Censorship Slides - Harvard University
Transcript of Censorship Slides - Harvard University
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Avian flu and scientific censorship When should scientists keep their mouths shut?
Tina Liu
Ann Fiegen
Kevin Bonham
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Meet H5N1, an avian flu virus
Nevit Dilman, CC Attribution Share-Alike 3.0
60% mortality
rate in
documented
cases of human
infection.
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“Deadly Flu Made
Airborne” -NYTimes, Dec 2011
“Dutch lab creates highly contagious
killer flu” -The Independent, Dec 2011
“‘mutant bird flu’ sparking terrorist fears” -The Telegraph, Dec 2011
“Bird Flu
strains should
be kept secret,
government
says”
-San Francisco Chronicle,
Dec 2011
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When should scientists keep their mouths shut?
Tina Liu – Censorship in the past:
recombinant DNA research
Ann Fiegen – Censorship today: A killer flu
virus created? How and why?
Kevin Bonham – Weighing the risks: how do
we proceed?
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US halts one DNA experiment
at Harvard Dec 16, 1977, Boston Globe
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Outline
1. Biological basics.
2. The first recombinant DNA
3. The “Frankenstein factor”: response of
science and society
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DNA is the blueprint of life
Alvesgaspar, CC Attribution Share-Alike 3.0; Nicolas Suzor, CC Attribution Share-Alike 2.0, Wikicommons
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How is the information in DNA used?
Booyabazooka, CC Attribution Share-Alike 3.0, Inner Schweinehund, CC Attribution Share-Alike 2.5
DNA (genes)
“Encyclopedia”
is transcribed to RNA.
“Messages”
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How is the information in DNA “read”?
Booyabazooka, CC Attribution Share-Alike 3.0, Inner Schweinehund, CC Attribution Share-Alike 2.5
DNA (genes)
“Encyclopedia”
RNA
“Messages”
is translated to Protein.
“Workers”
Changes in DNA lead to changes in protein
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Why is genetic research important?
Diabetes Cancer
Responsible for 13% of all
deaths worldwide in one
year
1 of 12 people in the U.S.
are affected.
Understand genetic basis Develop better treatments
Steven Depolo, CC Attribution Generic 2.0, Wikicommons
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Research isn’t just about doing experiments…
http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/howscienceworks_02
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Outline
1. Biological basics.
2. The first recombinant DNA
3. The “Frankenstein factor”: response of
science and society
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Biological research, pre-1970
Proteins or DNA
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Recombinant DNA: a new,
improved tool for biology
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Stanley Cohen Stanford University
Herbert Boyer UC-San Francisco
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Construction of recombinant DNA
Frog DNA
Bacterial DNA
(plasmid)
Recombinant
DNA
+
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Construction of recombinant DNA
Recombinant
DNA
Bacterial cell
Frog
protein
Experiments
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Biological research, post-rDNA
Proteins or DNA
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Biological research, post-rDNA
Proteins or DNA
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Many diabetics lack
insulin, a hormone.
Treatment requires
regular insulin
injections.
Insulin!
World Health Organization, obtained from the National Library of Medicine.
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+
Bacteria
Potential of recombinant DNA?
= ?
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“Is this the answer to Dr. Frankenstein’s dream?”
-Alfred E. Vellucci, Mayor of Cambridge, 1976
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What do you think?
Questions?
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Outline
1. Biological basics.
2. The first recombinant DNA
3. The “Frankenstein factor”: response of
science and society
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Worries of a biologist...
1. Antibiotic resistance genes
2. Toxin genes
3. Cancer genes
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Asilomar: first of its kind
National Library of Medicine, USA
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Asilomar: who was there?
• Scientists
• Attorneys
• Reporters
National Library of Medicine, USA
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Fruits of
Asilomar
• NIH Committee
• Rules and proper
procedures for rDNA
handling
National Library of Medicine, USA
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Congress takes on DNA Mar 27, 1977, Chicago Tribune
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Frankenstein… or not?
• Not as dangerous as
suspected
• No public health disasters
to this day
• Exchange of DNA
between organisms occurs
in nature, too!
