Improved understanding of biorisk for research involving microbial modification using annotated sequences of concern

Abstract

Regulation of research on microbes that cause disease in humans has historically been focused on taxonomic lists of ‘bad bugs’. However, given our increased knowledge of these pathogens through inexpensive genome sequencing, 5 decades of research in microbial pathogenesis, and the burgeoning capacity of synthetic biologists, the limitations of this approach are apparent. With heightened scientific and public attention focused on biosafety and biosecurity, and an ongoing review by US authorities of dual-use research oversight, this article proposes the incorporation of sequences of concern (SoCs) into the biorisk management regime governing genetic engineering of pathogens. SoCs enable pathogenesis in all microbes infecting hosts that are ‘of concern’ to human civilization. Here we review the functions of SoCs (FunSoCs) and discuss how they might bring clarity to potentially problematic research outcomes involving infectious agents. We believe that annotation of SoCs with FunSoCs has the potential to improve the likelihood that dual use research of concern is recognized by both scientists and regulators before it occurs.

Limiting open science? Three approaches to bottom-up governance of dual-use research of concern

“…The development of a program to predict the three-dimensional structure of a protein from its arbitrary amino acid sequence is underway [ 21 ]. New dual-use specific tools and methods have also been proposed, such as understanding the activity and consequences of sequences of concern (SoC) on the host during infection [ 22 ], and a web-based Dual-Use Quickscan that allows researchers to easily monitor dual-use potential [ 23 ].…”