Researchers Fear Escape of Lethal Flu Strain
Global Security Newswire
Researchers are concerned about the potential security risk produced by the recreation of the 1918 Spanish flu, which killed 50 million people, the London Guardian reported today (see GSN, Oct. 3).
Undisclosed quantities of the flu are being held in a high-security lab at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Georgia. Researchers have worked for nine years to recreate the virus. Its genetic sequence is available online, adding to fears that it could be recreated elsewhere, the Guardian reported.
Scientists working with the virus argue their work has provided insight into the flu's lethality and its unique genetic formation. Other researchers have warned that the virus could escape.
"This will raise clear questions among some as to whether they have really created a biological weapon," said Ronald Atlas, co-director of the Center for Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism at the University of Louisville in Kentucky (Ian Sample, Guardian, Oct. 6).
Consortium to Work on Tularemia Vaccine
The University of New Mexico and the Cerus Corp. yesterday announced the creation of a federally funded consortium to develop a tularemia vaccine (see GSN, Oct. 5).
The consortium also includes the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Arizona State University, and the University of Texas, San Antonio, according to a Cerus press statement. It has received $23 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The vaccine is expected to be based on Cerus' KBMA vaccine technology, which consists of bacteria that have been killed but remain metabolically active. This technology can be used whenever a metabolically active vaccine is safer than a live vaccine, the release said.
"The funds for this research will be important in developing strategies that are not only applicable to a vaccine for [tularemia] but will also assist in defining a paradigm for developing vaccines against other emerging infections," said Rick Lyons, director of the University of New Mexico Center for Infectious Diseases and Immunity. "Emerging infections are recognized as a significant medical issue and innovative approaches to vaccine development are required. We are extremely excited about the opportunity provided to us by NIAID" (Cerus release, Oct. 5).
Researchers are concerned about the potential security risk produced by the recreation of the 1918 Spanish flu, which killed 50 million people, the London Guardian reported today (see GSN, Oct. 3).
Undisclosed quantities of the flu are being held in a high-security lab at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Georgia. Researchers have worked for nine years to recreate the virus. Its genetic sequence is available online, adding to fears that it could be recreated elsewhere, the Guardian reported.
Scientists working with the virus argue their work has provided insight into the flu's lethality and its unique genetic formation. Other researchers have warned that the virus could escape.
"This will raise clear questions among some as to whether they have really created a biological weapon," said Ronald Atlas, co-director of the Center for Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism at the University of Louisville in Kentucky (Ian Sample, Guardian, Oct. 6).
Consortium to Work on Tularemia Vaccine
The University of New Mexico and the Cerus Corp. yesterday announced the creation of a federally funded consortium to develop a tularemia vaccine (see GSN, Oct. 5).
The consortium also includes the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Arizona State University, and the University of Texas, San Antonio, according to a Cerus press statement. It has received $23 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The vaccine is expected to be based on Cerus' KBMA vaccine technology, which consists of bacteria that have been killed but remain metabolically active. This technology can be used whenever a metabolically active vaccine is safer than a live vaccine, the release said.
"The funds for this research will be important in developing strategies that are not only applicable to a vaccine for [tularemia] but will also assist in defining a paradigm for developing vaccines against other emerging infections," said Rick Lyons, director of the University of New Mexico Center for Infectious Diseases and Immunity. "Emerging infections are recognized as a significant medical issue and innovative approaches to vaccine development are required. We are extremely excited about the opportunity provided to us by NIAID" (Cerus release, Oct. 5).
