Classic Biohazard Virus FAQ
Created by Nadia (Original ERE Member)
Contact: attlee@labyrinth.net.au

The Classic Biohazard Virus FAQ, or guide, is a way of documenting what exactly each virus in the main series does. I will attempt to portray a concise picture of each virus, based on what information is available, and also dispel whatever confusion (and I'm sure there is much confusion, given the plots of Resident Evil) there is about them. I've tried to provide evidence where I can, so people don't rush along and try to contradict me on every sentence because they have some whacked up theory. Of course, if you have reason to believe that something here is wrong, or you have more information to add, feel free to tell me and I'll make amendments where they are due.

This FAQ covers:
- 'Mother' Virus
- Progenitor Virus
- Original T-virus
- T-virus
- T-Veronica
- Nemesis Parasite
- G-virus
- Wesker's Virus

Mother Virus

Founders: Ozwell Spencer and Edward Ashford. If any others were involved, they are not mentioned by name.
Date of Founding: Unknown. All we know is that it was founded before the creation of Umbrella, and before the founding of the T-virus.
Method of Creation: Unknown. Spencer and Ashford may either have discovered a pre-existing virus or created something new, we don't know.
Known Subjects: None. The Mother virus is only mentioned twice, once by Alexander and once by Billy. There are no records of the Mother virus being tested on any living organisms. Actually, there are no test records whatsoever.

(First things first, I just want to say that I'd like to gouge Alexander Ashford's eyes out with a rusty spoon for writing his damn memo, because it only serves to confuse the whole Progenitor thing even more than it already is.)

One can attribute Wesker calling the Progenitor virus the "Founder virus" as a difference in translation from the Japanese files, but the supposed "Mother virus" is a bit more tricky. Alexander attributes the founding to Edward Ashford and Spencer, which clashes with Marcus' diary entry if the PV and MV were to be the same thing.

Alexander's diary:
“My father, Edward, discovered the Mother virus in cooperation with Lord Spencer, who was also a nobleman.”

Initially this gives the impression that the Mother virus and Progenitor are indeed two different things. However, what Alexander says after this makes that statement somewhat confusing:

“[Edward and Spencer] studied it for the purpose of military use. Eventually their study took shape. They named a variation of the mother virus, the 'T-virus.' To camouflage their research, they established Umbrella Chemical Inc.”

From this one would undoubtedly infer that the Mother virus is, in fact, the Progenitor virus. In that case, Billy's comment about the "Mother virus" at Marcus' lab would make much more sense in that he's referring to the research Marcus carried out on the Progenitor virus. But then that begs the question of why a) Marcus never mentions Edward, and b) Alexander never mentions Marcus. One can put down Marcus' lapse to the fact that he refers to the founders as the collective "we," and thus never mentions anyone by name anyway. One can also put down Alexander's lapse to Spencer's revisionist history since he does not mention Marcus in the founding of Umbrella either. But then you're still left without a clear picture. Spencer has never been attributed with the creation of the T-virus before, and Edward is hardly mentioned, except that he was a founder of the T-virus project. One would hope that Alexander actually knew what his father did, but what he says in the memo brings that into question.

Given that Alexander directly says that the T-virus came from the Mother virus, I'm inclined to believe that he (like everyone else, seemingly) is simply giving the name of the Progenitor virus his own little spin. Billy's word can't really be taken as fact, since he's obviously not involved. Until it's revealed that he's a secret Umbrella agent or something like that, I'll put it down to ignorance and say he meant the Progenitor virus. "Progenitor" is also a rather specific term, so "Mother" may well be a general reference.

