novelTele Chapter 58 Zombie Virus Blocker
Chapter 58 Zombie Virus Blocker
Before the apocalypse, the Huawi Biological Research Institute was the core of the biomedical industry in Wanshun City, with hundreds of researchers working there.
After the apocalypse broke out, the military dispatched a reinforced company of soldiers on the first day to surround the area, and any zombies that approached would be immediately killed.
Moreover, after the apocalypse broke out, the military began to do everything in its power to rescue all medical scholars, genetic researchers, and other scientists in related fields.
This is not just an action in Wanshun City... As the apocalypse arrives, the entire nation is doing its utmost to search for and rescue everyone who can research the virus.
Every experienced researcher rescued increases humanity's hope of defeating the zombie virus.
These individuals will be prioritized for admission to the nearest research institution.
Researchers from Wanshun City were all sent to the Warwick Biological Institute.
Although this place is located in a remote area, almost in the suburbs, it is precisely because of its remoteness that it is far away from the densest hordes of corpses in the city center, making it a relatively safe research island.
Currently, nearly two hundred soldiers are stationed outside the research institute's walls, while dozens of researchers inside work in three shifts, 24 hours a day, to study the zombie virus.
There are hundreds of such research institutes across the country that are still operating at full capacity.
From the Institute of Virology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the capital to biomedical laboratories in various provinces and cities, everyone was mobilized as long as there was electricity, equipment, and living researchers.
All research institutions are under the coordination of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and are adopting a saturation research strategy.
Whoever produces results first will immediately share their data with all peers, and then adjust their research direction based on the new data.
The Huawi Biological Research Institute in Wanshun City is working hard to overcome a sub-project of a zombie virus.
After completing its broadcast mission, the quadcopter drone in the West District landed at the Warwick Biological Research Institute, where it will be used by the garrison.
At that moment, Zhang Zhenhua was having a video call with Dr. Chen Weiyuan, the head of the Huawi Biological Research Institute, via a satellite communication network.
On the screen, Chen Weiyuan appeared to be in his early fifties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a slightly wrinkled collar on his white coat... He hadn't slept much for three days in a row.
Behind me was a laboratory bathed in gray-white light, where I could vaguely see several researchers, also wearing white lab coats, busy at their instruments.
"Commander Zhang, the overall research is indeed progressing very quickly," he said. "It's very possible that we can develop a drug to stop the zombie virus within a week."
"Really?" Zhang Zhenhua leaned forward, his voice unconsciously rising a few decibels.
He had actually received the notification two days earlier, and as required by his superiors, he announced to all survivors on the city's public address system that "a drug to contain the zombie virus is expected to be developed within a week."
But he always thought it was just a way to appease the survivors trapped at home, to give them hope of survival and let them hold on for a few more days.
The PhD student now in charge of the project told him personally that it was true.
Chen Weiyuan, however, did not smile during the video call. He took off his glasses, wiped the lenses with the corner of his white coat, and put them back on.
"It's true! This medicine is an inhibitor of the zombie virus, but it has very serious side effects."
How big?
Chen Weiyuan sighed and said, "After using it, all organs will fail, and 70% of people will die on the spot."
"Moreover, this kind of organ failure is irreversible for the time being, so the remaining 30% is basically half-useless, to the point where even walking is difficult."
He paused for a moment and then added the last piece of data.
"And even with such a huge price to pay, the probability of successfully blocking the virus is only 50%. So all things considered... the actual probability of survival is only 15%."
Zhang Zhenhua paused for a moment, then sat back in his chair, his right hand unconsciously stroking the edge of the teacup. It took him several seconds to process the three sets of data in his mind.
"Isn't there a way to increase the success rate?" Zhang Zhenhua asked.
"Yes, there definitely is." Chen Weiyuan placed his hands on the table with his hands crossed. "The mutation mechanism of the zombie virus is very complex. The blocking agent we are currently using is the first generation. Essentially, it uses high doses of cytotoxic compounds to forcibly interrupt the virus's replication process in the body."
"If we can further optimize the molecular structure and reduce toxicity, the side effects will be much smaller. But that requires repeated experiments and verifications... it's not something that can be achieved in a short time."
The hope on Zhang Zhenhua's face gradually turned into disappointment.
A 15% survival rate is far too low.
More importantly, there are side effects. Even if one survives, one will likely need someone to take care of them. Under such circumstances, surviving in the apocalypse will be extremely difficult.
Seeing the change in his expression on the screen, Chen Weiyuan remained silent for a few seconds before speaking, his tone softening slightly.
"Actually, the side effects of this kind of blocking agent are also related to physical condition."
Zhang Zhenhua raised his head.
"If your soldiers use it, the success rate can be increased to about 20%."
"Soldiers are generally in better physical condition than ordinary people. Their organs have stronger stress resistance and metabolic capacity, and their organ failure is relatively milder. To use our previous animal experiment data as an analogy, the better the physical condition of an individual, the higher the degree of preservation of bodily functions after survival."
"Ordinary survivors might not even be able to walk, but if soldiers survive, they should be able to live as ordinary, physically weak people. At least, they should be able to take care of themselves."
Zhang Zhenhua's expression did improve somewhat; a one-in-five chance of survival was not bad.
Perhaps these people will never be able to go to the battlefield again, but just being alive is a morale booster.
For soldiers still fighting desperately on the front lines, knowing that they have a chance to survive even after being bitten is more effective than any mobilization effort.
"That's true. A 20% chance of survival is already pretty good."
He sat up straight again, his tone regaining its usual composure, "By the way, do you need any supplies or support?"
A daily video briefing is routine, and the institute also inquires about material needs to ensure its normal operation.
Chen Weiyuan seemed to have been prepared, and pulled a folded list out of his white coat pocket.
"Indeed, there are some. First, there are reagents... high-purity reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and we currently only have less than two weeks' worth left in stock."
"This is a core reagent for our sub-project; if the supply is cut off, the entire experimental line will have to stop. Secondly, there's the light source module for the PCR amplification instrument. We have two in the lab; one is broken, and the output power of the other is also decreasing. And..."
He adjusted his glasses and leaned closer to look at the list. "The rotor of the refrigerated centrifuge is a Beckman SW32Ti. Our rotor has developed micro-cracks under high load operation, and continuing to use it will pose a safety hazard."
"We also need a nucleic acid protein quantification instrument and a real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR instrument. We already have these two devices in our lab, but one of them had its motherboard burned out due to a circuit malfunction and cannot be repaired."
Zhang Zhenhua didn't know anything about the equipment, but that didn't matter. He asked directly, "Where can I find the equipment and reagents you need?"
"The Pusheng Biological Research Institute in Dongcheng District should have it," Chen Weiyuan said. "I saw their equipment list at an industry conference before the apocalypse. They have PCR machines and quantitative analyzers, and their reagent reserves should be sufficient."
"Corning Life Sciences in the South District might also have that... That company's R&D center is very well-equipped; centrifuges and spectrometers are on their regular equipment list."
"However, this information comes from before the apocalypse, and it's hard to say how much is still left now."
"Okay!" Zhang Zhenhua said without any hesitation. "I'll send a combat team to collect it for you immediately, and it will be delivered by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."
He hung up the video call and waved to the communications officer next to him.