Chapter Five
“I think we can rule out any kind of proteasome stimulant,” said Tricia.
“I agree,” Kes said. “The speed and extent of the devastation to the cells is just too fast. I’m betting on a protein denaturing compound. Perhaps something bonded to a virus. That would account for the rapid replication and transmission rates.”
Thom, who was a chemical engineer by profession but had joined the team trying to find a way to counteract the biocide, spoke. “Could it simply be a virus? I mean, it isn’t my field, but that’s my guess.”
“It’s a good guess,” said Kes. “All the dead cells seem to have undergone lysis, so it adds up.” He was annoyed at himself. Why hadn’t he come up with the idea? It was a distinct possibility, given what they knew about the biocide’s effects. He’d been working
