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Streicker DG, Griffiths ME, Antia R, Bergner L, Bowman P, dos Santos de Moraes MV, Esvelt K, Famulare M, Gilbert A, He B, Jarvis MA, Kennedy DA, Kuzma J, Wanyonyi CN, Remien C, Rocke T, Rosenke K, Schreiner C, Sheen J, Simons D, Yordanova IA, Bull JJ, Nuismer SL. Developing transmissible vaccines for animal infections. Science 2024; 384:275-277. [PMID: 38669579 PMCID: PMC11298812 DOI: 10.1126/science.adn3231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically safe designs and a staged transparent development process will be essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G. Streicker
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow; Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research; Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Megan E. Griffiths
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow; Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research; Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Rustom Antia
- Department of Biology, Emory University; Atlanta, GA, 30322 United States of America
| | - Laura Bergner
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow; Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research; Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Bowman
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis; Davis, CA, 995616, United States of America
| | | | - Kevin Esvelt
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA, 02139, United States of America
| | - Mike Famulare
- Institute for Disease Modeling, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Seattle, WA, 98109, United States of America
| | - Amy Gilbert
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, National Wildlife Research Center; Fort Collins, CO, 80521, United States of America
| | - Biao He
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia; Athens, GA, 30602, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Jarvis
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Plymouth; Devon, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
- The Vaccine Group, Ltd.; Devon, PL6 6BU, United Kingdom
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health; Hamilton, MT, 59840, United States of America
| | - David A. Kennedy
- Department of Biology and Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University; University Park, PA, 16802, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Kuzma
- School of Public and International Affairs and Genetic Engineering and Society Center, North Carolina State University; Raleigh, NC, 27606 United States of America
| | | | - Christopher Remien
- Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science, University of Idaho; Moscow, ID 83844, United States of America
| | - Tonie Rocke
- United States Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center; Madison, Wisconsin, 53711, United States of America
| | - Kyle Rosenke
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health; Hamilton, MT, 59840, United States of America
| | - Courtney Schreiner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, 37996 United States of America
| | - Justin Sheen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08544, United States of America
| | - David Simons
- Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases, The Royal Veterinary College; London NW1 0TU, United Kingdom
| | - Ivet A. Yordanova
- Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute; Berlin, 13353, Germany
| | - James J. Bull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho; Moscow, ID 83844, United States of America
| | - Scott L. Nuismer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho; Moscow, ID 83844, United States of America
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Bull JJ, Nuismer SL, Remien CH, Griffiths ME, Antia R. Recombinant transmissible vaccines will be intrinsically contained despite the ability to superinfect. Expert Rev Vaccines 2024; 23:294-302. [PMID: 38372241 PMCID: PMC11003445 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2024.2320845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Transmissible vaccines offer a novel approach to suppressing viruses in wildlife populations, with possible applications against viruses that infect humans as zoonoses - Lassa, Ebola, rabies. To ensure safety, current designs propose a recombinant vector platform in which the vector is isolated from the target wildlife population. Because using an endemic vector creates the potential for preexisting immunity to block vaccine transmission, these designs focus on vector viruses capable of superinfection, spreading throughout the host population following vaccination of few individuals. AREAS COVERED We present original theoretical arguments that, regardless of its R0 value, a recombinant vaccine using a superinfecting vector is not expected to expand its active infection coverage when released into a wildlife population that already carries the vector. However, if superinfection occurs at a high rate such that individuals are repeatedly infected throughout their lives, the immunity footprint in the population can be high despite a low incidence of active vaccine infections. Yet we provide reasons that the above expectation is optimistic. EXPERT OPINION High vaccine coverage will typically require repeated releases or release into a population lacking the vector, but careful attention to vector choice and vaccine engineering should also help improve transmissible vaccine utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Bull
- Department of Biological Sciences, U. Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844 USA
| | - Scott L Nuismer
- Department of Biological Sciences. University of Idaho. Moscow, ID 83844
- Department of Mathematics. University of Idaho. Moscow, ID 83844
| | | | - Megan E Griffiths
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Rustom Antia
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322 USA
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Griffiths ME, Meza DK, Haydon DT, Streicker DG. Inferring the disruption of rabies circulation in vampire bat populations using a betaherpesvirus-vectored transmissible vaccine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216667120. [PMID: 36877838 PMCID: PMC10089182 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216667120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmissible vaccines are an emerging biotechnology that hold prospects to eliminate pathogens from wildlife populations. Such vaccines would genetically modify naturally occurring, nonpathogenic viruses ("viral vectors") to express pathogen antigens while retaining their capacity to transmit. The epidemiology of candidate viral vectors within the target wildlife population has been notoriously challenging to resolve but underpins the selection of effective vectors prior to major investments in vaccine development. Here, we used spatiotemporally replicated deep sequencing to parameterize competing epidemiological mechanistic models