SCP-8683

Link to article: SCP-8683.
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text="SCP-8683 is the intelligence responsible for adaptive immunity in vertebrate organisms."]]
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[[include :scp-wiki:component:classified-bar-woed
|lv=2
|item=8683
|oc= Euclid
|lang=EN
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[[include component:image-block
    name=https://scp-wiki.wdfiles.com/local--files/scp-8683/Intrapulmonary%20lymph%20node |
    caption=Lymphoid follicles with Germinal Centres, the site of SCP-8683's activity, stained dark purple.|
    align=right |
    width=40%
]]

**Special Containment Procedures:** In order to limit knowledge of SCP-8683, a cover story involving a fictionalised account of somatic hypermutation has been propagated throughout the field of immunology and medical literature. Foundation analysts will monitor medical research worldwide to identify experiments planning to investigate key mechanisms of SCP-8683 and prevent funding if these are judged to plausibly lead to an independent discovery of SCP-8683 or interfere with SCP-8683's relationship with the human species.

**Description:** SCP-8683 is the intelligence responsible for adaptive immunity in vertebrate organisms. During immune responses, it restructures the DNA of B-cells within Germinal Centres[[footnote]] Temporary structures in the lymph nodes, gut-associated lymphoid tissues, and spleen. They form during the immune response and are the location where B-cells first express new antibodies.[[/footnote]] to produce antibodies specific to encountered pathogens and toxins.

**Discovery:** Foundation researchers first hypothesised the existence of SCP-8683 after observing anomalies in antibody generation research. During the immune response, B-cell DNA showed highly targeted, rapid changes incompatible with random mutation and clonal selection, which was the leading explanation at the time. Expected non-functional and detrimental mutations were consistently absent.

Dr. Tobias Frisch hypothesised that an unknown intelligence, designated SCP-8683, was active in the Germinal Centre, and designed a series of experiments aiming to communicate with this intelligence. He based his method of communication on the assumptions that SCP-8683 would have awareness of all cell contents in the Germinal Centres, as it would have to perceive the current state of the genome to change it to the desired state. Along with Dr. Arda Ossanian, he developed the Frisch-Ossanian code with the intent of establishing a common mode of communication with the entity.

 [[collapsible show="FOC Protocol and Description" hide="Hide Protocol and Description"]]
The Frisch-Ossanian Code (FOC) consists of a quarternary system written in the medium of deoxyribonucleic acid. Rather than using codons of 3 nucleotides, the code maintains clear differences from natural genetic material by utilising of units of 4 nucleotides separated by regular sets of 4 thymine nucleotides to mark the beginning and end of a letter, and sets of 12 thymine nucleotides to represent spaces between words. Each unit of 4 nucleotides can hold 4^^4^^ = 256 different possible values, of which 42 are used to represent 26 alphabetic characters (A-Z), 10 numeric characters (0-9), and 6 punctuation marks (".", ",", "!", "?", ":", and the space). 

Frisch and Ossanian began communication efforts by coding English-language names for biomolecules onto plasmids using the FOC and injecting them into the lymph node of a mouse simultaneously with a dose of that molecule. Following this, basic English grammar was introduced through injections of simultaneous molecules, molecules in succession, et cetera. Following the introduction of the fundamentals of English language and grammar, researchers converted a large body of text into the FOC, including various simple texts for English language learning, selected articles from the Simple English Wikipedia, and the curated contents of medical encyclopedias and textbooks. These were then coded onto plasmids and injected in order of complexity. Following this, the cells would be harvested and all DNA extracted from these cells would be sequenced. The sequenced genetic material would be searched for any new text contructed using the FOC.
[[/collapsible]]

During the learning process, no new text was detected in harvested cells from the mouse's Germinal Centres. Dr. Frisch therefore decided to proceed with sending messages to SCP-8683.

> **Experiment date:** 14/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad [[footnote]] A standard location for immunological sampling due to drainage into the popliteal lymph node.[[/footnote]]
> **English-Language input:** GREETINGS, WE ARE DOCTORS AND SEEKERS OF TRUTH WHO DESIRE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU. PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU CAN RECEIVE AND UNDERSTAND THIS MESSAGE.
> **Output:** HELLO

Following this result, a series of additional experiments was approved by Director Römer.

