Editing Drugs, Chemicals, and Toxins (section)

== Pathogens ==
A pathogen is an infectious biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host. While natural pathogens rarely strive to kill their hosts, germ warfare programs revived during the Fall—or instigated by the TITANs—sought to modify and use pathogens as a weapon of war. The ideal characteristics of lethal biological agents are high infectivity, high potency, availability of vaccines, and delivery as an aerosol. Most biomorphs are immune to standard pathogens thanks to their basic bio-mods, and medichines will protect against most others. However, even these defenses may not protect against diseases left by the TITANs or a new terrorist cell’s biowar bug. It is largely recommended that pathogens be handled as a plot device, rather than an active threat to the characters. Pathogens have no effect on synthmorphs.
'''Degen:''' Characters exposed to this degenerative neurological disease must make a DUR x 2 Test or become infected. Medichines will defeat the disease, but others will not show signs of infection for 1 week, when the symptoms of a rapidly progressing dementia will become clear: memory loss, personality changes, and hallucinations. If untreated, Degen will progress for another week with more serious symptoms, including speech impediments, jerky movements, loss of balance and coordination, and even seizures. This is reflected by a 5 point loss in all aptitudes per day (after the first week). When any aptitude reaches 0, the character dies. Degen is notorious for its effect in corrupting cortical stack backups before infection symptoms manifest. '''[Expensive]'''
'''Trigger:''' Trigger is a designer virus that selectively targets and infects mast cells to trigger a hyper-allergic reaction. The resulting anaphylactic shock due to systemic vasodilatation (associated with a sudden drop in blood pressure) and bronchial swelling (resulting in constriction and difficulty breathing) usually leads to death in a matter of minutes after onset, if not treated. Infected characters must succeed in a DUR Test (using their current Durability score minus damage) or die quickly. Even medichines have difficulty reacting in time against this virus; characters with medichines must make a DUR x 2 Test to survive. '''[Expensive]'''