of Desmodus rotundus betaherpesvirus (DrBHV), a proposed vector for a transmissible vaccine targeting vampire bat-transmitted rabies. Using 36 strain- and location-specific time series of prevalence collected over 6 y, we found that lifelong infections with cycles of latency and reactivation, combined with a high R0 (6.9; CI: 4.39 to 7.85), are necessary to explain patterns of DrBHV infection observed in wild bats. These epidemiological properties suggest that DrBHV may be suited to vector a lifelong, self-boosting, and transmissible vaccine. Simulations showed that inoculating a single bat with a DrBHV-vectored rabies vaccine could immunize >80% of a bat population, reducing the size, frequency, and duration of rabies outbreaks by 50 to 95%. Gradual loss of infectious vaccine from vaccinated individuals is expected but can be countered by inoculating larger but practically achievable proportions of bat populations. Parameterizing epidemiological models using accessible genomic data brings transmissible vaccines one step closer to implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Griffiths
- Medical Research Council–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, GlasgowG61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Diana K. Meza
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel T. Haydon
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel G. Streicker
- Medical Research Council–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, GlasgowG61 1QH, United Kingdom
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG61 1QH, United Kingdom
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Taylor E, Aguilar-Ancori EG, Banyard AC, Abel I, Mantini-Briggs C, Briggs CL, Carrillo C, Gavidia CM, Castillo-Neyra R, Parola AD, Villena FE, Prada JM, Petersen BW, Falcon Perez N, Cabezas Sanchez C, Sihuincha M, Streicker DG, Maguina Vargas C, Navarro Vela AM, Vigilato MAN, Wen Fan H, Willoughby R, Horton DL, Recuenco SE. The Amazonian Tropical Bites Research Initiative, a hope for resolving zoonotic neglected tropical diseases in the One Health era. Int Health 2023; 15:216-223. [PMID: 35896028 PMCID: PMC9384559 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihac048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) disproportionately affect populations living in resource-limited settings. In the Amazon basin, substantial numbers of NTDs are zoonotic, transmitted by vertebrate (dogs, bats, snakes) and invertebrate species (sand flies and triatomine insects). However, no dedicated consortia exist to find commonalities in the risk factors for or mitigations against bite-associated NTDs such as rabies, snake envenoming, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis in the region. The rapid expansion of COVID-19 has further reduced resources for NTDs, exacerbated health inequality and reiterated the need to raise awareness of NTDs related to bites. METHODS The nine countries that make up the Amazon basin have been considered (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam and Venezuela) in the formation of a new network. RESULTS The Amazonian Tropical Bites Research Initiative (ATBRI) has been created, with the aim of creating transdisciplinary solutions to the problem of animal bites leading to disease in Amazonian communities. The ATBRI seeks to unify the currently disjointed approach to the control of bite-related neglected zoonoses across Latin America. CONCLUSIONS The coordination of different sectors and inclusion of all stakeholders will advance this field and generate evidence for policy-making, promoting governance and linkage across a One Health arena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Taylor
- University of Surrey, School of Veterinary Medicine, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Elsa Gladys Aguilar-Ancori
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Biomedicina de Cusco - Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, 08003, Peru
| | - Ashley C Banyard
- Animal and PlantHealth Agency, WoodhamLane, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Isis Abel
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Geoprocessamento, Instituto de MedicinaVeterinária, Universidade Federal do Pará, Castanhal, Pará, 68743-970, Brasil
| | - Clara Mantini-Briggs
- Berkeley Center for Social Medicine and the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-5670, USA
| | - Charles L Briggs
- Berkeley Center for Social Medicine and the Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-5670, USA
| | - Carolina Carrillo
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. Cesar Milstein, Fundación Pablo Cassará - ConsejoNacional de InvestigacionesCientíficas y Técnicas, Saladillo 2468 (C1440FFX) Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cesar M Gavidia
- Facultad de MedicinaVeterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, 15021, Perú
| | - Ricardo Castillo-Neyra
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104-6021, USA
- One Health Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad PeruanaCayetano Heredia, Lima, 15102, Peru
| | - Alejandro D Parola
- Fundación Pablo Cassará. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. Cesar Milstein, Saladillo 2468 (C1440FFX) Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fredy E Villena
- Asociaciónpara el Empleo y Bienestar Animal en Investigación y Docencia (ASOPEBAID), Lima, 15072, Peru
| | - Joaquin M Prada
- University of Surrey, School of Veterinary Medicine, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Brett W Petersen
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, 30333, USA
| | - Nestor Falcon Perez
- Facultad de MedicinaVeterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, 15102, Perú
| | - Cesar Cabezas Sanchez
- Centro de InvestigacionesTecnologicas, Biomedicas y Medioambientales-CITBM, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, 15081, Peru
| | | | - Daniel G Streicker
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Ciro Maguina Vargas
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander Von Humbolt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, 15102, Perú
| | | | - Marco A N Vigilato
- Pan American Center for Foot and Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health, Department of Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health, Pan American Health Organization, Rio de Janeiro, 25040-004, Brazil
| | - Hui Wen Fan
- Bioindustrial Center, InstitutoButantan, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel L Horton
- University of Surrey, School of Veterinary Medicine, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Sergio E Recuenco
- Centro de InvestigacionesTecnologicas, Biomedicas y Medioambientales-CITBM, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, 15081, Peru
