Maria Robotnik, a victim of Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome (ＮＩＤＳ：先天性免疫不全症候群 Senten-sei Meneki Fuzen Shōkōgun?, lit. "NIDS: Neuro Immunodeficiency Syndrome") is a condition mentioned in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is incurable and fatal disease. The only known person to have contracted it is Maria Robotnik.[1][2]
Description
Over fifty years ago, Maria Robotnik was diagnosed with Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome, much to her granfather's worry, and was expected not to recover from it. Medical treatment research for the sickness was conducted aboard the Space Colony ARK, but they were unable to yield a cure.[1] New hope for this research came however when Professor Gerald Robotnik accepted from the President of the United Federation of that time to lead Project Shadow to discover an "immortality formula." Gerald hoped that he could use this immortality research to develop a cure for Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome as a byproduct. As such, he and his colleagues began work on creating an ultimate life form endowed with immortality and the potential to create such a cure. However, the project ultimately failed when the military forcibly shut it down, eliminating those who were involved.
Based on its name, it is most likely a disease that affects the nervous system while also weakening the immune system (through the reduction of a person's antibody count), making the patient more susceptible to other diseases, as is evidenced by its name ("neuro" comes from the Greek word neuron, meaning "nerve" and in medical terms, refers to the brain and nervous system; immunodeficiency implies a weak immune system). It is said that medical treatment for it was difficult to provide fifty years ago.[1]
In other media
Archie Comics
Buns Rabbot mentioning N.I.D.S. in Archie Comics.
In Archie Comics, it is known as Neuro-Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AKA N.I.D.S.). Others have tried to cure N.I.D.S. in recent years; Dr. Ivo Kintobor in particular, who has successfully made a special suit, the Omega Care Unit, that stops the disease from progressing, but forces the victim to stay in the suit.
Buns Rabbot suffers from the disease in the comic series.
Sonic X
In the anime series Sonic X, like in the games, the "Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome" was the reason for why Maria stayed on the Space Colony ARK, which was incurable at that time. However, it was never mentioned in the English dub of the anime.
Trivia
- This disease could be based on AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), a real-life disease.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rouge's report in the Japanese Sonic Adventure 2 strategy guide, "The Truth about 50 Years ago..."
- ↑ BioWare (26 September 2008). Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Nintendo DS. Sega. "Codex: When the President of the United Stated Federation requested his assistance ona project to discover an "immortality formula," Prof. Robotnik though of his granddaughter Maria, who was suffering from an incurable disease known as Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome."