Techno-organic virus
Fictional virus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The techno-organic virus is a fictional virus appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. In the comics, the techno-organic virus transforms organic material into techno-organic material, which resembles both machinery and living tissue. All techno-organic cells function like independent machines, and carry both the virus and all information on their carriers. This includes memories and appearance, allowing a damaged techno-organic being to rebuild itself from a single cell.
Variants of the virus include the Transmode Virus carried by the Technarchy, and Apocalypse's variant, which was created by Mister Sinister and used by Apocalypse.
Transmode virus
The Transmode virus is used by members of the Technarchy to turn other beings into techno-organic beings. The Technarchy can then feed upon the infected beings and drain their energy, leaving them lifeless statues. If an infected creature is not drained of its energy, it becomes a Phalanx. Transmode-infected creatures are usually black and yellow, although they can change their color.
The Transmode Virus can transmit via skin contact (though a Technarch can prevent transmission) and will transform a creature into a techno-organic creature within seconds. Only mutants have some resistance to the virus. For instance, Doug Ramsey was infected with the virus after bonding with the Technarch Warlock, but his infection progressed slowly and he was unaware he had been infected.
The Transmode virus gives the host the ability to shapeshift, regenerate their body, absorb matter, and interface with machinery. The Phalanx also experience a loss of individuality, forming a hive mind with other Phalanx and the need to contact other techno-organic life.
Apocalypse's variant
This strain of techno-organic virus was either created by Apocalypse or discovered by Apocalypse. This virus was actually created by Mister Sinister as a means of killing Apocalypse. This attempt failed due to Apocalypse's immense powers, and the virus fell into Apocalypse's hands. Apocalypse later used the virus to infect the infant Nathan Summers. The virus greatly weakened Summers, forcing him to dedicate most of his power to holding off the infection. Despite his efforts, Summers's left eye and arm remain mechanical.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
This strain of virus is less virulent than its counterpart, needing blood contact to transmit, and usually taking a longer time to infect a person, although it can have sudden short bursts of activity.
Other versions
- In the series Exiles, the Exiles visit an alternate Earth that had been overrun with a new type of techno-organic virus that was created after Doug Ramsey contracted the Legacy Virus and Warlock infected him with the techno-organic virus in an attempt to save his life. The two viruses combined and formed a new and deadly disease. The Exiles manage to contact Odin and the Aesir, who cure the infected with a serum derived from their blood.
- In Age of Apocalypse, Apocalypse creates a techno-organic virus capable of assimilating both organic and technological materials. This virus is used to empower Donald Pierce's Reavers, a group of techno-organic infected humans serving Apocalypse's regime.
In other media
The techno-organic virus appears in X-Men '97. Mister Sinister first uses the virus to infect Nathan Summers under the belief that it will make him invincible.[7] The X-Men rescue Nathan, but are unable to save him from the virus, so they send Nathan with Bishop to the future to find a cure. Bastion next uses the virus on a larger scale to turn humans into Prime Sentinel cyborgs.
See also
- Nanomedicine - Medical application of nanotechnology
- Nanobiotechnology - Intersection of nanotechnology and biology