Leicontis

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: Frozen samples of SCP-XXXX are kept in secure biohazard storage at Site-19. Any research personnel with Level 1/XXXX or higher clearance may request access, subject to approval by the project head (currently Dr. F█████). Detailed logs must be kept of all such request, and all samples withdrawn for study; these logs are audited quarterly.

If the amount of stored SCP-XXXX drops below 100 mL, D-Class personnel are to be infected and used as multipliers. After 12 days, the cerebrospinal fluid of these subjects is to be extracted and processed according to Procedure XXXX-2C. Infection of D-Class personnel for this purpose or for study requires approval from Dr. F█████ and at least one other staff member of Level 2 or higher clearance.

Subjects infected with SCP-XXXX are kept in padded safety cells (for exact specifications, see Document XXXX-█). When not being used for study of SCP-XXXX's "starvation" response, all infected individuals are subjected to standard sleep-deprivation methods to maintain suitable stress levels. Unless circumstances necessitate otherwise, infectees are to be terminated via Procedure XXXX-2C. After expiration or termination, subjects' remains must be incinerated.

Under no circumstances are individuals infected with SCP-XXXX to be permitted direct access to objects capable of causing injury except as part of supervised testing.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a synthetic species of phytoplankton, most closely resembling [REDACTED]. The most readily observable difference is that in SCP-XXXX the chloroplasts have been replaced with a novel organelle, the precise functioning of which is not yet currently understood. Unlike its natural analogs, SCP-XXXX is only able to survive in human cerebrospinal fluid, and as such can only be transmitted through direct injection into the brain or spine of the infectee. No synthetic media have been found in which SCP-XXXX can be cultured.

Initial symptoms resemble a mild case of viral meningitis; these symptoms typically appear within 48 hours of injection and persist for three to six days. Autopsies suggest that during this period SCP-XXXX colonies develop in the subject's brain, with the majority concentrated in the amygdala. Following the initial symptoms, subjects display a general loss of affect, with fear and stress responses particularly dampened. Psychiatric symptoms persist indefinitely, and do not respond to standard therapies. A final symptom, referred to as SCP-XXXX's "starvation" response, may occur at any time after the onset of psychiatric symptoms.

SCP-XXXX appears to derive sustenance, at least in part, from the neurochemical activity associated with stress and anxiety. This appears to be the mechanism by which subjects' observed loss of affect is produced. If a subject does not experience adequate levels of stress, the "starvation" response is triggered: During its "starvation" response, SCP-XXXX induces lapses in attention, coordination, and judgement in its host. The purpose of these lapses appears to be the triggering of mistakes and accidents, presumably to generate stress in the subject.

Addendum XXXX-01: SCP-XXXX was originally developed by Anesidora Defense Research (a division of Prometheus Labs) in 20██ as part of their Personnel Enhancement Program. It was intended to improve performance in high-stress conditions, such as intense or prolonged combat service, as well as to prevent and/or treat post-traumatic stress. Records recovered from the ADR development team indicate that the "starvation" response emerged unexpectedly during testing, because of which the project was put on hold. The facility later [DATA EXPUNGED] recovered by the Foundation [DATA EXPUNGED] thermite sterilization.

Addendum XXXX-02: Foundation assets embedded in various medical facilities have reported and contained ███ civilian cases of infection by SCP-XXXX. No significant commonalities have been found between these infectees. Subjects questioned by Foundation investigators have universally reported no recollection of circumstances under which they might have been injected with SCP-XXXX. Enhanced interrogation and similar tests support these reports. All infected civilians have been terminated without incident.