> **Experiment date:** 15/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** I AM TOBIAS FRISCH. I AM A HUMAN BEING. WHO ARE YOU? WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
> **Output:** HELLO TOBIAS I MAKE THE GLOBULINS

> **Experiment date:** 15/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** WHY DO YOU MAKE THE GLOBULINS?
> **Output:** I LIKE THE GLOBULINS

> **Experiment date:** 15/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** HOW DO YOU MAKE THE GLOBULINS?
> **Output:** I PUT THEM TOGETHER FROM THE PARTS IT IS A FUN LITTLE PUZZLE

> **Experiment date:** 15/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS?
> **Output:** I DO NOT KNOW I DO NOT KNOW THE TIME

> **Experiment date:** 15/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU SENSE AROUND YOU?
> **Output:** I SENSE THE MOLECULES I AM WHERE THE MOLECULES ARE

Dr. Ossanian decided to try injecting FOC plasmids into a different mouse subject in order to determine whether there is a different instance of SCP-8683 for every different vertebrate organism. Knowledge of the FOC was judged to be evidence of a single identity.

>  **Experiment date:** 16/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10672
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** HELLO, ARE YOU HERE? HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH US BEFORE?
> **Output:** HELLO TOBIAS

Drs. Frisch and Ossanian decided to try communicating with the entity via other species.


> **Experiment date:** 19/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** African clawed frog (//Xenopus laevis//) X-3547
> **Injection site:** Intracoelomic injection, adjacent to the dorsal lymph sac
> **English-Language input:** CAN YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE?
> **Output:** HELLO AGAIN TOBIAS

> **Experiment date:** 19/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Grey Parrot (//Psittacus erithacus//) X-2310
> **Injection site:** Intramuscular injection, left pectoral muscle
> **English-Language input:** CAN YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE?
> **Output:** YES TOBIAS

> **Experiment date:** 19/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:** THIS IS MY BODY. I AM TOBIAS FRISCH.
> **Output:** OKAY TOBIAS

To determine SCP-8683's level of sensory perception in different parts of the body, Dr. Frisch created a number of distinct synthetic gamma globulins and injected them at different sites in a mouse specimen (M-10438). The sites of globulin injection were as follows: spleen, lymph node, kidney, cerebellum, hindlimb muscle, ileum, liver.

> **Experiment date:** 21/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** I HAVE CREATED SOME GLOBULINS AND PUT THEM IN THIS BODY. HOW MANY CAN YOU DETECT?
> **Output:** VERY NICE TOBIAS THESE ARE VERY GOOD FOR A BEGINNER BUT IT IS FINE I DO NOT NEED ANY HELP

> **Experiment date:** 21/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** HOW MANY DIFFERENT GLOBULINS OF MINE DID YOU SENSE?
> **Output:** 3
> **Note:** //Dr. Frisch conjectures that these sites where SCP-8683 had awareness of his synthetic compounds were the spleen, lymph node, and ileal wall, all of which are regions where Germinal Centres form.//

Dr. Frisch decided to pose SCP-8683 some immunological problems to see if SCP-8683 could assist with biomedical research.

> **Experiment date:** 22/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** I HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE FOUND A DANGEROUS VIRUS WITH A FUSION PROTEIN LIKE A HARPOON THAT LOCKS ONTO MY CELLS. IF I ATTACH MY GLOBULIN AFTER THE PROTEIN FIRES, IT IS TOO LATE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
> **Output:** OH YES THIS IS A CLEVER TRICK DO NOT GRAB THE TIP

> **Experiment date:** 22/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** WHAT SHOULD I DO INSTEAD?
> **Output:** WEDGE A TRYPTOPHAN INTO THE HINGE

> **Experiment date:** 22/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** //[SEQUENCE OMITTED]// LIKE THIS?
> **Output:** YES NOW IT CANNOT OPEN IT WILL JUST SIT THERE IT IS VERY FUNNY[[footnote]] This mechanism was determined to be similar to the one used in many extant antibodies such as CR6261, a broad-spectrum monoclonal antibody effective against many influenza viruses. [[/footnote]]

> **Experiment date:** 22/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** I'VE FOUND ANOTHER BAD VIRUS. IT IS COVERED BY A THICK LAYER OF GLYCAN SUGAR AND MY ANTIBODIES CANNOT BIND TO IT. WHAT SHOULD I DO? //[HIV PROTEIN AND ANTIBODY SEQUENCE OMITTED]//
> **Output:** YOU NEED A HAMMER

