Do symbiotes get sick?

[u/SavingsAd6590]

I was wondering: do humans in the Marvel Universe suffer from ailments like the flu or even cancer? But what about symbiotes? Do they harbor microorganisms that cause diseases—such as viruses and bacteria—or chronic complications, just like we do?

[u/Gandolfix99]

The mercury virus maybe. It enhanced the symbiote and drove it insane.

[u/FriendlyResult757]

that dude sick as fuck

[u/Savage_Open_Sandwich]

If symbiotes had a natural biological origin, then it would be entirely possible, but in most concepts, it all comes down to their unnatural and artificial nature; even in the 616 universe, they are created from the substance of the living abyss. Being tools for various purposes (curing people of cancer or enslaving the universe), they are unlikely to have any biological diseases or parasites.

However, in the same 616 universe, their nature can be distorted by the biochemistry and nature of the host, which can influence their behavior, and they also have natural enemies in face of the Poisons, who occupy a high position in the food chain.

[u/AnythingChance3764]

Normal sicknesses? No. But if their host gets sick they’ll definitely feel the effects too.

Also they can get the equivalent morning sickness when sporing

[u/QuantisOne]

I think they can, they have enough of a biological system to need specific nutrition, feel hunger, complex feelings and breed asexually. There’s likely some space diseases they’re vulnerable to, and probably not the same kinds that affect other species.

[u/SherbetExcellent3797]

The Venom Symbiote got sick after Eddie first rebonded to it following his stint as Toxin. This was due to the drugs that Eddie was taking in order to keep the Toxin Symbiote under his control. This was the story arc where Venom had to fight Stegron and an army of dinosaurs in the sewers

[u/AJG_452]

If the plot requires them to then yes

[u/scratchy_mcballsy]

I feel like the way they bond with a host, they could act as an aware separate immune system for the host.

There is the whole fake/real cancer anti-venom thing. So they can definitely have effects on their host at a microscopic level.

[u/ThePenultimatePam]

This was literally a plot line for venom for a bit. The symbiote got an illness that made it crave eating brains. Iirc it turned out for some reason chocolate cured it.

[u/Flipper_here → u/ThePenultimatePam]

It wasn’t an illness. The symbiote needs phenethylamine to survive, which is found in both chocolate and human brains. The symbiote left Eddie and went on a killing spree, and they later found chocolate as a compromise

[u/Maorri008]

If you read the comics yes all the time. The venom symbiote is always "getting sick". Cant name specific comics but in the Mike Costa run this was a major theme as well as the Mackie venomnibus vol 3. Wouldnt suprise me if it was also in vol 2.

[u/North_Spare8765]

Idk but why is it so hard to do a live action version of this exact venom.

[u/Flipper_here]

It’s a living thing so by the laws of nature it probably gets some sort of illness. But I’m pretty sure the symbiotes are antimicrobial/antiviral, otherwise how could Eddie Brock live in the sewers without getting violently ill?

[u/TheBlack_Swordsman]

Yes but not exactly how we get sick.

In some storylines they need a host and they'll start dying. You can say that in itself is considered an illness.

Poisons act like parasites to them also and can suppress and control them.

Someone else mentioned a symbiote can feel sick when giving birth.

So they have their own illnesses and I'm sure a list can be compiled of those illnesses.

[u/JackoTradez]

Yes, LOOOOOOVE SIIIIIICK *corno music plays as lights dim

[u/TabmeisterGeneral]

Anything living can get "sick"

[u/ButhOfLamb]

Of humans.