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| {{disline|For other uses of the concept of viruses in ''Battlestar Galactica'', see [[Virus]].}}
| | :''For other uses of the concept of viruses in ''Battlestar Galactica'', see [[Virus]].'' |
| [[image:LCMV.jpg|thumb|170px|right|An actual LCMV specimen, as observed under a light microscope]]
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| '''Lymphocytic encephalitis''' is a viral infectious disease caused by the Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV). Originally carried by rodents, primarily [[Life Forms of the Twelve Colonies#Mammals|rats]], LCMV is no longer lethal to humans of [[The Twelve Colonies of Kobol]], who have developed an immunity to the virus several hundred years ago.
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| == Potential as Biological Weapon ==
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| A [[Lion's Head beacon|beacon]], believed to have been left by the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] on their way to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], was contaminated by LCMV. When a basestar discovers the beacon while exploring the [[Lion's Head Nebula]] circa {{ACH|3}}, the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] bring the device on board that exposes that basestar's [[Humanoid Cylons]] and the organic components of the basestar itself to the virus {{TRS|Torn}}. Some time later, a team of [[Colonial Marines|Colonial marines]] from ''[[Galactica (TRS)|Galactica]]'' discovers the drifting basestar and board the ship, finding everything save for a small group of humanoids, dead. They take the ill Cylons (a [[Number Two|Two]], a [[Number Four|Four]], a [[Number Five|Five]], a [[Number Six|Six]], and an [[Number Eight|Eight]]) prisoner and return to ''Galactica'' just as the basestar's self-destruct mechanism activates and destroys the ship {{TRS|A Measure of Salvation}}.
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| Though humans are immune, the virus is highly lethal to Cylons because of a bio-electric component that causes a fatal system error within the host. It is theorized that this system error disrupts the management of a humanoid Cylon's immune system, progressively weakening and eventually killing the infected individual. Furthermore, the Cylons speculate that if an infected host is [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrected]], the system error will follow, potentially afflicting the [[Resurrection Ship]] and eventually the entire Cylon fleet {{TRS|Torn}}.
| | '''Lymphocytic encephalitis''' is a viral disease that is highly lethal to [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]. It is an ancient human disease that originally was carried by rodents, primarily [[Life Forms of the Twelve Colonies#Mammals|rats]]. Several hundred years ago, humans developed an immunity to the virus. A beacon, believed to have been left by the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] on their way to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], was contaminated by the virus. A Cylon baseship discovered the beacon, and [[humanoid Cylon]], upon examining it, unknowingly unleashed the virus infecting all of the Cylons aboard. |
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| This theory forms the basis of a plan devised by {{callsign|Lee Adama}} to eradicate the Cylon race. By killing the infected Cylons prisoners near a Resurrection Ship, the aforementioned bio-electrical effect would be spread to all Cylons upon download. Ultimately, the plan is thwarted when {{callsign|Karl Agathon}} kills the prisoners before ''Galactica'' can penetrate the Resurrection Ship's upload radius. Agathon does this despite the risk of being executed for treason, as he feels that the genocide of the Cylon race, despite the fact that they had tried to do the same to mankind, is morally wrong {{TRS|A Measure of Salvation}}.
| | The virus is especially virulent in Cylons because there is a bio-electric feedback component to the pathogen. It corrupts how the brain of a humanoid Cylon manages their immune system. If a Cylon who is infected dies and is [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrected]], the disease will follow, infecting the [[Resurrection Ship]] and eventually the entire Cylon fleet. |
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| == Cylon Treatment ==
| | This fact forms the basis of a plan devised by [[Lee Adama]] to eradicate the Cylon race. The plan proposes that by killing Cylon prisoners infected with the virus within the vicinity of a Resurrection Ship, the aforementioned bio-electrical feedback effect would be spread to all Cylons upon download of the infected Cylons consciousnesses. The plan is ultimately thwarted by [[Karl Agathon]], who feels that the genocide of his wife's race, despite the fact that they had tried to do the same to mankind, is morally wrong. |
| During the time that the infected Cylons are held captive aboard ''Galactica'', Dr. [[Sherman Cottle]] creates a simple vaccine that dramatically reverses the effect of the virus on said Cylons. However, an antibody in their blood breaks down the vaccine's RNA backbone, rendering the permanence of said treatment ineffectual. As such, the Cylons require regular close interval injections of the vaccine, or their condition significantly worsens. With a regimen of regular injections, an infected Cylon could be kept alive indefinitely.