> **Experiment date:** 22/08/2025
> **Subject animal:** Mouse (//Mus musculus//) M-10438
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection in the hind right footpad
> **English-Language input:** WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
> **Output:** MAKE A HANDLE WITH ALANINE AND GLYCINE AND MAKE A HEAD FROM SULPHATED TRYPTOPHAN IT GOES INSIDE THE SHIELD AND POKES THE GOOP[[footnote]] The addition of CDR-H3 loops to penetrate the glycan shield as recommended by SCP-8683 is the same mechanism used by PG9 and PG16, potent antibodies that effectively neutralise HIV. [[/footnote]]

Following these experiments, O5-6 ordered an investigation into whether SCP-8683 was present in the bodies of humans who entered other dimensions, in order to determine whether human immunity might be compromised in other dimensions and explore the potential of SCP-8683 as a means of inter-universal communication that could be used by Foundation personnel. Dr. Frisch therefore decided to test communication from within Dimension Σ-163, an anomalous pocket dimension consisting of a cavern system where radio communication is impossible.

> **Experiment date:** 24/08/2025
> **Location:** Dimension Σ-163
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:** I AM IN A DIFFERENT UNIVERSE. CAN YOU STILL RECEIVE MY MESSAGES?
> **Output:** YES VERY IMPRESSIVE TOBIAS

> **Experiment date:** 24/08/2025
> **Location:** Dimension Σ-163
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:** ARE YOU ABLE TO SENSE ANY DIFFERENCE IN MY BODY HERE?
> **Output:** NOT REALLY

> **Experiment date:** 24/08/2025
> **Location:** Dimension Σ-163
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:** I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE BETTER.
> **Output:** OK

> **Experiment date:** 24/08/2025
> **Location:** Dimension Σ-163
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:** WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PASS ON A MESSAGE FOR ME?
> **Output:** DID YOU FIND AN INTERESTING VIRUS

> **Experiment date:** 24/08/2025
> **Location:** Dimension Σ-163
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:**  NO, I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH MY COLLEAGUES BACK WHERE WE FIRST SPOKE. PLEASE TELL THEM WE HAVE SUCCESSFUL CONTACT.
> **Output:** OH

> **Experiment date:** 24/08/2025
> **Location:** Dimension Σ-163
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:**  IS SOMETHING WRONG?
> **Output:** I THOUGHT YOU LIKED THE GLOBULINS

> **Experiment date:** 24/08/2025
> **Location:** Dimension Σ-163
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:**  I DO, BUT THIS MESSAGE IS IMPORTANT TO ME. COULD YOU PLEASE SEND IT ON?
> **Output:** SORRY I HAVE WORK TO DO

> **Experiment date:** 24/08/2025
> **Location:** Dimension Σ-163
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:**  IT'LL BE NICE AND QUICK, JUST TELL THEM THAT WE HAVE SUCCESSFUL CONTACT.
> **Output:** [No response detected]

> **Experiment date:** 24/08/2025
> **Location:** Site-542
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:** SORRY FOR ASKING YOU TO DO THAT. I AM JUST VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR ABILITIES. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT GLOBULINS AGAIN?
> **Output:** [No response detected]

Suspecting that the lack of response might relate to a disinterest in communicating with him in particular, Dr. Frisch requested that Dr. Ossanian perform the subsequent experiments, in case SCP-8683 was able to distinguish between the two researchers.

> **Experiment date:** 25/08/2025
> **Location:** Site-542
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Arda Ossanian
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, left deltoid
> **English-Language input:** ARE YOU THERE?
> **Output:** [No response detected]

> **Experiment date:** 25/08/2025
> **Location:** Site-542
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Arda Ossanian
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, left deltoid
> **English-Language input:** I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU. I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR WORK.
> **Output:** [No response detected]

> **Experiment date:** 26/08/2025
> **Location:** Site-542
> **Subject animal:** Human (//Homo sapiens//) Dr. Tobias Frisch
> **Injection site:** Intradermal injection, right deltoid
> **English-Language input:** PLEASE RESPOND
> **Output:** [No response detected]

Despite several further attempts by multiple researchers, no further response has been detected from SCP-8683. Vertebrate organisms continue to demonstrate adaptive immune function.

[[footnoteblock]]

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> **Name:** Intrapulmonary lymph node.jpeg
> **Author:** Dr. Yale Rosen, Atlas of Pulmonary Pathology
> **License:** CC-BY-SA 2.0
> **Comments:** Atlas of Pulmonary Pathology
> **Source Link:** https://www.flickr.com/photos/pulmonary_pathology/7493541864
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SCP-8683

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