Bioterror! (an Ell Donsaii story #14) Page 16

  I’m going to have to show this video record to Dr. Barnes, maybe she can understand it. Striper managed to convey the idea that it’d take a while to collect and transcribe all the gene sequences necessary to create the virus. She asked hopefully if it’d be okay just to give Virgwald the virus itself and Virgwald had to reiterate their desire to only get the sequences, not the actual viral particle.

  ***

  Zage felt nervous when Dr. Barnes came in the lab and started talking to Alice. Osprey’s algorithm had generally had little difficulty with the protein sequences Dr. Barnes gave Alice. As usual, there were a number of places in the sequence where the algorithm didn’t have a good answer for the folding but, as with the viral sequences, Zage immediately had a feeling for how the folding should go. When Osprey finished the 3-D model of each protein folded the way Zage thought it would, the completed model “looked right” to Zage.

  But now, he was about to find out whether it just seemed right, or was actually correct and matched Dr. Barnes’ known three-dimensional shape. He walked over closer so he could hear.

  Alice was sounding a little disgusted, “I sent it in late yesterday afternoon, but the results didn’t get put up until about 1:30 today. You’d think their computers would’ve spit it back out immediately, so now I’m worried some guy at Gordito just makes his best guess at the structure.”

  “Well, let’s see,” Dr. Barnes said. “Put the first one up on that big screen to the right.”

  Alice spoke to her AI and a couple of seconds later Zage saw the slowly rotating 3-D image of the first protein he and Osprey had predicted pop up on the right screen. As he watched it turning, he couldn’t help but have the feeling—as he’d had many times before with protein structures—that it was somehow “right.”

  Barnes said in a mildly surprised tone, “Oh, that looks familiar. Let me put up the known structure.” She spoke to her AI and a few seconds later a 3-D model popped up on the left screen.

  Zage let out a breath—they were the same. To be sure, he tracked his eyes back and forth between them several times looking for any minor discrepancies, but he didn’t see any. He spoke quietly to Osprey and had him compare the Barnes model to what Osprey had from last night. Osprey didn’t have to wait for the model to finish rotating, he said, “The data feeds are identical.”

  Barnes said, “Wow! They look the same to me. Do you see anything different?”

  Alice shook her head, then, being graceful, turned to Zage, “How about you?”

  Zage shook his head.

  Barnes blew out a breath, “Let’s see the others.” She sounded mildly excited, yet somewhat disappointed. Zage felt pretty sure she’d been hoping to solve the protein folding problem herself. It would’ve been a real triumph after so many people had struggled with it for so many years.

  Alice brought up the other two and it quickly became evident they were identical to the known structures as well. After studying them for a couple of minutes, Barnes said, “I think they’re the same. You should have your AI compare the data for the images to be absolutely sure. Assuming they’re as good as we think they are, you should test the Gordito site with the rest of those proteins I have the 3-D structures for. Then I think you could publish a brief “Note” documenting our comparison of the Gordito outcomes to actual 3-D imaging.” She sighed, “Then, assuming you find what we expect, I’ll have to try to figure out whether there’s any way we can salvage the funding for that project or whether we’ll need to return the money.” She winked at Zage and spoke in a lower tone, “With the unrestricted money that D5R’s granted us, we’re really not short of cash, but it’s really painful returning grant money. After you went through all the pain of applying for the grant, it kind of feels like it belongs to you.”

  ***

  Dr. Barnes plopped down in the chair next to Alice, “How did the Gordito website do on the rest of those proteins?”

  Alice gave Barnes an awed look and a single shake of her head, “Predicted all twenty-three perfectly. Pretty amazing.”

  Barnes heaved a sigh, “No kidding that’s amazing. We need to know how they’re doing it. Or, rather, the world needs to know. I don’t suppose you’ve had any luck figuring out who’s behind it?

  Alice shook her head. Zage was approaching so she turned to him, “You haven’t figured out who it is either, have you?”

  Seemingly reluctant, Zage shook his head as well.

  Barnes said, “I’ve been thinking about how to get them to come out of the shadows. I think one of the best things we could do’s bring a little publicity to what they can do. If you guys could write up a “Brief Note” for publication about how they accurately predicted protein folding for twenty-six known but unpublished proteins, that’d not only be a publication for your CVs but would bring scientific attention to what they can do. In your discussion you could point out how this’s something that needs to be public knowledge—perhaps that’d influence them some. You interested?”

  Alice nodded, though she saw to her surprise that Zage was shaking his head. Both she and Dr. Barnes turned to look at him in surprise, “Why not?”

  Looking serious, which admittedly he did most of the time, he said, “I’d rather start working on the misfolding issue in disease states like Alzheimer’s.”

  “But writing up the Note would be pretty easy…”

  Alice had no idea that Zage felt dismayed. In the first place, he didn’t want to participate in an effort to bring publicity to Gordito, not only might it derail his mother’s desire for him to remain anonymous, but it also felt like bragging, a trait his dad had taught him to dislike in others. Second, it seemed like his being part of a team that assessed whether or not his work on Gordito was valid or not seemed unethical. But he didn’t know how to deflect Dr. Barnes and Alice from their belief that he should be a part of the publication. He crossed his arms, put on a stubborn look, and said, “I’d rather work on misfolding.”