Progenitor Virus

Founders: James Marcus, Ozwell Spencer and Edward Ashford (Weskers 2nd report informs us of the latter.)
Date of Founding: 4th of December, year unknown. Most likely in the mid to late 60's, since the diary entry takes place before the founding of Umbrella.
Method of Creation: Unknown. Possibly through experimentation with the Mother virus, although given the above information, they may be one and the same anyway.
Known Subjects: Lisa Trevor, Jessica Trevor, insects, frogs and monkeys.

pro·gen·i·tor
n.
1.A direct ancestor.
2.An originator of a line of descent; a precursor.
3.An originator; a founder: progenitors of the new music.

Compared to things like the T and G viruses, not much is known about the "Founder virus," as it is called by Wesker in his 2nd report, although at least this time there are no discrepancies as to who created it. According to Marcus, anyway.

Marcus' Diary:
“We finally did it... the new virus! We have called it the 'Progenitor.' I want to carry it back and start detailed investigations immediately.”

The Progenitor virus was to be the base for Marcus' T-virus, although one file puts the "Progenitor" as being an early stage T-virus. I put that down to ambiguous wording and random plot-hole attempts, however, and the fact that Birkin was attributed with the T-virus founding. Marcus' T-virus may well have been considered a prototype for Birkin's research. Unless, of course, they were just talking about the Progenitor as a precursor to the T-virus.

Investigation Report:
“There we found evidence of Dr. Marcus' research into the T-virus prototype called 'Progenitor.'”

We do know from Wesker's 2nd report that it is an RNA virus similar to Ebola, but its exact properties or propensity for mutation are not fully known. Lisa Trevor was infected with the virus early on and seemed to suffer little side-effects, although that may be due to the "delayed" fusion mentioned in her report. It can be deduced that the Progenitor virus does affect human behaviour however, since when Lisa was first injected with it, her behaviour altered; her mental state regressed to that of a child, and she began to attack researchers and rip off their faces. She declined further during her years of treatment, but the behaviour resurfaced again after the Nemesis injection. There must have been something unsuitable for the Progenitor virus as far as biological weapons were concerned, since various researchers struggled to improve upon it. But its exact properties are as-of-yet unknown.

Most of the information on the effects from the PV come from a few files in 0, where they were tested at Marcus' lab prior to the discovery of the T-virus.

“When the Progenitor virus is administered to living organisms [non-human, in this case], violent cellular changes cause a breakdown in the system. Furthermore, no satisfactory method has been found to control the organisms for use as weapons. Clearly, greater co-ordination at the cellular level is essential to enable further growth.

Insecta
- Perhaps because these ancient animals have been genetically stable for millennia, when administered with the Progenitor virus they exhibit only explosive, high-energy growth and increased aggressiveness. It is extremely difficult to envision using them as a B.O.W...

Amphibia
- Injecting a frog with the virus resulted in an increase in leaping power and abnormal tongue growth. However, no change in mental ability was observed. Furthermore, an abnormal appetite resulted in the test subject randomly attacking all moving objects. Usefulness for B.O.W. is limited.

Mammalia
- The Progenitor virus was merged with a monkey's cellular DNA resulting in increased fertility. The resulting young exhibited improved aggressiveness and some increased mental capacity. (As a side effect, visual power was lost, but this was offset by an improvement in hearing ability.) However, they were unsatisfactory as weapons. It does seem that no progress can be made without making humans the base organism.”

Marcus also administered the T-virus to his leeches, although given that the T-virus was a mix of the Progenitor and Leech DNA, one can infer information about the Progenitor virus from them (I mean, what is leech DNA going to do to a leech anyway?)

“...they [learned] from experience, and are beginning to exhibit group attack behaviour. They are also ceasing cannibalism. Their evolution is exceeding expectations... The leeches no longer exhibit individual behaviour, even when not feeding, they move as a collective. They consume everything I offer with remarkable efficiency.”

There is also one article in the RE remake regarding the administration of the virus to Lisa and Jessica Trevor.

“Nov. 10, 1967
- Progenitor virus administered

- Jessica
Administered virus: Type-A
Plasmolyzing of tissue during cell activation
Virus fusion: Negative
Action: Disposed

- Lisa
Administered virus: Type-B
Plasmolyzing of tissue during cell activation
Virus fusion: Positive but delayed fusion.
Body modification: Observed constant results.
Status: Continue protective observation.”

