Venom

Vampiric biology is based around vampire venom. This venom is not merely an organic chemical substance, it is actually a fluid-based retroviral lifeform. Upon injection to the body, it attaches itself to a host cell's cell membrane. The venom-virus then infects the host cell, making a DNA copy of the genome for RNA synthesis. This RNA could be used as a template for making more viral genomes and as mRNA to produce viral proteins, which is known as reverse transcription. Venom cells grown in size and seem to attack white blood cells first. The host body triggers an autoimmune response to the infection, causing the release of white blood cells. Once the bloodstream of the subject has been flooded with white blood cells, the infected cells send out a signal to the other infected cells that are not producing the virus-like cells which in turn grow in size, causing swelling in tissues and extreme pain. In most cases, this results in convulsions and agonizing screams from victims. This most likely stems from disrupted neural pathways where the immense size of these predatory seeker cells turn on the host's white blood cells and devoures them.

Genetically different venom cells will adapt and mutate for the betterment of the host. There is another factor in mitosis of vampire cells that provides for extra "checks and balances" on the creation of new material. On one hand, the genome is thoroughly checked for anomalies in the DNA and can more likely spare the expense of ATP in these checks because of the plethora of energy in a "pure" cell. On the other hand, the DNA readily accepts foreign DNA if it mutates a cell for the betterment of its new host. The DNA of that cell is able to convert both unique venom, incorporating the DNA changes of both into the host cell.

Although the vampire venom lifeform acts like a retrovirus, it is also sentient to a degree. The venom being sentient is the causation of many functions in a vampire's physiology. The heart and many other major organs of a vampire no longer need to pump fluids throughout the body as the venom can move on its own. Also, since the venom acts quite aggressive in its spread, it pools in areas where it is most likely to be injected into another life form: the mouth and the sexual organs. That's why the sexual organs of a vampire continue to function when so many other organs do not. The venom specifically chooses a vampire's sexual organs as a transport mode to other organisms, allowing them to function normally.

The sentient venom along with the extremely rapid regeneration of cells are also the cause of the vampire ability to heal quickly and attach severed limbs. Each vampire has unique venom due to the DNA changes. The venom is able to recognize itself and send out signals over small distances. There is a symbiotic relationship between the sentient venom and the vampire host. Vampire venom is highly flammable due to the extremely long chain of hydrocarbons, similar to petrol, which is a part of their cellular protein synthesis.

When a vampire bites a human, the venom will be passed from the vampire's mouth into the person's bloodstream. If the blood contaminated with venom isn't fully sucked away, the human's heart will pump the venom throughout their cardiovascular system and start to infect every cell it passes within the host's body. Over the span of 2-3 days, the venom will have saturated all cells within the host, completing their transformation into a vampire. The process is known to be slow and painful, described with the feeling of being burned alive.

When a vampire is bitten by another vampire, the venom from the teeth will create a permanent bite mark usually invisible to human eyes, and the pain is supposedly stinging but eventually passing. By applying the venom to an open wound or the edge of a disembodied limb, the wounds will successfully heal. However, it does not make a lost body part grow out again or reattach torn hair. Real werewolves are the only known species to be completely immune to vampire venom, whether in the painful or transformative departments.