Conscious cadaver is the only known achaea to cause infection (its cell wall lacks peptodyclycan). It has three defining features, the first of which I have already mentioned. The second feature is its abilitiy to withstand conditions even tardigrades cannot withstand. Its last defining feature is a unique enzyme it uses to disable any and all immune cells, known as Infirmitatase. This enzyme also affects the nervous system, completely paralyzing the infected individual. With the immune system disabled and the victim completely paralyzed, the body begins go into rigor mortis. The victim is completley helpless as they rot. Sometimes, the victims regains control, only to scream in pain and relapse into a death-like "sleep"
While "conscious while rotting" is a pretty good body horror trope, I don't really feel that it is enough to carry an article alone, even with a half-believable scientific explanation attached.
Why? Because it merely reads as one-step further locked-in syndrome.
That's like saying the zombie virus is a step up from rabies…
In a way, it is, which is why "ultra-rabies" was the flavor of the year "scientific" zombie explanation a few years ago. And that's also why zombie movies are rarely focus on the zombies themselves but rather on the survivors of a zombie plague/attack and the effects of that on human society. Not to say that there are no great zombie-centric pieces of fiction, but they are in the minority.
With no further information presented, I am assuming you are just going to focus on the body horror alone. It's not bad body horror, but really doesn't make me care about the article beyond other articles that have used the trope already. Can you give it an unique twist that sets it apart from others? If you can, go ahead. But otherwise, expect reception will be neutral at best.
Quite the contrary! I intend to approach it as an unfortunate side-effect to a peculiar micro-organism or virus, haven't really decided. I am not focusing on the body horror. I am focusing on its astounding complexity and efficiency.
Nutellakinesis, instead of making an entire new thread for an updated version of the same idea, you can edit your previous post using the "edit" function under the "options" tab to the lower right of every comment. Making a new thread every time you edit an idea isn't necessary (compared to draft threads that have already gotten multiple reviews) and can spam up the forums.
There was only one reply to your other thread; I've locked it and posted a link to this new thread. Please keep one thread for each idea you wish to discuss.