a sealed isolation room behind it.
This was a biological safety isolation room, which was equivalent to a plus-sized biological safety cabinet. The entrance was fitted with airtight valves, the structure was used for observation of a selection of large laboratory animals.
For example... People.
There was a hospital bed inside the isolation room. A black man was tied to the bed with belts.
The man was currently in a drugged state. His eyes were closed and he was dressed in a pearly white hospital gown. Another thing that could be noted was that he was physically fit and healthy.
Laid beside the bed was an arsenal of devices such as ventilators, electrocardiographs, cardiac defibrillators, automatic gastric lavage machines, and so on.
If something were to happen to the patient amid the experiment, providing emergency care was a viable option.
"Boss, we have completed the appropriate physical examination and disinfection of the test subjects to ensure that they don't carry any pathogenic microorganisms. Apart from this experiment subject, there are four others like him waiting in the other room. We can begin the experiment anytime now."
One of the people in charge relayed the message to Chen Chen.
"Excellent."
Chen Chen nodded his approval. "How about the rabbits, macaques, and the other animal subjects?"
"In the other laboratory. We didn't want to mix the subjects," the person in charge replied.
"In that case, we can conduct the experiments simultaneously on both sides."
Chen Chen turned to Hannibal and Li Lei who were standing behind him. "Hannibal, you're in charge of the animal experiment on the other side. Li Lei will take charge of the human experiment over here."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Both of them accepted their tasks. The research staff in the laboratory were then separated into two groups, each group commenced the operation with their respective leaders.
It was rather telling that this was Li Lei's first time dealing with humans as experiment subjects as his nerves were showing. He held a tube of the drug in hand and appeared to struggle with himself for some time before finally injecting the black man with it.
"There's no need to give yourself unneeded pressure. These people are all vicious criminals. Think of it as waste management."
Chen Chen stood outside the isolation room and motioned blankly. "If you can't do it, you can let your assistants do it."
"No, I want to do it myself."
Li Lei took a deep breath, shook his head, and announced hardly, "It was just my nerves acting up just now, I'll have to face these tasks eventually. This is good for training my mentality."
With that, he plunged the syringe into the subject's arm. Using this method of intravenous injection, the chimeric combination of Progenitor virus and leech virus was injected into the body of the subject.
"Start the clock, get ready to provide urgent medical aid for experiment subject number one at any time."
Li Lei prompted the assistant beside him and made him wipe the sweat off his forehead before realizing that he was wearing a fully enclosed protective suit. He left it at that.
After exiting the isolation room, Li Lei approached Chen Chen and turned to look at the subject through the window with Chen Chen. "There's no telling if this experiment can succeed…"
"If you're talking about the modification of organic biological weapons, it's pretty much a guarantee that it's going to fail."
Chen Chen elaborated, "Humans are unable to endure the modification of T-virus and will only end up turning into a zombie. Therefore, if the subject is zombified then we can confirm that this virus is indeed the T-virus."
With that, Li Lei nodded.
Although he was curious to know where exactly Chen Chen found a virus from the movie, he knew better than to ask questions and therefore chose to not pursue the subject.
The clock began ticking. Half an hour later, although the subject was still unconscious, his complexion turned from a faint red tint to a paler tone.
Sweat was starting to swell on his forehead as well. He seemed to be experiencing intense pain.
"His heart rate is increasing. His current heartbeat rate has gone up from 65 beats per minute to 110 beats per minute."
One of the assistants inside the isolation room reported hastily.
"The subject seems to be experiencing discomfort, should we wake him up to collect data?" the assistant asked.
"We can give it a shot." Li Lei nodded his approval.
Li Lei entered the isolation room again and instructed, "Ready the flumazenil antagonists, we want to wake the subject up."
Before he could finish the sentence, another assistant beside him interjected. "Leader Li Lei, the subject seems to have woken up already."
"What?"
Surprised by the assistant, Li Lei turned to the subject. It was true. The subject had opened his eyes somewhere along the lines. Although he was still slightly drowsy, his eyes were open!
"Impossible, how can he wake from so quickly from the intravenous anesthesia?"
Upon witnessing this scene, Chen Chen, who was standing outside the isolation room, showed a change in expression as well. Needless to say, this was an effect of the virus.
Chen Chen remembered that one of the most distinct effects of the T-virus was the increased metabolism rate. In other words, a subject infected by T-virus should display signs of a multiplied metabolism rate.
This was the leading factor behind the subject waking up in half an hour from intravenous anesthesia which usually should last up to several hours.
"Subject number one is currently experiencing high fever."
With a thermometer pointed at the subject's forehead, an assistant noted again. "The current temperature of the experiment subject is 39.7 degrees, which is classified as a high fever stage."
"Can you hear me?"
Li Lei approached the subject, pried open his eyes to inspect the pupils. Then Li Lei raised his hand and asked in English, "How many fingers do I have raised?"
"Three fingers…"
Seemingly having just woken up from the effects of the anesthesia, the subject answered with a feeble voice.
"Very good."
Li Lei was pleased. "You have a case of a very serious infectious disease. Tell me, are you experiencing
any discomfort anywhere currently?"
"My head hurts, it's so cold. Wait a second, where am I…"
"You're in an emergency center. We're trying to save you now."
Li Lei answered, "But the way things are looking now, it seems the virus is starting to assault your immune system."
After that, instead of further recovery, the subject fainted again. This behavior was potentially influenced by his gradually worsening condition.
"He has a fever of 41 degrees now."
The assistant prompted. "His heart rate has also spiked up to 150 beats per minute, entering critical condition. He might experience cardiac arrest at any given moment now!"
"Get ready to provide emergency aid."
Two hours later, the man's face had turned into a blank white sheet, devoid of any signs of blood flow.
"Beep--!"
Suddenly, there was the sound of a prolonged electronic beep, the subject's heartbeat on the electrocardiogram had turned into a straight line. This indicated that the subject's heart has stopped beating.
"Gag his mouth, everybody remains on alert of subject number one's potential sudden aggression!"
Li Lei immediately barked the order upon noting what was going on, "Ready to charge the defibrillation electrode. First attempt 200J, on three. Three, two, one, discharge!"
With the sharp zap of electric current, an assistant placed the defibrillation electrode on the chest of the subject, simultaneously holding down the discharge setting!
"Thump!"
The subject jerked violently.
"No reaction, turn it up to 300J, go!"
"Thump!"
Another electric current zap. The numbing beep suddenly stopped, which was immediately followed by a rapid ticking sound again.
"Subject number one has regained his heartbeat!"
The assistant sighed in relief and instinctively tried to reach for the subject's eyelids to inspect his pupil.
However, the moment he reached out with his hand, the subject's eyes opened violently and took a vicious bite at the assistant!
It was then when they all noticed that the black man was no longer human. He had completely become zombified!