It seems credible to say that, while the Progenitor virus caused changes in cells, it was not the degenerative type which was to be found in Birkin's subsequent T-virus. But there seems to be an emphasis on mental changes within infected subjects. Lisa's abnormal and aggressive behaviour, the new-found group mentality of the Leeches, etc... A possible reason of why the Progenitor virus was improved upon was because it lacked desired physical mutations, and made the subjects mentally unstable and prone to aggression.

Original T-virus

Founder: James Marcus
Date of Founding: 19th of September, year unknown. Most likely late 70's, as the diary entry records it as being after the founding of Umbrella and the construction of the Arklay laboratories.
Method of Creation: Mixing the Progenitor virus with the genetic material of leeches.
Known Subjects: Assistant researchers, rats. Primarily leeches, since Marcus was obsessed with them.

“At last... I've discovered a way to build a new virus type with 'Progenitor' as a base. Mixing it with leech DNA was a breakthrough I needed. I call this new virus 'T,' for 'Tyrant.'”

Marcus was taken over by one of his subject leeches after his assassination by Spencer. He subsequently underwent an amazing face-lift on Capcom's part, managing to have some overlord power over a horde of leeches. Quite possibly one of the strangest viruses seen so far, although Marcus' corpse being taken over could have implications with the parasitic qualities of the Nemesis prototype (speculation on my part...) Leeches seem able to replicate the appearance of Marcus down to his wrinkles and bald head, create humanoid structures, propagate through eggs and possibly rejuvenate cell structures. It's also highly likely that they can infect people through touch.

“Rumour has it that there's something dangerous about those leeches. It is true that when Dennis just touched one, he got ill with a fever.

Again today... There were those horrible moans. Beyond that door.

"Let sleeping dogs..."

No way I will go near them. Even if the director tells me. I no want to end up like Dennis. That poor bastard. Scratching and scratching. Makes me itch just watching him.”

I'll assume that Billy and Rebecca not being infected is just due to the Super!Immunity granted to all Resident Evil characters.

The founding of the T-virus is sometimes attributed to Birkin in later documents, probably a part of Spencer's plan to erase Marcus from Umbrella's history (Marcus did have designs against Spencer, after all). Also, there is evidence to support that Marcus' research wasn't as close a held secret as he would have liked, and that Spencer or Birkin were able to get hold of parts of his research for their own T-virus project.

Marcus's Diary:
“January 31st
The devices I set to protect my work have been disturbed. It appears someone came looking for T and the leeches. Fool. No doubt the work of Spencer's group.

February 11th
Today, I again found evidence of tampering around the entrance to the labs. If that's what they're after, I must find a suitable way to deal with them. Perhaps I should have William and Albert smoke out the pests... Those two are the only ones I trust. Apart from my beloved leeches of course. But Spencer... it wouldn't end there, would it? I will announce T at the next directors meeting and collect my just rewards...”

T-virus

Founder: William Birkin
Date of Founding: Unknown. Some time between Marcus founding the original T-virus and Birkin founding the G-Virus. However, after Marcus' death it probably would have been worked on further by Birkin.
Method of Creation: Mixing the original T-virus with the Ebola virus.
Known Subjects: Humans (Zombies and subsequent Tyrants), dogs (MA-39 Cerberus), reptiles (later to become the MA-121 Hunter), sharks (Fi-3 Neptune), snakes, insects, plants (Plant 42.)
Known Outbreaks:
May 11, 1998. Spencer Mansion.
Late September, 1998. Raccoon City, caused by the failed attempt to steal the G-Virus.
Late December, 1998. Rockfort Island and the Antarctic facility.

