The virus in this game is a disease that causes itching. I wanted to have some sort of biological basis and jargon for describing it and fleshing out how this virus might actually affect people. The following is a brief summary of that research.

• Itching is caused by the release of histamines that boost blood flow to the affected area and causes inflammatory response to aid in the healing of the wound.
  • communicates messages to the brain
  • Triggers release of stomach acid to aid in digestion
  • Released as part of the immune response
  • Increases the permeability of the capillaries to white blood cells and some blood plasma proteins
  • Dilates the surrounding blood vessels
• Pruriceptive neurons respond to at least one chemical that makes us itch
  • Type of Nociceptive Neuron with smaller diameter nerve fibers responsible for pain response
  • ‘Pruere’ is Latin for ‘to itch’
• Histamines are produced by Mast Cells
• Basophils are a type of white blood cell
  • release histamine during allergic reactions
• Diamine oxidase (DAO) break down histamines
• Antihistamines block the binding of histamines to receptor sites