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Gene technology is generally
safe, panel concludes
Boston Globe, 1987
Despite questions, it’s time to
embrace gene therapy
Chicago Tribune, 1990
Genetic scientists close in on
cause of cystic fibrosis
Chicago Tribune, 1985
10 years
later…
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Uses of rDNA in medicine today
• Vaccines
• Drugs
• Gene therapy
• Diagnostic tools
• And many more…
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Outline
1. Biological basics.
2. The first recombinant DNA
3. The “Frankenstein factor”: response of
science and society
What about this new avian flu virus?
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“Dutch lab creates highly contagious
killer flu” -The Independent, Dec 2011
“Deadly Flu Made
Airborne” -NYTimes, Dec 2011
“‘mutant bird flu’ sparking terrorist fears” -The Telegraph, Dec 2011
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“This is an
Asilomar moment”
- Paul Keim
Chair of the U.S. National Science
Advisory Board for Biosecurity
December 2011
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When should scientists keep their mouths shut?
Tina Liu – Censorship in the past:
recombinant DNA research
Ann Fiegen – Censorship today: A dangerous
flu virus created? How and why.
Kevin Bonham – Weighing the risks: how do
we proceed?
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Part II: A dangerous flu virus created?
How and Why.
• Influenza virus: parts and life cycle
• Lock and Key: Cellular and Viral Receptors
• Human vs Avian vs Swine Flu
• The ‘censored’ studies
– The Goal
– The Experiments
– The Benefits
• “The Doomsday virus” and Censorship
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Part II: A dangerous flu virus created?
How and Why.
• Influenza virus: parts and life cycle
• Lock and Key: Cellular and Viral Receptors
• Human vs Avian vs Swine Flu
• The ‘censored’ studies
– The Goal
– The Experiments
– The Benefits
• “The Doomsday virus” and Censorship
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Influenza Virus: Parts of a virus
Genome (RNA)
Surface Proteins:
Hemaglutinin (H)
Neuraminidase (N)
PRNewsFoto Zygote Media Group, TWIV.tv
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Influenza Virus: Life Cycle
Enter
Release Genome
Replicate Genome
Make Protein
Assemble
Exit
Cell Nucleus
Cell Membrane
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Part II: A dangerous flu virus created?
How and Why.
• Influenza virus: parts and life cycle
• Lock and Key: Cellular and Viral Receptors
• Human vs Avian vs Swine Flu
• The ‘censored’ studies
– The Goal
– The Experiments
– The Benefits
• “The Doomsday virus” and Censorship
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Cells have many proteins
RNA Protein
Inside the cell:
Building
Transporting
Outside the cell:
Hold the cell in place
Detect chemical signals
DNA
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Which cells does Influenza virus infect?
TWIV.tv, Clker.com
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Which cells does Influenza Virus infect?
TWIV.tv, Clker.com
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Part II: A dangerous flu virus created?
How and Why.
• Influenza virus: parts and life cycle
• Lock and Key: Cellular and Viral Receptors
• Human vs Avian vs Swine Flu
• The ‘censored’ studies
– The Goal
– The Experiments
– The Benefits
• “The Doomsday virus” and Censorship
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Which cells does Influenza virus infect?
H1, H2, H3
H5, H7
Clker.com, virology.ws
H5, H7
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Seasonal Flu – easy come, easy go
“Seasonal Flu” (H1, H2, H3)
• Infects upper respiratory tract
• Excellent airborne transmission
• No lung infection – not severe
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Avian Influenza – damage in the deep
H5N1 “Avian Flu”
• Difficult to catch because air
droplets must get deep
• Severe symptoms due to
damaging infection of lungs
• Not transmissible to others,
because virus cannot escape lungs
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Questions?
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Part II: A dangerous flu virus created?
How and Why.
• Influenza virus: parts and life cycle
• Lock and Key: Cellular and Viral Receptors
• Human vs Avian vs Swine Flu
• The ‘censored’ studies
– The Goal
– The Experiments
– The Benefits
• “The Doomsday virus” and Censorship
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Avian Influenza – the fear of change
H5N1 “Avian Flu”
• Not transmissible between humans
• Severe symptoms
Q: How might Avian Flu change, to gain
airborne transmission in humans?
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H5N1 Studies: The Goal
Dirk-Jan Visser, ScienceInsider Michael Forster Rothbart, UW-Madison
“… to understand what it takes for flu to go airborne [in
humans].” – Ron Fouchier, Erasmus Medical Center
“To identify novel mutations in avian H5… that confer
human-type receptor-binding preference.”
