Rethinking Gain-of-Function Experiments in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Michael J Imperiale; Arturo Casadevall

doi:10.1128/mBio.01868-20

Rethinking Gain-of-Function Experiments in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

mBio. 2020 Aug 7;11(4):e01868-20. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01868-20.

Authors

Michael J Imperiale¹, Arturo Casadevall²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA imperial@umich.edu.
² Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Abstract

Proponents of the use of gain-of-function (GOF) experiments with pathogens with pandemic potential (PPP) have argued that such experiments are necessary because they reveal important facets of pathogenesis and can be performed safely. Opponents of GOF experiments with PPP have argued that the risks outweigh the knowledge gained. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the vulnerability of human societies to a new PPP, while also validating some arguments of both camps, questioning others, and suggesting the need to rethink how we approach this class of experiments.

Keywords: biosafety; bioterrorism; policy.

Publication types

Editorial

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus / genetics*
Biomedical Research / ethics
Biomedical Research / standards
Bioterrorism
COVID-19
Containment of Biohazards / ethics
Containment of Biohazards / standards
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
Coronavirus Infections / virology*
Gain of Function Mutation*
Humans
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / genetics
Influenza, Human / epidemiology
Influenza, Human / virology
Pandemics / prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
SARS-CoV-2