Race for the Cure

[Turris Morran 0]

The mood in the laboratory had taken on a hurried life of its own. Time was running short; it was only a matter of time before the Romulan authorities turned their attention to the small lab tucked out of the way in a back hallway of the Echo facility. Time was of the essence, and none knew it more than the four scientists grouped around a series of consoles in the center of the lab.

 

Ensign Turris Morran paced back and forth, watching his colleagues with a worried and thoughtful frown. His hands were moving wildly and quietly conversing with himself, his nervousness apparent.

 

"If we target here," Commander Escher stated, pointing at his display, "and here…make sure to use a fully integratable operon and vector, I think this can work."

 

T’Prise leaned over him to examine the screen, "I concur, by utilizing previous treatments for Hepatitis A and altering them to fit this instance, we should have a stable antiviral to treat the patients that are already infected."

 

"Combine that with a little gene therapy, and Whamo!" Escher exclaimed, clapping his hands together, his pose triumphant.

 

Morran stopped midpace behind him, staring confusedly at that back of his head and mouthing the word ‘Whamo’ before resuming his pacing.

 

Ian Syndrx looked up at the pair from across the large terminal. "If you can give me the specifications for this cure, I believe I can synthesize enough for a test batch." he stated helpfully.

 

Making a few notations on her PADD, the Vulcan brought up a matrix containing the DNA analysis of various Romulan blood samples, including Dr. t’Tamarak’s. "The DNA sequences found in these blood samples represent the genetic variations that need to be addressed. We have a baseline for each blood type with infected, uninfected, normal, and manipulated examples, respectively. I have run an analysis and isolated the specifications," she explained, handing over the PADD.

 

Snydrx nodded his thanks and took the PADD, turning back to his display and reading over the data quietly. After a few moments he looked up again. "Alright, I think I can do it."

 

Looking up momentarily to acknowledge his statement, she turned back to her console as the Lieutenant went about powering up the needed equipment. Stopping in front of a particular console, he began programming a retro-virus to isolate the genetic sequence which was altered by the Romulan’s treatments, in hopes of reversing the changes.

 

Watching his second in command for a moment, Escher turned around in his chair, and directed his attention towards the pacing Morran and placid T’Prise. "All right, your guys’ job is to find a decent antiviral that won’t interfere with our homegrown version of gene therapy."

 

Morran nodded, taking up position in a chair beside the console occupied by T’Prise’s, sitting forward with his elbows on his knees, one leg dithering. "We need to come with a plan of attack. I’m of the opinion that we need to stop the virus at some point during the lytic cycle," he conjectured, leaning back in his chair and tapping his chin thoughtfully. "We should focus on preventing the virus from entering the liver cells in the first place."

 

She turned to face him eyeing the junior officer coolly. "I believe if we utilize a compound known to stop the cycle prior to the start of the early phase, when using enzymes to halt rather than start RNA polymerase, we would be successful in stopping the virus from replicating."

 

Observing his scientists at work, Escher leaned back in his chair, quietly supervising so that they would stay on course and not be sidetracked by theoretical debates, but content to let his brilliant team solve the matter.

 

Turris scratched the back of his head and nodded slowly in agreement. "Pleconaril?

 

"I believe that Pleconaril is an entry inhibitor when used in conjunction with Amantadine, an upcoating inhibitor, would create an anti-viral strong enough to stop the lytic and lysogenic cycles from occurring in conjunction with one another and preventing the virus from mutating," T'Prise hypothesized, quirking an eyebrow as Morran’s head bobbed up and down enthusiastically in agreement.

 

At the station directly across from the erstwhile trio, Syndrx finished loading the materials into the replicator and moved to sit at the controls, initializing the sequence to create the genetic structure for his retro-virus. After a few moments, the analysis results appeared on his monitor, allowing him to read over the results, nod with satisfaction and direct the gene sequencer to begin synthesizing a retro-virus.

 

"How's it coming, Lieutenant?" Escher asked, moving to look over Syndrx's shoulder.

 

"I've started synthesizing a retro-virus to reverse the effects of the genetic enhancements. It should be finished sometime in the next hour, although I can't be sure with this technology."

 

"How long until it is ready for mass production?"

 

Checking to see that the sequencer was working properly, Syndrx turned, handing a PADD to Escher. "Well, I've put some thought into that already. I'll need to test it on the patients here first, but if it works it will be ready for production by tomorrow."

 

"I agree that we could use pleconaril, however it is very much prone to allergic reactions,” Morran stated earnestly, looking over the chemical compound being constructed on T’Prise’s console. “We will need to be very careful not to administer it too freely, or the patient's already overloaded immune system may experience a cytokine storm."

 

The Vulcan paused for a moment, contemplating his statement before adjusting her calculations. "While pleconaril does cause allergic reactions in humans, we do not know the effect it will have on Romulans. Perhaps we ought to consider adding some type of montelukast to the serum as well?"

 

“Aye, I think it would advisable to add some sort of leukotriene suppressant to the cocktail,” the El-Aurian interjected, watching her work.

 

Inserting additional data into the matrix, she executed the processing sequence, waiting patiently for the computer to produce a model of the molecular structure of their anti-viral serum. After several moments, the console gave a slight tone, indicating the procedure was complete. “I believe we now have a working model.”

 

Morran stumbled slight, knocking into her in his attempt examine the results. Steadying himself, he nodded enthusiastically. “I think that may work. We should run some simulations on it before do any live tests.”

 

Giving him an arch look for being so clumsy, T’Prise moved slightly away before replying. “We should also test it in conjunction with the retro-virus Lieutenant Syndrx is replicating.”

 

They were joined by Syndrx and Escher who had moved around the large station to inspect the results as well. “Looks excellent, TP. That should be simple enough to replicate!” Escher exclaimed after a few moments.

 

“I do not believe it will interfere with the retrovirus, but I do agree that testing will be required,” Syndrx concurred.

 

A self-satisfied smirk played across Morran’s features as he leaned back in his seat, stretching his legs out in front of him.

 

Giving Escher a stern look of disapproval for her newly minted appellation, T’Prise rechecked her data once more. “I believe we have everything required to now begin replicating the antiviral in combination with the retrovirus for testing purposes.”