  Alice put her hands up in surrender. “No problem, I’m happy to do it myself.”

  Dr. Barnes frowned at Zage, “How do you plan to tackle misfolding in Alzheimer’s”

  “I need to read more,” Zage said thoughtfully, “but since certain genes are known to be associated with Alzheimer’s, I thought it’d be good to find out which of those code for the proteins that misfold to become amyloid. Then we could submit the gene sequence for proteins that aren’t associated with Alzheimer’s and for the sequences that’re associated. Maybe the Gordito site’ll recognize that the Alzheimer associated genes code for proteins that have a higher probability of misfolding?”

  Barnes gave him a disbelieving look. “You think you can submit that as a question? ‘Is this gene sequence more likely to misfold than that one?’”

  “I think it’s worth a try.”

  Still looking dubious, Barnes said, “If they can do stuff like that, I don’t know why they wouldn’t just do it themselves and claim credit for it. If they just haven’t thought of it, it seems likely that once you suggest it, they’ll just do it.” She shrugged, “Maybe they’ll give you a footnote in their paper.”

  Still looking stubborn, Zage said, “I think it’s worth a try.”

  Barnes shrugged, “Sure, go for it…”

  She paused when Carley interrupted, “Dr. Barnes? Dr. Donsaii’s here…”

  They all looked around, and sure enough, Ell Donsaii was standing in the doorway of the lab! She gave a little wave, and they all stood up, though Zage did so belatedly. Alice glanced at him and thought he looked a little irritated—as if he were exasperated to have been interrupted by the world’s most famous scientist!

  Dr. Barnes said, “Dr. Donsaii! I didn’t know you were coming! I’d have been happy to come out to D5R…”

  Donsaii gave an offhanded shrug, “It’s good to get out of my hole and see the world sometimes. I thought I’d understand things better if I saw what you actually do with DNA?”

  “Sure,” Dr. Barnes said, brightly. “First,
if I may, let me introduce some of the grad students who do most of the work around here even if someone,” she winked at Donsaii, “hasn’t given me permission to let them work with ET DNA.” She turned to indicate Carley who looked like she might not be breathing. “This’s Carley Heune. She’s in her first year of graduate work and doing an excellent job so far.”

  Donsaii stepped forward and shook Carley’s trembling hand, “Carley. I wish you the best of luck with whatever you take on.”

  Barnes gestured to Alice, “Alice Norton. She’s just started her third year as of January and is beginning to do some serious research.”

  Donsaii stepped over to Alice and shook her hand as well, “Alice. Best of luck to you as well.”

  Barnes said, “Rick Klein, our most senior grad student’s in one of his seminars.” She indicated Zage with a wave of her hand, saying, “And, I suspect you’ve met Raquel Kinrais’ son Zage?”

  With a smile, Donsaii stepped forward and leaned down to shake Zage’s hand, “Hello Zage.” Standing back up she turned to the others, saying, “I mostly know Raquel, and of course, Zage’s father Shannon, but I did meet Zage in Stockholm a few months ago.”

  Alice turned to stare at Zage, then realized that Donsaii must be referring to the Nobel Prize ceremony in December at which Donsaii and Zage’s dad had won Nobel prizes in physics and chemistry for work they’d done together. Alice couldn’t imagine that the kid would’ve been allowed into the ceremony, but perhaps Donsaii’d gone out to dinner with the Kinrais family while they were over there? In fact, she realized Zage didn’t look nearly as flabbergasted by Donsaii’s presence in the lab as Alice felt.

  Dr. Barnes turned back to Alice and Zage. “So, I think we were essentially done anyway. Alice, you’ll write up that Note. Zage, you submit some Alzheimer sequences to the Gordito site and see what happens.” She turned back to Donsaii, effectively dismissing Alice and Zage as she conducted Ell toward the door. “Was there something in particular you wanted to see?”

  After Donsaii exited, the room suddenly seemed much emptier. Alice turned back to her screens to begin drafting the Note. Zage had gotten up and started over toward the workstation where he spent most of his time when Carley said, “Alice, Zage? I’m having a little get together at my apartment Friday night, would you guys like to come?”

  Zage immediately said, “Yes, what time?”

  Alice had been gaping at Carley, astonished that she’d invite a five-year-old to a party with grad students who’d almost certainly be doing some drinking. By the time Carley’d said to come at 7:30, Alice had recovered enough to say, “Sure, can I bring something?”

  “Chips, dips? Whatever you like, even that awful beer you think’s so amazing,” Carley said.

  Apparently recognizing the protocol for such events, Zage asked, “What can I bring?”

  Permission from your mommy! Alice thought, but Carley just said he should bring whatever he liked to snack on.

  After Zage had made his way over to his workstation, Alice scooted next to Carley and heatedly whispered, “Are you out of your mind? Inviting a five-year-old to a party full of grads?”

  Carley looked a little wistfully over toward Zage and said, “He’s a lot more mature than some of the people that’ll be there.”

