Extinction Level Event

by Jose Pino Johansson

UCLA

  In UCLA microbiology and immunology laboratory, Krishnan finds himself working alongside several virology and annelid specialists from the university department. Complementing them are two people from the USDA. More are expected to arrive from universities across the country during the week.

  Krishnan would have preferred to have the dead worm samples transported to his CBEID lab in Houston and analyzed there, where his team could perform like clockwork. Instead, he is forced to work with an entirely new group assigned by LaJoy. Krishnan sighs. Usually he would be more than happy to meet other biology professionals like himself and cooperate with research, but in this case they are unfamiliar with his quirks and specific way of doing things. Ultimately the procedures are the same, but merely take a bit longer to yield results.

  Krishnan started by measuring blood chemical levels in the worm's digestive tract and traces of macrophages or any leukocyte activity. Earthworm immune systems use leukocyte receptors to identify self entities opposed to non-self entities. The receptors would then bind themselves to the surface of the xenobiotic or microbial intruder. The leukocytes would also release cell differentiation markets that would "mark" alien substances in the bloodstream for the macrophages, which would then attack and destroy the xenoforms. Phagocytosis occurs when the bind to NK receptor-clad cells and destroy them. Leukocytes, such a B-cells and T-cells, would work in conjunction to produce antibodies and natural killer cells. A worm's immune system is remarkably similar to a human's, the only major differences being the earthworms immune system was smaller in scale and more simplistic evolutionarily than a human beings.

  Preparing slides under a large electron microscope, excitement courses through Krishnan as he anticipates what he would find. "Dr. Krishnan?" Krishnan turns to find an orange-haired young man with thick glasses looking at him. "We have found something that you might want to see." Walking over to another microscope, Krishnan sees another scientist with a nametag "Miyazaki", next to the microscope. The orange-haired one speaks first. "Dr. Krishnan, we have identified multiple T-cell receptors throughout the bloodstream in every sample so far. However, there is also a lack of lymphocytes and neutrophils. Lymphocyte count per million red cells is very low compared to the number of NK receptors in the bloodstream, which is really high. NK cells, T-cells, B-cells, macrophages all in very low quantities. Its like the earthworms have leukopenia or some other autosuppressive force is at work."

  Krishnan seats himself and looks into the lens. Sure enough, the plasma and red blood cells in the image magnified 100,000x take up most of the screen. Miyazaki and "Orange" observe the visual image on the monitor adjacent to the microscope. A monocyte floats by surrounded by hundreds of red cells, round roughly doughnut shaped cells that carry oxygen around the bloodstream. In worms the oxygen is absorbed through surface skin respiration rather than through a nose, as in humans. This is why an earthworm dies if its skin dries up. Alveoli are scattered throughout the body in order to absorb the oxygen carried by the red cells. A cluster of neutrophils comes next, roundish white cells that conglomerate, forming pus. Neutrophils are designed to quickly reach infections and envelop bacteria and fungi through cytokinesis. They are usually 12 micrometers in diameter and ineffective against viruses. Krishnan notices that a large amount of receptors are intermingled with the neutrophils in the plasma and red cells mixture. Most unusual, however, is that the receptors haven't binded to anything. Receptors are supposed to be released by leukocytes and then bind to invading fungi and viruses. If the receptors are floating around freely, why have they been released?

  A small bug-like apparition appears next on the screen, a diamond with 6 inverted legs pointing in one direction. Black against the background, the spider-like entity swims by the receptors without attracting any attention. Three more of the new apparitions appear behind it. So this is a virus. Krishnan immediately recognizes the alien like nature of the invader. Why aren't the receptors binding to the viruses? Clearly the receptors have been released in response to the virus, but they aren't binding. Why? Turning away from the microscope, he turns to the two other biologists. "You know that we are now dealing with a virus, right? Have you identified the type yet? Do you know why the receptors aren't binding?!" "Not yet. That's why we called you. We are thinking the same thing. Totally unknown. Perplexing." "Perplexed?? I like that. Good choice of wording.", quips Krishnan sarcastically, "There has to be some emitted chemical, some anti-receptor in the virus that is preventing contact. Obviously the macrophages and the rest of the lymphocytes aren't going to attack the viruses without having the receptors binding first. Also, why is the macrophage count so low? Start working on this immediately and get everyone else to do this as well. I need to make a phone call", he responds authoritatively. "Right on it Doctor", responds "Orange" as he moves towards the computer while Miyazaki takes over the microscope. "Miyazaki, how many worms have we looked at so far?" "Over two hundred. We have a nearly limitless supply." "Funny. Has anyone looked at a cause of the transmission yet?" "No. We didn't even identify the virus until we looked through blood samples. Before that it was simple anatomization and chemical analysis." "Well then, try to get me something soon", he states impatiently.

  Krishnan takes out his cell phone and dials LaJoy. "We've got a major problem. We've tested over two hundred worms so far, every single one of them has a virus. Its unidentified as of yet, but we're working on it. White cells counts are low, and for some reason the worm immune system doesn't identify the virus and attack it. I'm assuming that microbes are spreading the virus from worm to worm. Or it could be direct contact between worms, I don't know yet.", he admits. "So it is a worm epizootic. I've never heard of such a thing. MalSanto's going to love hearing this." "It doesn't matter how much they will love this or not, we better take precautions. Anyone working on the site should wear safety wear, goggles, gloves, at the very least. I suggest HAZMAT suites until we can be absolutely certain it doesn't harm humans. Have there been other cases?"

  Without even hearing LaJoy's response, Krishnan knew the answer to his own questions. "Yes, we have some in Mexico." "Mexico? It really is spreading fast. Make sure all shipments of food are tightly controlled. Actually you should prevent food from going in and out of the country in general, at least from California. Take extra precautionary measures, quarantine exports involving agrarian produce. Do what you have to do." LaJoy's answer comes out flustered, as if he's not getting enough sleep. "We're already working on that, its just taking longer than expected. The Mexican government is not going to like this at all. Keep working on that virus, you're the best we've got." "I'll am, although I'd prefer if I get some of my people here from CBEID. They know their virology very well, although it's a bit human-oriented." "Anything you need. Keep in touch." LaJoy hangs up.

  Did LaJoy anticipate it spreading into Mexico? Probably not, he seems overwhelmed having to deal with an international crisis. Involving worms.. . . Krishnan ponders over the extent that the worm virus could cover given enough time. Is this going to go around like an epidemic? But epidemics, like a flash flood, usually disappear quickly. Ebola, for instance, is so lethal it can kill within a matter of hours by basically draining the victim of their blood plasma, leading to hypovolemic shock. It is so deadly that the virus basically contains itself, by killing off all the hosts so quickly that it denies itself a method of transmission by depopulating the region of its origin. Thanks to its virulence, the ebola virus has only been documented in isolated pockets, usually villages in the African countryside and has not spread around the world.

  Why is this virus sustaining itself? Where did it originate from? Krishnan realizes that these crucial questions would be answered by results from the lab. He also knows the epicenter of the outbreak is in northern Los Angeles, and the first reported cases were in Bakersfield. Some USDA official by the name "McCarthy" had been there first and started doing soil and chemical analyses. That was standard procedure but led to a terrible delay in getting to the root
of the problem, and unnecessarily associating MalSanto Co. with an emergency that they had nothing to do with. In the end, several days were wasted before they realized that a virus was killing the worms. Thanks to slow bureaucracy. . . They had yet to determine whether it was a natural-occurrence, some new mutation, or a specifically designed bioweapon. It certainly can't be a bioweapon though. A biological weapon would be killing people, not goats, not cattle. . . and definitely not worms. That should rule out the possibility of bioterrorism. But what about a natural occurence? Where would such a virulent and specialized virus originate from?

  Putting these distracting thoughts out of his head, Krishnan heads back into the lab. "Orange" is back, along with Miyazaki and thirteen others. "Hey people. I want to find out how this virus is sustaining itself, why the receptors aren't attracted to it, any related diseases that show similarities to this outbreak, specifically any that have affected annelids, and finally where it came from. We will be working in groups of three, each group assigned to their field of specialization. Once we find the answers to these questions, we will work on a way to get the NK receptors to bind to the virus. Let’s split into teams." It takes ten minutes to get the annelid immunologists with their colleagues and the virologists with theirs, but soon everyone has a lab, equipment, and samples and gets to work. Krishnan dials his office in CBEID. Wang, his laboratory assistant, answers. "CBEID. Dr. Krishnan's office." "Wang! I need you to get Drs. Perkins, Jesse, DelRosario, Ventura, and yourself over to UCLA as quickly as possible. We have huge amounts of work to do." "Why what is it Doctor?" "It's this thing that the USDA wanted me for. They're dealing with a worm epizootic that we just learned about and we need research quickly. I need all of you here to start getting answers ASAP." "Perhaps it would be easier if you send the samples over here. It would be just as easy. And, if you feel that you need to use any of the equipment at CBEID instead of UCLA, we'll be here to use it." "That is a much better idea", answers Krishnan. Why didn't I think of that? Too rushed. "I'll make sure you have samples by today. Make sure everyone else is there and working on them. I'll send the documents telling you what I'm looking for. And I still may need you here soon." Krishnan hangs up the phone. CBEID will soon be devoting most of its best resources and personnel to decoding the worm epizootic mystery. The game was on.

  Ensenada, Mexico

  A turbulent flight over the Rocky Mountains from St. Louis to San Diego did not help to lighten the mood. However, being hungry as he usually was, McCarthy wolfed down the business class food that would usually seem barely eatable, relieving him of that craving for the time being. The Mexican authorities had picked him at a transfer point on the U.S.-Mexican border, now he was heading to the site in a jeep. The driver didn't speak English very well so McCarthy took the time to clear his head of the last three days events and meditate a little.

