Sakutia

Sakutia is an extremely rare virus found primarily in the African region of Lumumba. The virus attaches itself to a victim's DNA, enabling the host body to instinctively rewrite their own genetic code. Typically, a host relies upon primitive instinct when affecting such a change, rendering them capable of shape shifting into a wide variety of forms (usually animals). Sakutia victims suffer from one other noticeable side effect – their hair and skin turns permanently green in hue. The virus aggressively overtakes a host body and is lethal within forty-eight hours. To date, there have only been seven documented cases of genuine Sakutia. Mutated strains of the virus have been shown to prolong life beyond the forty-eight hour expiry time, and carriers of the virus have demonstrated other "changeling" characteristics as well.

Approximately thirteen years ago, Doctors Mark and Marie Logan, along with scientist Samuel Register, established a small research camp in the region of Lumumba. The Logans' young son, Garfield, contracted the Sakutia virus and grew ill, nearly to the point of death. The Logans managed to save their son by developing a serum that mutated Garfield's infected genes. The virus was no longer lethal, but Garfield was left with permanent green skin, and he developed the ability to shape-shift into any species of terrestrial animal. He soon became an adventurer known as Beast Boy.

Years later, Dr. Samuel Register voluntarily infected himself with a strain of the Sakutia virus in the hopes of mutating the strain even further. His goals were to isolate the Sakutia infected cells and manipulate them in the hopes of creating an army of animal men, which he could control. He relocated to San Francisco, California and began inoculating several local children with the mutated Sakutia. The children transformed into many species of green animals and began rampaging through the streets. This frenzy drew the attention of the Teen Titans. Beast Boy confronted Dr. Register and found a means to return all of the children back to normal.

Recommended readings

 * Doom Patrol (Volume 1) #99
 * Tales of the New Teen Titans #3
 * Teen Titans (Volume 3) #13
 * Teen Titans (Volume 3) #14
 * Teen Titans (Volume 3) #15