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| Unlike the other Cylons {{callsign|Athena}} displays immunity to the virus—while exposed to LCMV, the pathogen does not adversely affect her. Cottle postulates that human antibodies were transferred over to Sharon during her pregnancy with her half-human daughter [[Hera Agathon|Hera]], and that these antibodies subdue the virus {{TRS|A Measure of Salvation}}.
| | However, the plan is ill-conceived as there is nothing to stop the Cylons from destroying the Resurrection Ship the moment they realize it is infected. The plan seems to hinge on the idea that once in the Resurrection Ship the disease would somehow spread throughout the Cylon fleet and perhaps even the whole of Cylon-inhabited space, an assumption which is likely based on the dread with which the Cylons view the disease. |
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| == Cylon Deception and Prisoner Manipulation ==
| | [[Cottle|Dr. Cottle]] believes he can create a simple vaccine that can dramatically reverse the effect on the Cylons. However, they carry an antibody in their blood which breaks down the RNA of the vaccine. Because of that, they will need regular close interval injections of the vaccine or they will die. If regular injections are provided, an infected Cylon can be kept alive indefinitely. |
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| During his six-year<ref name="hero_timeline_continuity_armistice" group="footnotes">While dialogue from "Hero" places these events at 1 BCH, this contradicts previously established dates about the time Adama and others served on ''Galactica''. See [[Hero#Analysis]] for a detailed explanation why ''Battlestar Wiki'' chooses to treat this as a continuity error.</ref> captivity aboard a Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|Basestar]], Novacek reported that his captors became severely ill from what they claimed was a spreading virus, with many Cylons appearing to be dying from the disease.<ref group="script" name="eick_hero_script_novacek_cylon_virus_illness_claims">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 18, script page 12}}</ref>
| | The strain of the virus that infected a [[baseship]] via the [[Lion's Head beacon]] is an exact match to one reported over 3,600 years ago, right around the time that the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] left [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] ([[A Measure of Salvation]]), as the Scrolls of [[Pythia]] imply. |
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| However, Novacek's "escape" was later revealed to be an elaborate Cylon manipulation designed to send him back to the Colonial Fleet with specific disinformation. The apparent viral outbreak among his captors is staged as part of this deception, giving credence to Novacek's story given the Colonials' recent experience with the virus {{TRS|Hero}}.
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| == Notes == | | == Notes == |
| *[http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/lcmv/qa.htm Lymphocytic choriomeningitis] (of which encephalitis is one form) is an actual disease. As in the episode, the illness was spread through rodents on the real-world Earth. The effects on the Cylons appear similar to the symptoms in this CDC document. | | *[http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/lcmv/qa.htm Lymphocytic choriomeningitis] (of which encephalitis is one form) is an actual disease. As in the episode, the illness was spread through rodents on the real-world Earth. The effects on the Cylons appear similar to the symptoms in this CDC document. |
| *Arguably, the plan to kill all Cylons by exposing the Resurrection ship to the disease is ill-conceived; there is nothing to stop the Cylons from destroying the vessel after it is infected. The plan seems to hinge on the posit that once in the Resurrection Ship, the disease would spread throughout the Cylon fleet and perhaps even the whole of Cylon-inhabited space.
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| *After her death and [[resurrection]] in "[[Rapture]]," [[Sharon Agathon]] presumably no longer possesses an immunity to this virus.
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| *{{Spoilli|It is relatively astonishing that the [[Final Five]] in the Fleet were not exposed to the virus during the events of "[[A Measure of Salvation]]," as it is likely that they also share the same genetic code as the [[Significant Seven]], and thus are susceptible to the disease.}}
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| === From Script to Screen ===
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| * The October 25, 2006 "Full Collated" version of the "[[Hero]]" script contains more detailed descriptions of Novacek's account of Cylon illness, including specific dialogue about the virus "spreading" and "getting worse" among his captors.<ref group="script" name="eick_hero_script_novacek_detailed_virus_spreading_worse_dialogue">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 18, script page 12}}</ref> The aired episode condenses this exposition while maintaining the essential plot point about Cylon vulnerability to disease.
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| == References ==
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| === Footnotes ===
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| {{Reflist|group=footnotes}}
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| === Script References ===
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| {{reflist|group=script}}
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| [[Category:A to Z]] | | [[Category:A to Z]] |
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| [[Category:Terminology]] | | [[Category:Terminology]] |
| [[Category:Terminology (RDM)]] | | [[Category:Terminology (RDM)]] |
| {{indicator|TRS}}
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| [[de:Lymphozytäre Enzephalitis]]
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