|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
 |
 |
    |
|
|
|||
 |
|
||
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Australian Scientists Inadvertently Engineer Vaccine-Resistant Strain of Mousepox
Scientists at the Australian National University in Canberra have accidentally engineered a new strain of mousepox virus able to infect even vaccinated animals, the Courier Mail reported yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 27, 2003). “In an experiment aimed at reducing mice populations, scientists at the ANU introduced an immune system stimulating gene called Interleukin 4 to a flu-inducing mousepox virus in the laboratory,” said Grant Waterer, a specialist in pulmonary infectious diseases. “They found that inserting the immune system stimulating gene made the virus deadly for breeds of laboratory mice that were normally resistant to mousepox,” Waterer said. “They also discovered vaccines against mousepox became less effective,” he added. Waterer also said a similar process could be used to create a virus that could infect humans. “Humans create Interleukin 4 and in theory, similar steps could create a pathogen deadly to people,” he said. Moreover, the technology needed to create genetically modified viruses could be available to terrorist groups. “It’s certainly well within any reasonably funded terrorist group to be able to do that,” he said. “It’s just a matter of when rather than if, I think. If there are people out there who want to do it, it can be done” (Janelle Miles, Courier Mail/Seven.com.au, March 20)
| ||||||||||
Back to top
