Synthetic Biology and Biosecurity

Brett EdwardsBiochemical Security 2030 Project

University of BathSfAM Winter Meeting 15/0/14

OverviewThis talk will provide an introduction to:

• The idea of ‘innovation biosecurity’• Biological weapons• The control of biological weapons

• The field of Synthetic Biology • As a techno-scientific field• Implications for biosecurity

• Some key trends and challenges

What is innovation biosecurity?

• Increasingly the term ‘biosecurity’ refers to biological weapon threats• Innovation biosecurity relates to the promises and challenges raised

for security specifically by advances in S&T• New applications• New foundational technologies• Changes in the practice of innovation

What is a Biological Weapon ? (1)• Definition:

Systems designed to deliver toxins and microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, in order to cause disease among people,

animals, and agriculture- Usually understood to include means of delivery,

and agent payload.- Can serve a range of purposes

(i.e terrorism, tactical/strategic, political objectives)- Can be low-tech or high-tech

What is a Biological Weapon ? (2)• Biological weapons are ‘taboo’- why?

• Taboo- norms and laws

• Moral explanations• The ‘yuck’ factor • Non-discriminatory weapons

• State centred strategic explanation• Absence of Military Utility• Fear or retaliatory use and escalation• Concerns about terrorists

What is a Biological Weapon ? (3)History of use and DevelopmentBefore Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) - 1975• Evidence of Ancient use• Large Bioweapons programmes established globally

from 1930’s onwards• Japanese Cholera Attack 1941- Kills 12,000Since establishment of BWC• Continued covert secret programmes in some states

up until 1990’s• Anthrax accident at Sverdlovsk, Russia- minimum 66

killed • Russia officially closes programme in 1990

• Developed a range of weapon strains• Increase in bioterror threat perceptions• Massive US investment into biodefense

How are biological weapons governed?

International Agreements

National Level Policy

Scientific and Industry

Initiatives

International level (1)• Primary regime is the Biological

and Toxins Weapon Convention• Chemical Weapons Convention is

also increasingly relevant because of scientific convergence

• States are banned from:developing, stockpiling, developing and using chemical and biological weapons, or allowing any of these things within national jurisdictions.

Classical

chemical

weapons

Industrial

pharmaceutical

chemicals

Bioregulators

Peptides

Toxins Genetically

modified

biological

weapons

Traditional

biological

weapons

Cyanide

Phosgene

Mustard

Nerve

Agents

Fentanyl

Carfentanil

Remifentanil

Etorphine

Dexmedetomidine

Midazolam

Substance P

Neurokinin A

Staphylococcal

enterotoxin B

(SEB)

Modified

bacteria and

viruses

Bacteria

Viruses

Rickettsia

Anthrax

Plague

Tularemia

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)

Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

Poison Infect

Table: Michael Crowley, presentation, BCS2030 project meeting, Bath (0ctober 2013) adapted from Pearson (2002)

International level (2)• There are two key facets of the BWC and CWC regimes:

• International reassurance: I.e states demonstrating compliance to other states.

• National implementation: i.e to support states in the development of national level policies

National level • Laboratory biosecurity and laboratory biosafety• Criminalisation of the possession of controlled biological agents without just

cause.• Import and export controls• Dual-use governance of advancing S&T• Also emphasis on mitigation, response and attribution.

So what is the field of Synthetic Biology? (1)

‘Synthetic biology is the design and engineering of biologically based parts, novel devices and systems as well as the redesign of existing, natural biological systems’

Synthetic Biology RoadmapCo-ordination group (2012)

• GM + ?• Convergent Technology?• Brand name?

So what is the field of Synthetic Biology? (2)

- Emerged as a concept in US and EU around 2004

- UK Research councils have invested £62+ million to date

- US around $1 bn- Public and Private investment,

Primarily biofuels

So what is the field of Synthetic Biology? (3)

Six subfields (Lam et al 2009)DNA circuits

standard biological partsSynthetic metabolic pathways

biological synthesis of chemicalsProto-cell creation

model of a cellUnnatural components

New proteins, with functionsSynthetic Microbial Consortia

Cells, working together

Key concerns and responses (1)

Concern• Misuse of mail order

Polynucleotides (2005)• Industry emergence• Concern about circumvention of

select-agent controls by terrorists

Response• Tightening up of select-agent

and GMO regulation so explicitly cover all means of production where neccisary

• Emergence of industry screening practices

• Two competing standards• US government also generated

guidance

Key concerns and responses (1)

Concern• Misuse of research findings, and

laboratory biosecurity and biosafety

Response• Web of measures

• Education and outreach initiatives• SB Community • Law enforcement • Scientific Institutions

• Forward looking policy discussions• US- NSABB, SYNBERC• EU -SYNBIOSAFE• International- UNICRI, National

academies. • Engineering safety into biology.

• Intrinsic Bio containment, Berkley.

Key concerns and responses (1)

Concern• Militarization

Throughout history rapid periods of scientific advance have been associated with militarization.

Response• Minimal discussion of policy

responses

 Key Potential challenges for the field in the future

• The advances Synthetic Biology represent fresh challenges for an already overworked international regime

• Need to think beyond existing laboratory and biosecurity when considering potential future challenges

• I.e broader trends such as industrialisation and diffusion, convergence• Need to ensure that policies and capacities are in place before

next public outcry to ensure measured and scientifically informed response.

• I.e to avoid case by case review, as seen with recent H5N1 dual-use debates

Thanks!• Biochemical Security 2030

Project • (PI Professor David Galbreath)

• Contact

Twitter: @biochemsec2030

Website: Biochemsec2030.org

Email: Bwie20@bath.ac.uk