The mousepox experience

Selgelid, Michael J.; Weir, Lorna; Jackson, Ronald; Ramshaw, Ian A.

doi:10.1038/embor.2009.270

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The researchers recognized that there was a remote possibility of this research being adapted for use in human smallpox as a biological weapon. Nevertheless, despite their reservations and with the advice of various advisory boards they published the research (Selgelid and Weir 2010). When published, however, considerable discussion was initiated regarding the publication of this research and the responsibilities of the scientists involved.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Data Sharing and Dual-Use Issues

Bezuidenhout

2011

Sci Eng Ethics

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The concept of dual-use encapsulates the potential for well-intentioned, beneficial scientific research to also be misused by a third party for malicious ends. The concept of dual-use challenges scientists to look beyond the immediate outcomes of their research and to develop an awareness of possible future (mis)uses of scientific research. Since 2001 much attention has been paid to the possible need to regulate the dual-use potential of the life sciences. Regulation initiatives fall under two broad categories-those that develop the ethical education of scientists and foster an awareness and responsibility of dual-use issues, and those which assess the regulation of information being generated by current research. Both types of initiatives are premised on a cautious, risk-adverse philosophy which advocates careful examination of all future endpoints of research endeavors. This caution advocated within initiatives such as pre-publication review of journal articles contrasts to the obligation to share underpinning data sharing discussions. As the dual-use debate has yet to make a significant impact on data sharing discussions (and vice versa) it is possible that these two areas of knowledge control may present areas of ethical conflict for scientists, and thus need to be more closely examined. This paper examines the tension between the obligation to share exemplified by data sharing principles and the concerns raised by the risk-cautious culture of the dual-use debates. The paper concludes by reflecting on the issues of responsibility as raised by dual-use as relating to data sharing, such as the chain of custody for shared data.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Data Sharing and Dual-Use Issues

Bezuidenhout

2011

Sci Eng Ethics

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“…It is clear that some paradigm cases of dual-use—and, in particular, those that have caused most concern—involve in collective action. In the case of the mousepox study, the lead researcher was involved with Australian government efforts to enhance the myxoma virus’ capacity to control rabbit populations (Selgelid and Weir 2010 ). The H5N1 studies were both funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the purported public health benefits of the studies were described from the outset (Herfst et al 2012 ; Imai et al 2012 ).…”

Section: A Deeper Accountmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Then, a group of Australian scientists studying ectromelia variola, or mousepox, engineered a strain of the virus that killed 100 % of immunologically naïve and vaccinated mice, and 60 % of genetically resistant mice (Jackson et al 2001 ). Though the work had potential applications in controlling rodent plagues in Australia (Kerr et al 2004 ; Selgelid and Weir 2010 ), and better understanding poxviruses—of which cowpox, monkeypox, and smallpox are all transmissible in humans—the research also had a dark side. The genetic similarity of poxviruses left open the potential for using the research to modify a human-transmissible poxvirus; 1 a recipe for a deadly pandemic (Miller and Selgelid 2008 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dual-use decision making: relational and positional issues

Evans

2014

Monash Bioeth. Rev.

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Debates about dual-use research often turn on the potential for scientific research to be used to benefit or harm humanity. This dual-use potential is conventionally understood as the product of the magnitude of the harms and benefits of dual-use research, multiplied by their likelihood. This account, however, neglects important social aspects of the use of science and technology. In this paper, I supplement existing conceptions of dual-use potential to account for the social context of dual-use research. This account incorporates relational and positional concerns that feature in the success or failure of dual-use. I then defend this account against foreseeable objections.

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“…Also, the World has witnessed in recent the emergence of numerous new epidemics, pests and environmental disasters, but none of which had any connection with genetic engineering. GE pathogens (mostly viruses) created by scientists for research purposes [14–16] have –so far– not left the laboratory. Furthermore bacterial agents (unfortunately) contemplated in biological warfare up to now [17] are of natural origin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthetic constructs in/for the environment: Managing the interplay between natural and engineered Biology

Schmidt

Lorenzo

2012

FEBS Letters

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The plausible release of deeply engineered or even entirely synthetic/artificial microorganisms raises the issue of their intentional (e.g. bioremediation) or accidental interaction with the Environment. Containment systems designed in the 1980s–1990s for limiting the spread of genetically engineered bacteria and their recombinant traits are still applicable to contemporary Synthetic Biology constructs. Yet, the ease of DNA synthesis and the uncertainty on how non-natural properties and strains could interplay with the existing biological word poses yet again the challenge of designing safe and efficacious firewalls to curtail possible interactions. Such barriers may include xeno-nucleic acids (XNAs) instead of DNA as information-bearing molecules, rewriting the genetic code to make it non-understandable by the existing gene expression machineries, and/or making growth dependent on xenobiotic chemicals.

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The mousepox experience

Abstract: Can dual‐use research be conducted safely, or are some things simply too dangerous to ever be appropriate research topics? Ronald Jackson and Ian Ramshaw offer their own perspectives in interviews about their groundbreaking work with mousepox virus.

Cited by 16 publications

References 9 publications

Data Sharing and Dual-Use Issues

Data Sharing and Dual-Use Issues

Dual-use decision making: relational and positional issues

Synthetic constructs in/for the environment: Managing the interplay between natural and engineered Biology

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