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The transition from human to Vampire takes place over a period of six to nine months during which the individual undergoes physical, physiological and mental transformation. The virus that causes Vampirism is still little understood as in many ways it resembles a very primitive virus called a prion, a life form which with the emergence of BSE (so- called 'mad cow disease') has become the subject of new research in recent years. Most Viruses cause disease by infiltrating the host's systems then attacking specific cells and replacing the DNA of the cell with a copy of their own thus creating more virus which then attack more cells and so on. The body of the host then recognizes these infected cells as foreign matter and the immune system works to eradicate them. The virus that causes Vampirism works in much the same way except that the virus attacks nearly all of the hosts systems and works to adapt rather than change the DNA within the cells, adding extra 'mini chromosomes' called plasmids to the human DNA rather than replacing it completely. This has two effects. Firstly, it means that the host's immune system is partly fooled into believing that the adapted cells are still normal and are less aggressive in their removal of them, giving the virus more time to spread through out the body's systems. Secondly it means that the individual stays mostly human in appearance , the new DNA only serving to enhance the existing structure rather than change it completely. The virus for Vampirism is a very old and well evolved organism which benefits it's host in many ways rather than killing it. Newer virus like the Ebola virus show their lack of adaptation in the fact that they destroy their hosts thereby running the risk of destroying themselves. A successful virus seeks symbiosis with it's host, not destruction.

Transmission
Vampirism is passed on in two ways, as a virus through bodily fluids, (blood, saliva and to a lesser degree, semen) and genetically between generations.

Bodily fluids
As mentioned above, the Vampire virus is carried in the Vampire's saliva and other bodily fluids where they can be transmitted to a new host. In order for the victim to become a vampire (assuming they have a healthy immune system), they would have to be exposed to a large dose of the virus through injection or consumption of the Vampire's fluids (usually blood).
It is unlikely the tiny dose of virus present in the saliva passes during feeding is sufficient to infect a healthy human. The viral content of the saliva serves to hide the Vampires visit should one choose to feed on a sleeping human. The vampire will bite the neck, inner knee or other soft area of the victim and withdraws around a pint and a half (a little under a litre) of blood. When the Vampire has left, the wound contains a small amount of the Vampire virus which immediately begins to infect the flesh around the wound. The wound then quickly closes over leaving no discernible mark as the vampire trait of fast healing effects the surrounding tissue. By the time this process is complete the infection, being so small, is easily dealt with by the immune system and eradicated. The victim awakes feeling weak and listless and maybe with a sore neck but with no suspicion that he has been visited by a Vampire during his sleep.

Genetically modified humans
The added genes for Vampirism are submissive against normal human genes. This means that a child born to a couple where one is human (and not a carrier) and one is a Vampire will not become a vampire, although the child will carry the Vampire gene. A child born to two Vampires will always become a vampire, although the infant will be born human and develop Vampirism as the extra genes activate at puberty.
If two humans who carry the Vampire gene have a child then there is a possibility that the child will be a Vampire, however it also may be a carrier or have no Vampire genes whatsoever. Click on Genetics in the main menu for a basic explanation.

Deformities
The strain of Virus that causes transformation into Wampyrus nosferatu has two differences to the others. It has a less effective camouflage against the immune system and is itself a more aggressive virus. This means that all through the transition period from human to Vampire, the individual's body is ravaged by the war between the virus and the immune system.
Some prospective Nosferatu never make it and die before the virus takes hold, in others the immune system wins and humanity is restored. The few who do make it become fully fledged wampyrus nosferatu but are scarred by the ordeal they have come through.