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Chapter 181 Special Antibodies
Han Xue worked almost non-stop, stuffing experimental records into the filing cabinet. When she entered, the laboratory lights were still on.

Lin Che sat sideways, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a new bandage was applied to the blood collection point on his left arm.

Su Wanqing flipped through the data table that had just been released, while Lu Zhao curled up in the corner, remaining silent.

The curve from the previous experiment is still visible on the instrument screen.

Han Xue packed her things, walked to the control panel, and looked down to check the latest blood sample collected from the girl with the child's voice.

She changed the glass slide, dropped the sample onto the slide, and placed it under a high-powered microscope.

While adjusting the focus, she casually flipped through the notes next to her, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Come over here, I've made a new discovery." Han Xue lowered her voice, not looking up, her left hand gripping a pen.

She waited a while until several people gathered around the table. Han Xue adjusted the microscope to its maximum magnification and projected the image onto the large screen on the laboratory wall.

A string of antibody molecules with a unique structure appeared on the screen. Han Xue patted the mirror lightly and said, "Look, this batch of antibodies is different from the ones isolated before."

Lin Che leaned forward, and Su Wanqing picked up her notebook. Han Xue described in detail: "I just mixed Lin Che's healing factor with the child-voiced girl's antibody. The antibody has a strange property. I tested four sets of data, and in each set, these antibodies could quickly recognize the healing factor's signal and then partially replicate its structure."

Lu Zhao leaned close, his lips slightly clenched, "Can it memorize and replicate molecular structures? Not the simple neutralization kind?"

Han Xue nodded and switched the microscope's focus to another field of view: "At first, I didn't notice it either. There was only a weak resonance reaction at first, but later I increased the amount of the healing factor, and the antibody activity surged. It's like this thing can 'memorize' the healing factor and then simulate part of the effect itself."

Su Wanqing slammed the test report in her hand onto the table and pressed the page.

"Does this antibody have the capability to be stored and replicated?"

“It’s even stronger than we imagined.” Han Xue took out the latest experimental log. “More importantly, when we treated the virus samples with the serum containing the two mixtures, the inactivation rate reached 78%. This is much higher than all our previous combinations.”

Lu Zhao turned his head and stared intently at her: "The previous best was only 41%, are you sure the parameters are correct?"

Han Xue displayed each set of raw data on the wall, saying, "It was the same all three times. I even added a separate ratio change to the solution, and the inactivation efficiency didn't fluctuate much."

Lin Che asked in a low voice, "After mixing the antibodies and the healing factor, can we test them on living organisms?"

"Theoretically, it's possible, but the problem is that we've collected far too few antibodies."

Han Xue pushed the instrument panel inward, "The amount of blood sample is only enough for about two or three sets of experiments. If we want to mass-produce, the antibody reserves are far from sufficient. Not to mention the larger number of infected people outside the epidemic area."

Su Wanqing frowned. "How much is needed to satisfy further research?"

"These types of antibodies are not ordinary immunoglobulins, and they are very difficult to find in peripheral blood."

Han Xue flipped through the lab manual, stroking the corner of the paper, her tone slightly slow, "Even with routine blood collection every day, we can only barely maintain a few small samples. And this is almost meaningless for serum research."

Lu Zhao instinctively gripped the edge of the table tightly. He asked directly, "Do you want to... collect more data?"

Han Xue composed herself and looked directly at Su Wanqing and Lin Che. "I should be honest, I have a way to collect more antibodies—by extracting some hematopoietic cells from the spinal cord of the girl with the child's voice. Antibodies are most abundant in bone marrow and nerve lymphoid tissue, while peripheral blood only contains a small fraction."

Lin Che's brows furrowed, and his voice turned cold: "Spinal cord puncture?"

Han Xue nodded, biting her lip. "Yes. Spinal punctures are dangerous even for adults, let alone someone with her constitution. If we take a large sample, we can get enough antibodies in a short time, but her immune system may completely collapse. The risks of infection, bleeding, and even sudden death are extremely high."

The air in the room suddenly seemed to freeze. Su Wanqing stared at Han Xue, remaining silent for a long time.

Lu Zhao raised his hand and turned on the desk lamp: "I disagree. We absolutely cannot allow high-risk collection from her. In vitro culture is better than taking risks." Han Xue was quiet for a moment, "I have indeed considered it. The problem is that the antibody is too 'smart,' and the conditions for its replication are extremely demanding. When carried by ordinary mammals, its expression efficiency is almost zero. If we use genetic engineering to culture it, it would take about a week—but the zombie horde outside could get out of control at any time, and we don't have time."

Lu Zhao gritted his teeth: "Spend seven days saving a group of people versus killing one person right now? The choice isn't just yours! Here's the plan. I'll accept whoever can come up with a faster and more reliable solution. Otherwise, giving up this opportunity means waiting for the situation to worsen."

Looking at the report in his hand, Lin Che suddenly said, "Increase the sampling frequency on me. My recovery ability can withstand more sampling. As long as there are enough healing factors, can we reduce my dependence on her?"

Han Xue shook her head. "Lin Che, although the healing factor you provided is strong, only the girl with the childlike voice can produce antibodies. So far, all experiments have only shown a surge in inactivation rate after her antibodies were involved. No matter how much you provide, it's only a one-way supply and not enough to significantly increase the effectiveness of the serum."

Su Wanqing sat quietly, her fingertips tracing the notebook, without interrupting the two's debate.

Lu Zhao pushed aside his notebook and said in a deep voice, "Could we use the blood samples she has already collected to slowly induce antibody production in vitro? Hematopoietic stem cells can also drive antibody production; it's not necessary to touch the spinal cord."

Han Xue leaned forward slightly, her voice a little dry, "Induction is possible, but it's too inefficient. If you want to mass-produce, you're essentially giving up the golden window of opportunity. To preserve existing results, the only way is through high-throughput acquisition."

Just then, the walkie-talkie clicked. Li Ming's voice pierced through, "You're discussing the serum breakthrough, aren't you? I have information: there are over two thousand survivors in the entire region, near the edge of the epidemic area. Any delay you make will cost you your chance to live. Now that you have the opportunity to produce a preliminary serum, you should give it your all."

Han Xue didn't put down the walkie-talkie: "According to you, you can accept directly extracting a spinal cord sample?"

Li Ming answered decisively: "If you have even a shred of responsibility for the salvation of humanity, you cannot give up everything for one person. The girl's sacrifice is the greatest manifestation of her value, so don't hesitate. Our peripheral rescue team cannot wait for you to spend so much time on genetic engineering."

Suppressing his anger, Lu Zhao retorted, "Then why don't you have your team members line up and get a shot too? Why don't you ask the girl if she wants one?"

Dawn snorted: "This isn't a vote. You hold critical resources; responsibility trumps everything. If this drags on, the zombie horde will overwhelm the base, and none of you will escape."

Xiao Ran hadn't said a word until now. He walked from the experimental area to the door, rolled up his sleeves, and handed a bottle of disinfectant to Lin Che.

Han Xue countered Su Wanqing's question: "I need a definite answer. From a scientific perspective, of all your plans, only large-scale sampling is effective. But I won't force anyone. The decision is yours."

Lin Che remained silent, burying his head in his hands. His mind was a jumble of thoughts, but a layer of gloomy calm settled in, and he suppressed his resolve.

Su Wanqing tapped the table. "Han Xue, I understand the danger you're talking about. But have you conducted a complete physical assessment of her? Even if we approve of your plan, who will guarantee her compliance with the risks?"

Han Xue shook her head, "We can only sample accurately once; any more and the girl won't be able to handle it. I will record all the steps, and you can monitor the parameters in real time."

Lu Zhao stopped talking. He gritted his teeth, picked up a pen, and quickly wrote down the genetic engineering culture plan on the paper, marking the timeline and operational risks.

"Give me thirty-six hours. If hematopoietic induction can be achieved within three days, at least we won't have to take any risks for her."

Su Wanqing raised her hand and said calmly, "At this stage, all opinions should be archived, and no one is allowed to act without authorization. Han Xue, if we really want to collect opinions, we cannot implement them unless all alternative plans fail."

Lin Che looked up, his voice slightly hoarse: "I can increase the sampling frequency. If necessary, I can work around the clock in the experimental area, but in any case, we can't let a child bear the risk alone."

Han Xue stroked the edge of the table. "I will try body simulation induction again. If it doesn't work, then I will draw a conclusion."

The radio was still on when Li Ming said, "The longer you drag this out, the more people will die. Sacrifices are inevitable if it can save more lives."

No one spoke again. Su Wanqing recorded everyone's remarks and then turned off the radio.

After a long while, Xiao Ran took out a few spare needles from his pocket, glanced at Lin Che, and then turned to hand them to Han Xue.

Han Xue lowered her head, organized the data sheet in her hand, and pulled open a new test kit.

The only sound in the air was the low hum of the instruments. Lin Che rested his forehead on the table, his thoughts rising and falling in the night, all filled with silent pressure.