  Ensenada comes into view a hour into the ride, a small coastal city catering primarily to tourism from southern California. In fact, McCarthy reminds himself, this entire region is known as "Baja California", meaning Lower California. A large Mexican flag flutters in the breeze above the port city as McCarthy's car drives "over the hump" onto a higher portion of the highway leading into Ensenada. A large cruise ship sits in the harbor under the flag, dominating the landscape of the low-lying, spread city. "Are we going into the city? Where did you say the incident happened?", asks McCarthy, getting out of his semi-trance. "Not far, señor. We go to the Vista del Sol town. About ten minutes, no?" Ten minutes isn't too bad. I'll shut up and wait it out. Sure enough, eleven minutes later the pull up to a middle-class neighborhood full of Spanish-villa style homes. An area the size of four city blocks is cordoned off by police tape, leaving only about a dozen men in HAZMAT gear sifting through uprooted dirt and grass between the houses. McCarthy's driver pulls up to two police officers at the edge of the quarantined zone and says something in Spanish before turning to Mike. "Ok, señor. We can't go further, but I drop you off here, ok?" McCarthy gets out of the van, noticing a short tanned man with a moustache and goatee waiting for him next to the door. "Gonzalo Rodriguez", says the man extending his hand, "You must be McCarthy." "McCarthy, a pleasure. Wish it could be under better circumstances." McCarthy realizes that the man is not short, rather that he himself is rather tall for the region. Hmm, not to mention blonder than the average.

  "I've been working with the USDA to explain to them what this situation means. We've already received another two dozen reports from Mexico alone since you were notified." "So LaJoy sent you here." "That's right." "Uh-huh. So what have we got here?", asks McCarthy taking a step towards the line. "Don't!" Rodriguez puts his arm in front of McCarthy's chest, stopping him in his tracks. "LaJoy just told us that it is being caused by a virus. Can't you see we're all protected?" "So that's why everyone is in HAZMAT gear." "Yes. You need to put it on. Then meet me in that trailer." Rodriguez points his finger to a parked laboratory trailer.

  McCarthy goes into a makeshift tent erected alongside one of the homes, picking a HAZMAT suit and donning it over his business-casual suit. Making an effort not to cringe at his new clothing blend, McCarthy steps out of the tent and walks over to the trailer. Entering the trailer, he spots numerous bags containing worms and soil in the same fashion as his USDA van. As promised, Rodriguez is inside. "So McCarthy. You were the first one to see this phenomenon. Does this situation look identical?" McCarthy looks out the window, where he sees HAZMAT workers collecting small piles of dead earthworms on the sidewalk. "Yes. This is it. Mexico has the same problem we do. I don't get it though. We weren't using HAZMAT the first or second day." "Then you were exposed." "But we've felt no bad effects yet. Huh. You said we know that the worms are dying because of a virus?" "Yes. LaJoy has got some biologists, including Dr. Krishnan, working on it at UCLA." "Dr. Krishnan? I know that name." "He is one of the world's leading experts in virology and molecular biology, yes", replies Rodriguez on McCarthy's cue. "We need to recommend to LaJoy what steps to take to avoid this. You read my reports on their ecology, right? Do you know what this would mean for the environments of California and Baja?"

  "This is going to be a disaster", replies McCarthy somberly. "You mentioned that agricultural productivity, which is pivotal to the economic base in California and here in Mexico, will be very hard hit. We need to make sure that this doesn't spread to other states or regions of Mexico, or else their farms will be in just as big jeopardy as the ones in the Central Valley. I'm thinking what we can do about this, other than find a cure." "I don't think that even a cure can prevent this. How would we reach every worm of every species out there and innoculate them with a cure? It would be an impossible task." "True. Wait- what about taking worms from other states, Wyoming, Mississippi, anywhere, and bringing them to California? We merely transplant them, even buy them since they're grown for fishing, and use them to replace the one now lost?" "An interesting idea. But how are we going to make sure that they also don't get the disease? Innoculate them all?" "Yes." Rodriguez leans back on the trailers' wall, turning the idea over in his head. "We should tell this plan to LaJoy. Maybe he'll like it." "If it's even possible." "We should always give it a try. Although, if it doesn't work, we'll have no choice but to wait it out and hope that the worms adapt and gain natural immunity to the virus. Though who knows how long that will take." "Alright. Let's put this in perspective, write it down, and send it to Los Angeles." McCarthy opens his laptop and starts typing. "Hey, we don't need that. Just call him." Rodriguez chuckles, breaking the sour mood. "LaJoy doesn't have much time on his hands, and neither do we. But he never seemed to be one that did." "Astute observation.", McCarthy smiles lopsidedly as he reaches for his phone.