Exploring Bikini Bottom's Spongivirus (D.spongiae v1)

The “Spongivirus”: Charming Little Menace

Every now and then, a class project produces a virus so weirdly creative you almost want to root for it. The Spongivirus (officially D. spongiae Variant-1) is exactly that. Picture a virus with a sponge-like outer shell full of tiny pores and a yellow protective core inside. It’s basically the kitchen sponge of the microscopic world, just… a lot less helpful

`

This thing runs on RNA, which means it mutates fast and never sits still. Long-term immunity? Not happening. It loves warm, humid spots, like bathrooms, kitchens, anywhere that feels like a spa day for microbes. Alcohol and extreme temperatures can knock it out though, so it’s not invincible.

It sneaks in through the respiratory or intestinal tract and goes straight for macrophages, the immune cells that should be fighting for you. Once inside, it hijacks them and bursts them open like it's popping bubble wrap.

Early symptoms feel like a regular cold: sore throat, congestion, fatigue. As it ramps up, things get odd. More mucus, more nausea, and even signs of malnutrition because it pulls nutrients straight from the bloodstream. It mostly settles in the lungs and sinuses, but it can mess with the inner ear enough to make you queasy.

The upside: a healthy immune system usually kicks it out pretty quickly. And while the Spongivirus is completely fictional, it’s a clever way to learn how real viruses survive, spread, and cause the chaos they’re known for.