– Yoshihiro Kawaoka, UW-Madison
RNA Protein Ron Fouchier Yoshihiro Kawaoka
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H5N1 Studies: Ferrets as a model
Ferret infections similar to human infection
Similar cellular receptors as humans
Similar symptoms of infection
Better than mice or monkeys
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H5N1 Studies: The Experiments
1. Begin with H5N1 Avian flu from a sick bird
2. Engineer ‘starter’ changes in virus’s RNA
3. Infect ferrets
4. Collect virus
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1. Begin with H5N1 Avian flu from a sick bird
2. Engineer ‘starter’ changes in virus’s RNA
3. Infect ferrets
4. Collect virus
- check airborne transmission
- check virulence
H5N1 Studies: The Experiments
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H5N1 Studies: The Experiments
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H5N1 Studies: The Results – “Doomsday”
virus?
“Four [mutations] in H5 …confer efficient
respiratory droplet transmission in ferrets
to a virus possessing an H5 HA in a
2009 pandemic H1N1 backbone.”
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H5N1 Studies: Benefits
• Surveillance
• Pandemic control
• Virus evolution
• Vaccines
• Drugs
Dual-use Research: “..with the potential for
both benevolent and malevolent
applications…”
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H5N1 Studies: NSABB Censorship
National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
• Federal committee to guide dual-use research
• 25 voting members
• Does not fund or approve research
• Provides recommendations
Microbeworld.tumblr.com
“...the NSABB recommended that the manuscripts not include the methodological...details that could enable replication of the experiments by those who would seek to do harm.”
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H5N1 Studies: Benefits
• Surveillance
• Pandemic control
• Virus evolution
• Vaccines
• Drugs
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When should scientists keep their mouths shut?
Tina Liu – Censorship in the past:
recombinant DNA research
Ann Fiegen – Censorship today: A dangerous
flu virus created? How and why.
Kevin Bonham – Weighing the risks: how do
we proceed?
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
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The 1918 Spanish Flu
• Lasted from Jan 1918
to Dec 1920
• Between 50-100 million
people killed (3-6% of
the world population)
– About 27% of humans
were infected
• ~ 10-20% mortality Wikimedia commons
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Recipe for Danger
Highly transmissible + High mortality = Deadly pandemic
Wikimedia commons
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Recipe for Danger
Highly transmissible + High mortality = Deadly pandemic
Wikimedia commons
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Recipe for Danger
Highly transmissible + High mortality = Deadly pandemic
Wikimedia commons
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Spanish Flu, Bird Flu and “Ferret Flu”
• Highly infectious
(transmissible
from human to
human)
• High mortality rate
in humans
• Not transmissible
from human to
human (yet)
• High mortality rate in
humans (as high as
60%*)
• Unknown person-
person transmission
• Unknown mortality
rate in humans
Wikimedia commons
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Brief Interlude on Mortality
# of deaths attributed to H5N1
# of clinically confirmed cases of H5N1 = H5N1 Mortality
(~60%)
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QUESTIONS?
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
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Biosafety containment
BSL2 BSL3 BSL4
Wikimedia commons
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
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What Was Censored?
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How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
Bits of DNA
Sequence Enzymes
DNA
building
blocks
![Page 75: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/75.jpg)
How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
![Page 76: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/76.jpg)
Cells
Virus Genes
How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
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How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
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Cells
Virus Genes
Virus
How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
![Page 79: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/79.jpg)
Is this process easier than repeating
serial passage experiment?
• This is possible without knowing
anything about the genetic
sequence of the virus
• The resulting mutations might be
completely different
![Page 80: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/80.jpg)
What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
– By nature
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
![Page 81: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/81.jpg)
Interspecies transmission may happen
regardless of human intervention
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QUESTIONS?
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
– By nature
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
![Page 84: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/84.jpg)
H5N1 Studies: Benefits
• Surveillance
• Pandemic control
• Virus evolution
• Vaccines
• Drugs
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Science Works Best When
Information is Freely Shared
http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/howscienceworks_02
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
– By nature
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
![Page 87: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/87.jpg)
The Life of Risky Research
Risky Research
Funding?
