My theory about the Shanti virus

Let's look at what we know, and what we think we know, and come up with an explanation.

1) Who had been infected with the virus before Niki injected herself? Answer: Shanti, Molly, the Haitian, and probably Sylar

2) It is pretty obvious that the original Shanti virus supressed the 'godsend' powers and could only infect people with the 'godsend' gene. It also appears obvious that curing the original virus restored the power ( at least for Molly and the Haitian ).

3) Sylar appears to have been secretly treated with a modified version of the virus, which either has no health symptoms (and therefore he would still be infected with it), or else it has been changed to 'permanently' remove the 'godsend' power of its victims. If it was the latter, then presumably the company 'cured' him of the virus using Mohinder's blood after they infected him.

4) The 'apocalypse' virus in the future appears to be quite different from the original Shanti virus, capable of infecting 'normals' and spreading rapidly despite quarantine protections.

My projection is thus: The modified virus that was tested on Sylar instead of just suppressing his power - STOLE his power. Now when the virus enters the brain of a Hero, it 'takes' their power and passes it on to further generations of the virus. When it entered Niki, it took her superstrength, so that now it can fight the antibodies in Mohinder's blood and not get killed by them.

If it enters Adam or Claire, the virus will become regenerating - impossible to kill off. If it enters Nathan or West, it will get the ability to fly - effectively becoming airborne. If it enters Hiro, it will be able to teleport, or even travel through time. I'm not sure what happens if it enters Alejandro - he might be the key to stopping it.

I'm not sure whose power would give the Shanti virus the ability to infect 'normals'. Maybe someone we haven't seen yet.

It is possible that the Haitian was infected with the modified version of the virus, but he automatically blocked its power to 'steal powers', and once he received Mohinder's blood it was able to cure him immediately.

Well - What do you think?

Sylar, intuitive understanding. It knows how to adapt.

Let us hope not. I don't want to think about a virus that can develop a split-personality or poke pins into a map to find people or read minds or time travel.

[snip]

Please no. The Burning Zone had sentient viruses and was ridiculous.

I don't think so - when Mohinder smashed the cabinet full of the virus, it didn't spread to the normals in the company.

I don't think the virus has any sentience or awareness. It only has a simple drive - to reproduce. Any power that depends on thinking would be useless to it. Therefore it might not be able to use Hiro's power, except by accident, since his power requires intense concentration.

If it is true that the virus has begun stealing powers, than using Claire to try to cure it would be the worst possible mistake. The obvious answer would be the Haitian, who would be able to neutralize all of its powers from nearby and allow it to be cured by Mohinder's blood again.

I'm not suggesting any conscious behavior on the part of the virus. Just that it incorporated the 'godsend' power gene into its own genetic makeup, and is now picking up new powers passively from any hero it infects. Powers that require thought are useless to it, only 'reflexive' powers that correspond to its normal behavior are used.

Logical but keep in mind that the Company has other ways of suppressing Sylar's powers besides the virus.

Not so obvious. It could have simply made them too sick to be able to use their powers by either making it difficult for them to concentrate or by attacking the region of the brain which controls their powers.

'Appears' is the key word here. While it makes sense to think that they might have used the virus on him, it was strongly implied last season that they were reluctant to kill him when they had him imprisoned (Linderman's influence perhaps?). So maybe they used it on him or maybe they didn't. There are a lot of ways to suppress a mutant's power

Mrs. Petrelli. The virus can talk people into thinking they have it.

Cool idea.

And by 'could have' I meant 'could not have.' Sorry about the typo.