  “Exactly!” Alice hissed. “How do you think his mother’s going to take it when somebody has too much to drink and does something stupid in front of him?”

  “Um,” Carley said, glancing over at Zage again and looking a little chagrined, “I’m kind of counting on his mother either not letting him come or making him go home early. But I want to be nice to him. I was pretty lonely as a kid and I know he’s got to be really lonely. There just aren’t any other kids like him for him to be friends with.”

  Alice arched an eyebrow, “You’d better be thinking about how some people our age would make lousy friends for someone his age.”

  “I am…” Carley turned back to Alice, “Maybe you can help me watch out for him?”

  ***

  Ell had Reggie show her the biosafety lab, at least the parts of it that she could visualize without undergoing training. She also had a few questions about how some of the gene analysis and assembly steps were actually physically performed, things she apparently hadn’t felt like she understood well enough from looking at diagrams and videos.

  However, Reggie wasn’t surprised to learn that Dr. Donsaii had another item on her agenda. During a break in the conversation, Donsaii said, “Can I show you a video?”

  The vid had a bizarre-looking striped ET that Reggie’d seen before. Ell explained that she was trying to get the Virgies’ secret for inserting DNA into all cells of the body, something that’d be hugely advantageous for providing resistance to radiation and other mutagens in humans. “So here’s some video of Striper trying to explain their process. I won’t try to tell you what I think she’s showing us because I’d rather get your unbiased opinion.”

  Reggie watched the alien diagram what for all the world looked like a viral replication system. She had the impression that Striper was trying to say that the outer surface of the virion was modified, possibly to make it non-antigenic, but she didn’t really understand what the modification was. The virus was replicated by the cells, apparently without rupturing and thus killing the cells like many terrestrial viruses did. Striper appeared to be diagramming a geometric progression in the number of viral particles that could be created in such a fashion. She narrowed her eyes, “Aha!”

  “What’re you seeing?” Dr. Donsaii asked, stopping the video.

  “Well, the first part seems to be pretty much a straightforward viral replication system, though not one that’s lethal to the host cells. But this section here… I think he’s trying…”

  “She’s,” Donsaii said.

  Reggie looked at Donsaii for a second, then at the alien, “You know it’s female?”

  “We’ve decided to designate them all as female since any Virgie can grow herself a uterus and generate a child whenever she wants. There don’t seem to be any males involved in reproduction since they all ‘design’ their children by putting together a DNA sequence of their own choosing.”

  “Okaay,” Reggie said slowly, feeling flummoxed by the idea. She looked back at the screen for a moment, then resumed, “I think she’s trying to describe something like telomeres.” She looked at Donsaii, wondering whether Donsaii knew what telomeres were.”

  Donsaii said, “Telomeres are things on the end of chromosomes that keep them from being copied forever, right? A big part of getting old because our cells eventually can’t reproduce themselves anymore?”

  Reggie nodded, “So, each chromosome has a telomere section at the end where the DNA repeats itself a number of times. Since, when you copy your DNA, you can’t copy the entire chromosome all the way to the end, each time you make a copy it loses a little bit of the telomere section at the end. Eventually, the telomere section gets to be so short that the chromosome, and therefore the cell, can’t be replicated.” She glanced back at the vid, “I think Striper’s trying to show us something similar in her viral construct. Viruses usually don’t have any reason to stop replicating themselves, but this one’s built with a mechanism that only lets it replicate a certain number of times and then forces it to stop. Presumably, it replicates enough times to make sufficient virions to infect all the cells in the host organism, but it doesn’t just go on forever. That way it isn’t like a viral disease that tries to just keep making more viral particles until its host’s dead.”

  “What keeps the host’s immune system from wiping the virus out?”

  “I think that’s what Striper was trying to explain back at the beginning. I think the outer surface of the virus’s altered so that your immune system doesn’t react to it, but I’m not sure how it’s done. Maybe, after we’ve seen the whole thing, we could go back to the beginning and watch that section again…?”

  ***

  Abe Cohen settled into his sea
t and waited for LaQua Kelso to begin her presentation. As Director of the Center for Emerging Diseases he felt quite proud of his young protégé. Her last name might be Scottish, but the woman herself was very much African-American. Grown up poor in Mississippi, she’d excelled in school, obtained some very good scholarships, gotten into an MD-PhD program in med school, trained in infectious disease and come directly to the CDC after her fellowship. Abe’d been involved in her hiring and thought she was one of the best recruitments he’d ever participated in.

  She’d been in on the evaluation of the first few cases of this new version of vaccinia when they’d popped up out on Little Diomede Island. When CDC’d started to get samples of the same virus from locations scattered all around the world, she’d been the obvious person to lead the team investigating the larger outbreak. From what he’d heard on the grape vine, she’d been doing a great job. Now she was about to bring the group up to speed.

  She began by describing the outbreak on Little Diomede Island and pointing out its proximity to the Russian island of Big Diomede. She showed images of the characteristic lesions or “pocks” produced by the virus. Afflicted patients had developed anywhere from 1 to 13 lesions and they’d left behind scars typical of both smallpox and vaccination with the live vaccinia virus. A few people had felt mildly ill, but no one had gotten seriously sick.