Positive outcomes
Negative Consequences Threat of Inaction
X X
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The Path Forward is Up to Us
• Scientists have an obligation to
communicate the risks and rewards of
their research
• Policy makers and the public should try to
stay informed
• Scientists need to be proactive in
addressing risk and self-regulating
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Summary
• The dangers of pandemic flu are real (though often
exaggerated)
• “Ferret flu” research has a risk of releasing dangerous
virus (due to accident or malicious intent)
– Risk is unknown
– The withheld data does not necessarily eliminate the risk
• There are also dangers to not doing the research
• Scientists must engage with the public and with policy
makers to communicate risks and benefits of dual-use
research
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
![Page 91: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/91.jpg)
What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
![Page 92: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/92.jpg)
The 1918 Spanish Flu
• Lasted from Jan 1918
to Dec 1920
• Between 50-100 million
people killed (3-6% of
the world population)
– About 27% of humans
were infected
• ~ 10-20% mortality Wikimedia commons
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Recipe for Danger
Highly transmissible + High mortality = Deadly pandemic
Wikimedia commons
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Recipe for Danger
Highly transmissible + High mortality = Deadly pandemic
Wikimedia commons
![Page 95: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/95.jpg)
Recipe for Danger
Highly transmissible + High mortality = Deadly pandemic
Wikimedia commons
![Page 96: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/96.jpg)
Spanish Flu, Bird Flu and “Ferret
Flu”
• Highly infectious
(transmissible
from human to
human)
• High mortality rate
in humans
• Not transmissible
from human to
human (yet)
• High mortality rate in
humans (as high as
60%*)
• Unknown person-
person transmission
• Unknown mortality
rate in humans
Wikimedia commons
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
![Page 98: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/98.jpg)
Biosafety containment
BSL2 BSL3 BSL4
Wikimedia commons
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
![Page 100: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/100.jpg)
Is this process easier than
repeating serial passage
experiment?
• This is possible without knowing
anything about the genetic
sequence of the virus
• The resulting mutations might be
completely different
![Page 101: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/101.jpg)
How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
Bits of DNA
Sequence Enzymes
DNA
building
blocks
![Page 102: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/102.jpg)
How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
![Page 103: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/103.jpg)
Cells
Virus Genes
How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
![Page 104: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/104.jpg)
How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
![Page 105: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/105.jpg)
Cells
Virus Genes
Virus
How do you turn a genetic
sequence into virus?
![Page 106: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/106.jpg)
Is this process easier than
repeating serial passage
experiment?
• This is possible without knowing
anything about the genetic
sequence of the virus
• The resulting mutations might be
completely different
![Page 107: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/107.jpg)
What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
– By nature
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
![Page 108: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/108.jpg)
Interspecies transmission may
happen regardless of human
intervention
![Page 109: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/109.jpg)
What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
– By nature
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
![Page 110: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/110.jpg)
H5N1 Studies: Benefits
• Surveillance
• Pandemic control
• Virus evolution
• Vaccines
• Drugs
![Page 111: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/111.jpg)
Science works as a network
http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/howscienceworks_02
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What’s the Harm?
• The danger of an outbreak – worst case
scenario (1918)
• How could the virus be released?
– By scientists (by accident)
– By terrorists (on purpose)
– By nature
• What are the dangers of censoring the
data?
• Where do we go from here?
![Page 113: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/113.jpg)
Timeline from Tina
![Page 114: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/114.jpg)
Summary
• The dangers of pandemic flu are real (though
often exaggerated)
• “Ferret flu” research has a risk of releasing
dangerous virus (due to accident or malicious
intent)
– Risk is unknown
– The withheld data does not necessarily decrease the
risk
• There are also dangers to not doing the research
![Page 115: Censorship Slides - Harvard University](https://reader031.fdocuments.net/reader031/viewer/2022012301/61e2077161096b331751df85/html5/thumbnails/115.jpg)
Thank you! SITN would like to acknowledge the following
organizations for their generous support.
Harvard Medical School Office of Communications and External Relations
Division of Medical Sciences
The Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS)
The GASA Graduate Student Council (GSC)
The Harvard Biomedical Graduate Students Organization
(BGSO)
The Harvard/MIT COOP