“In order to manufacture the 'Human Biological Weapon' from the 'Founder Virus,' it was necessary to develop a variant with that particular peculiarity enhanced. That was the T-virus project... Birkin wondered if he could combine the mutated 'Founder Virus' to enhance its peculiarity. The sample of Ebola Virus had already arrived at his laboratory.”

There are several strains of the T-virus, but the one most widely seen in the games is the one Birkin created by mixing the Ebola virus with the "mutated 'Founder Virus,'" which is most probably a strain of Marcus' T-virus. Given the wording, it's possible that the Progenitor virus was the base, but one would be inclined to believe that, by the time Birkin got his hands on it, enough progress had been made to have altered it to at least a prototype T-virus stage. The difference with Birkin's T-virus and Marcus' is that Marcus was obsessed with the leeches he used, and thus never really strayed his research out of that particular sphere. Birkin, on the other hand, worked under Spencer's orders to develop it to be more potent, experimenting more with developing Tyrants and the like. Also, since Marcus ceased research upon his death, the virus which leaked from his lab is different from that which leaked from Birkin's lab in Raccoon City.

The virus itself is a degenerative one which attacks the host's cells and makes their level of intelligence decline, creating the well known "zombies." In a few cases, if the host's genetic material is suitable enough, they will become a Tyrant. However, the success rate for Tyrants was so low that it led to a standstill in Birkin's research for several years. The T-virus has a large potential for infecting other species, and the results are mostly predictable. The way it is transmitted from host to host really depends on the plot, so finding a definitive answer is near impossible. Further mutation of the host can be achieved through external influences.

In addition to that, several advancements were made with successful subjects of the T-virus.

Hunters:
According to Wesker, the Hunters were a side project of Birkin's using a sort of cross-genetic program with humans infected by the T-virus, and presumably reptilian genetic information.

“Apart from Spencer's intention, Birkin was engineering a biological weapon with increased emphasis on its ability to fight. He was trying to create it not only through mutating human genes with the T-virus, but also by adding another creature's genetic information. The fighting living biological weapon would kill all human beings, including those wearing body armour, or equipped with biological warfare suits and those humans who escaped from death through infection. It was later called 'The Hunter.'”

Crimson Heads:
“There is now evidence that when the host loses consciousness, the body goes into a dormant state. During this time the virus becomes active and rapidly transforms and reconstructs the basic composition of the body.

The host eventually mutated into a humanoid creature. (We call them V- ACTs.) Its speed and amazing muscular development are particularly noteworthy. After transformation, it becomes more agile and aggressive. Already four of our researchers have died from trying to feed it, turning the place into an instant blood bath. (Ever since this tragic and barbaric accident, we have decided to call its kind 'Crimson Heads.')”

Crustacean T-virus:
This document appears in 0, and the virus was being worked on around the time of the 1998 breakout. We don't really know which lab was working on this project, since all we know is that the investigation was carried out by Umbrella. It's most likely Birkin's lab, although the fact that they specifically refer to the "Raccoon City" newspapers and TV stations does suggest that they are out-of-towners. Possibly a project that was being worked on in a European lab, but, again, we really don't know.

“July 16th
Unfortunately, the test production of B.O.W. (Type-Y139) had to be suspended because of this investigation. It's the same with Type-Y139. There's still so much we don't know about responses to the crustacean T-virus. There's a lot of interesting research left depending on the species and nurturing conditions, only minute doses of T bring about remarkable changes in solidity, size, multiplication of internal toxins, and brain development. If these effects can be controlled, a powerful weapon could be produced. But the sudden development of the shell results in a corresponding fragility. Certain areas become exceedingly weak. Problematically, one of these areas is the head carapace. This lab we are going to - were they pursuing the same research? It would certainly help to find data and samples that would help us in our research.

July 19th
The day is finally approaching... I am growing more anxious. The Raccoon City newspapers and TV stations are full of reports about bizarre murders in the suburbs. It can't be the virus. Can it? If it is... No. I can't think of that now. I have to concentrate on this investigation and make sure it goes smoothly.”

