Evolution, Safety, and Highly Pathogenic Influenza Viruses
Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1223204Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Lipsitch, M., J. B. Plotkin, L. Simonsen, and B. Bloom. 2012. “Evolution, Safety, and Highly Pathogenic Influenza Viruses.” Science 336 (6088) (June 21): 1529–1531. doi:10.1126/science.1223204.Abstract
Experience with influenza has shown that predictions of virus phenotype or fitness from nucleotide sequence are imperfect and that predicting the timing and course of evolution is extremely difficult. Such uncertainty means that the risk of experiments with mammalian-transmissible, possibly highly virulent influenza viruses remains high even if some aspects of their laboratory biology are reassuring; it also implies limitations on the ability of laboratory observations to guide interpretation of surveillance of strains in the field. Thus, we propose that future experiments with virulent pathogens whose accidental or deliberate release could lead to extensive spread in human populations should be limited by explicit risk-benefit considerations.Other Sources
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3467308/Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAACitable link to this page
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:25124592
Collections
- SPH Scholarly Articles [6362]
Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)