TWEAKING the anthrax toxin to render experimental drugs ineffective. Turning a harmless rodent virus into a deadly pathogen. Enhancing the potency of botulinum toxins - already the most lethal poisons known. Transferring genes that help viruses evade the human immune system from one pathogen to another.
These projects may sound like the clandestine activities of a hostile bioweapons programme. But in fact, all are in progress or being planned in US academic labs. They were identified by New Scientist in a database that documents research funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). And while each project may sound alarming to the uninitiated, most won the qualified support of the biosecurity specialists we asked to consider their risks and benefits. Only one of those mentioned above - the anthrax project - generated serious objections from some of our experts.
This survey illustrates the difficulties facing the National ...
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