T-Veronica

Founder: Alexia Ashford
Date of Founding: No exact date is given, but it would have had to have been between 1981-83
Method of Creation: Mixing the T-virus with an ancient virus found in a queen ant.
Known Subjects: Alexander Ashford, Alexia Ashford, Steve Burnside.

Alexia's Research notes:
“After discovering the remains of an ancient virus within the genes of a queen ant, I have been concentrating on the research of ants. The ecosystem of the ants seems truly ideal to me. There is one queen ant in each anthill, and the soldier and worker ants are the queen's slaves.”

Although the virus she worked with to create Veronica is never named, it can be assumed from the suffix that it was a form of the T-virus. Research on it appeared to be somewhat of an "in" thing as well, according to her father, Alexander.

“...We are now at a major disadvantage against the other researchers, as there is great competition in the field of T-virus research. I have disgraced the honourable name of the Ashford family that our great ancestor Veronica established. If nothing is done, Umbrella will be taken over by Spencer.”

Alexia is the only person to be fully and successfully infected with it, as it requires quite a long stint of hibernation for the virus to propagate itself in the host without being rejected.

“I will suppress the activity of the virus at an ultra-low temperature, so that my cells will change slowly. My calculations indicate that it will take 15 years before my body will gain immunity, and become able to coexist with the virus.”

It was quite powerful and effective when it actually worked, giving Alexia a kind of control-over-lesser-drones sort of thing, and let her fling burning substances from her hands. But given the propensity for rejection unless given long amounts of time for the body to accommodate the virus, it was pretty useless.

“I used my otherwise useless father as a test subject. However, as I expected, the virus caused a rapid change in his cells, triggering the complete destruction of his brain cells and body flesh.”

Wesker currently has a sample of the T-Veronica virus, however, thanks to Steve's corpse. If he really is dead, that is (you can never be sure these days.)

Nemesis Parasite

Founder: Unknown. Researched in the French laboratories.
Date of Founding: Unknown. A prototype was made available to the Arklay labs in 1988, so it would have been created around then.
Method of Creation: Unknown. All we know is that it's a "third generation B.O.W."
Known Subjects: Various humans, Lisa Trevor, whoever the Nemesis is in 3...

Woe is the poor person who gets infected with this, as it makes you look like the product of a kid who's had too much fun with play-doh and a garlic crusher (did anyone say tentacles?). The maker of the Nemesis is unknown, as it was developed in Europe in the Paris facilities. The "Nemesis Project" was an attempt to create a third generation B.O.W., which, looking at the lineage, would lead one to suspect that it was a product of the successor to the Progenitor virus; the T-virus. (Side note: Does anyone really know where Marcus and Spencer worked before moving to the Arklay region labs, anyway?) Wesker's 2nd report gives us a liberal amount of information on the Nemesis prototype sample which was sent to the Arklay laboratories in 1988.

“A parasitic living body, created by genetic modification – That was Nemesis. A living body with intelligence, which was unable to do anything on its own. However, once it parisitised the brain of another living being, it would take full control of the body and demonstrate its highly developed aptitude for combat. The project was to provide the intelligence and the biological body for combat separately and then combine them in order to create one living biological weapon.”

However, Wesker points out that the Nemisis parasite, like the Tyrant, had a fatal flaw.

“On the report attached to the sample, we saw nothing but a long list of deaths. The carriers lasted for only five minutes after Nemesis took control of their brains.”

So judging from the report, the Nemesis seems to suffer from a similar fate to trying to create Tyrants. The success rate is extremely low, and as such, Nemesis-type creatures are few and far between. By RE3, they appear to have made little successful gains with the project.

G-virus

Founder: William Birkin
Date of Founding: 1988
Method of Creation: Exact method is unkown. What was to become the G-virus was found inside Lisa Trevor's body when she was infected with the Nemesis parasite.
Known Subjects: William Birkin, Sherry (embryo.)