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Yang J, Zhou Z, Li G, Dong Z, Li Q, Fu K, Liu H, Zhong Z, Fu H, Ren Z, Gu W, Peng G. Oral immunocontraceptive vaccines: A novel approach for fertility control in wildlife. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 89:e13653. [PMID: 36373212 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The overabundant populations of wildlife have caused many negative impacts, such as human-wildlife conflicts and ecological degradation. The existing approaches like injectable immunocontraceptive vaccines and lethal methods have limitations in many aspects, which has prompted the advancement of oral immunocontraceptive vaccine. There is growing interest in oral immunocontraceptive vaccines for reasons including high immunization coverage, easier administration, frequent boosting, the ability to induce systemic and mucosal immune responses, and cost-effectiveness. Delivery systems have been developed to protect oral antigens and enhance the immunogenicity, including live vectors, microparticles and nanoparticles, bacterial ghosts, and mucosal adjuvants. However, currently, no effective oral immunocontraceptive vaccine is available for field trials because of the enormous development challenges, including biological and physicochemical barriers of the gastrointestinal tract, mucosal tolerance, pre-existing immunity, antigen residence time in the small intestine, species specificity and other safety issues. To overcome these challenges, this article summarizes achievements in delivery systems and contraceptive antigens in oral immunocontraceptive vaccines and explores the potential barriers for future vaccine design and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ziyao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Gangshi Li
- Chengdu Ruipeng Changjiang Road Pet Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiyou Dong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qianlan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Keyi Fu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Haifeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhijun Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hualin Fu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhihua Ren
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wuyang Gu
- Chengdu Ruipeng Changjiang Road Pet Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Guangneng Peng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Griffiths ME, Broos A, Bergner LM, Meza DK, Suarez NM, da Silva Filipe A, Tello C, Becker DJ, Streicker DG. Longitudinal deep sequencing informs vector selection and future deployment strategies for transmissible vaccines. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001580. [PMID: 35439242 PMCID: PMC9017877 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is a powerful tool in combating infectious diseases of humans and companion animals. In most wildlife, including reservoirs of emerging human diseases, achieving sufficient vaccine coverage to mitigate disease burdens remains logistically unattainable. Virally vectored "transmissible" vaccines that deliberately spread among hosts are a potentially transformative, but still theoretical, solution to the challenge of immunising inaccessible wildlife. Progress towards real-world application is frustrated by the absence of frameworks to guide vector selection and vaccine deployment prior to major in vitro and in vivo investments in vaccine engineering and testing. Here, we performed deep sequencing on field-collected samples of Desmodus rotundus betaherpesvirus (DrBHV), a candidate vector for a transmissible vaccine targeting vampire bat-transmitted rabies. We discovered 11 strains of DrBHV that varied in prevalence and geographic distribution across Peru. The phylogeographic structure of DrBHV strains was predictable from both host genetics and landscape topology, informing long-term DrBHV-vectored vaccine deployment strategies and identifying geographic areas for field trials where vaccine spread would be naturally contained. Multistrain infections were observed in 79% of infected bats. Resampling of marked individuals over 4 years showed within-host persistence kinetics characteristic of latency and reactivation, properties that might boost individual immunity and lead to sporadic vaccine transmission over the lifetime of the host. Further, strain acquisitions by already infected individuals implied that preexisting immunity and strain competition are unlikely to inhibit vaccine spread. Our results support the development of a transmissible vaccine targeting a major source of human and animal rabies in Latin America and show how genomics can enlighten vector selection and deployment strategies for transmissible vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Griffiths
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Broos
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Laura M. Bergner
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Diana K. Meza
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolas M. Suarez
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ana da Silva Filipe
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Tello
- Association for the Conservation and Development of Natural Resources, Lima, Peru
- Yunkawasi, Lima, Peru
| | - Daniel J. Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Daniel G. Streicker
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Musunuri S, Sandbrink JB, Monrad JT, Palmer MJ, Koblentz GD. Rapid Proliferation of Pandemic Research: Implications for Dual-Use Risks. mBio 2021; 12:e0186421. [PMID: 34663091 PMCID: PMC8524337 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01864-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the world's vulnerability to biological catastrophe and elicited unprecedented scientific efforts. Some of this work and its derivatives, however, present dual-use risks (i.e., potential harm from misapplication of beneficial research) that have largely gone unaddressed. For instance, gain-of-function studies and reverse genetics protocols may facilitate the engineering of concerning SARS-CoV-2 variants and other pathogens. The risk of accidental or deliberate release of dangerous pathogens may be increased by large-scale collection and characterization of zoonotic viruses undertaken in an effort to understand what enables animal-to-human transmission. These concerns are exacerbated by the rise of preprint publishing that circumvents a late-stage opportunity for dual-use oversight. To prevent the next global health emergency, we must avoid inadvertently increasing the threat of future biological events. This requires a nuanced and proactive approach to dual-use evaluation throughout the research life cycle, including the conception, funding, conduct, and dissemination of research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonas B. Sandbrink
- Future of Humanity Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua Teperowski Monrad
- Future of Humanity Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom
| | - Megan J. Palmer
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Gregory D. Koblentz
- Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
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