The 'G' strain was created when the third generation Nemesis parasite, created in Umbrella's French laboratories, was tested on Lisa Trevor, a woman who had somehow survived years of experiments with dozens of viruses. When the Nemesis seemed to just disappear from her system, Birkin and Wesker investigated further into how she had survived for so long. What they found in her was to become Birkin's pet project, the G-virus, which he worked on for ten years. It had been residing in her, taking in all the viruses she had been infected with and mutating her body to accommodate for them.

William Birkin's research notes:
“The discovery of the G-virus was in fact 21 years after the administration of the progenitor virus. The Prototype Parasite which we had delivered from a laboratory in France was administered to the sample specimen. The sample specimen took in the parasite without showing any signs of adverse reaction. The lack of any reaction was an unsolved mystery. But now everything is clear to me.

The Prototype Parasite was incubating in the sample specimen's body for 21 years. Then from that incubating state the prototype suddenly mutated. ('Evolved' may be a more appropriate word to describe it.)

This observation gave me more insight in my research. Through further modification and testing, I was able to derive a method to create the 'G' that surpasses the performance of the 'T.'”

Subsequently, the G-virus is far more unpredictable than the T-virus because once it's in the host, it continues to mutate until it dies. Similar to the Nemesis parasite, the G-virus also has the capacity to spread through embryonic impregnation, with a higher success rate for those of similar genetic structure to those who spawned the original parasitic embryo.

“Any beings infected by the G-virus will reproduce through impregnation of an embryo within another living being.

Unless rejected by the host, the embryo will undertake a process of gradual cellular invasion, infecting the host's cells on a molecular level as it rewrites their DNA. Once the metamorphosis is complete, the host will be capable of continuing this cycle of self-reproduction.”

Wesker's Mystery Virus

Founder: William Birkin
Date of Founding: Unknown. It was made available to Wesker during the 1998 Mansion incident.
Method of Creation: Unknown. One could assume that it was a derivative of either the T-virus or G-virus projects, but it doesn't seem to share many of the traits of those viruses. Another theory is that, given Wesker's alignment with the Hunters in CV, it is somehow related to them.
Known Subjects: Albert Wesker

Giving Wesker super-human powers might have sounded like a great idea at the time for Capcom. But the logicality of it presents one of the biggest plot-holes in the story. Wesker states that it was a special project Birkin was working on for him, and that when administered, it would render him in a coma-like state. The main problem with Wesker's virus is that if it works so bloody well, why is everyone else stuck working with such primitive viruses?

One explanation could be the nature of the virus itself. It was probably developed specifically for Wesker, and not a mass-population. Most viruses suffer setbacks because they are intended for maximum effect on a large number of people. Wesker and Birkin had been working together for a while, so it is not impossible for a large amount of genetic data to have been collected so that the virus had no chance for rejection. On the downside, it would only work on Wesker.

Also, in retrospect Wesker's virus is actually not that suitable as a B.O.W., the main reason being that it renders no mental side-effects on the victim. In the words of Progenitor “A person with power, intelligence and a complete mind of their own isn't going to be someone else's weapon.” Therefore, Wesker's virus is not a mass-market option, and the time, effort and money which went into something specific to one person rules out its practical viability. Basically, what the virus actually did to Wesker was:

-> Saved him from being turned into a corpse by the Tyrant in the first game.
-> Upped his speed, agility and power.
-> Endowed him with some wickedly cool eyes (Their reptilian appearance being the root of the Hunter theory.)

The virus produced no visibly physical mutations or side-effects apart from his eyes, suggesting that it wasn't a very potent virus. Rather, his physical abilities became above-par compared to everyone else. In contrast, he pretty much gets his ass kicked by Alexia, proving that while his virus may not turn its victims into twitching zombies with very few brain cells, it has a long way to go with regards to being the ultimate B.O.W.