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Research labs attempt artifical evolution of viruses and bacteria under extremely controlled situations in order to attempt to find cures preemptively. They als

by primis 5y ago

Research labs attempt artifical evolution of viruses and bacteria under extremely controlled situations in order to attempt to find cures preemptively. They also identify symptoms and severity before natural evolution has a chance outside the lab to create these novel pandemics itself.

bayesian_horse 5y ago
The other point is that such research usually targets non-human species. Say, they try to adapt a bat-virus to a ferret. The idea that such a virus is transmissible to Humans, escapes and causes a pandemic is something of a miracle in itself. If it actually happened that way, which I don't believe right now.
- Amezarak 5y ago
  Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were engaged in gain-of-function and serial passage research, but it is also a matter of public record that they were targeting human hosts in collaboration with others, as well. > Early in 2016, Baric and Shi again collaborated. Shi sent Baric a fresh bat virus spike protein, and Baric inserted it into the backbone of a human SARS virus and then used that infectious clone to attack human airway cells. “The virus readily and efficiently replicated in cultured human airway tissues, suggesting an ability to potentially jump directly to humans,” reported the UNC’s website. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/coronavirus-lab-escape-theory.html https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/coronavirus-lab-esca... As for why people engage in research that has such enormous downside risks - well, they want grant money and to keep getting paid. I'm sure they think - 'it's ok, I'm careful', just like anyone else engaging in such behavior, even though there's a long history of lab leaks leading to serious problems.
  - bayesian_horse 5y ago
    In that particular case, I wouldn't say "the virus jumps directly to humans", because it is already a human-specific virus, just with a different spike protein. It may evade preexisting immunity (or maybe not, since the spike protein isn't the only point of attack), but that's about it. SARS-CoV-2 is decidedly nothing of the sort, the entire thing is unknown, while it has some resemblance to bat corona viruses. Viruses that pass through cell cultures are usually getting weaker, by the way. You'd have to "pass" them through actual human subjects to actively increase their pandemic potential. That would not only be unethical but also very difficult.

by primis 5y ago

bayesian_horse 5y ago

The other point is that such research usually targets non-human species. Say, they try to adapt a bat-virus to a ferret. The idea that such a virus is transmissible to Humans, escapes and causes a pandemic is something of a miracle in itself. If it actually happened that way, which I don't believe right now.

Amezarak 5y ago
Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were engaged in gain-of-function and serial passage research, but it is also a matter of public record that they were targeting human hosts in collaboration with others, as well. > Early in 2016, Baric and Shi again collaborated. Shi sent Baric a fresh bat virus spike protein, and Baric inserted it into the backbone of a human SARS virus and then used that infectious clone to attack human airway cells. “The virus readily and efficiently replicated in cultured human airway tissues, suggesting an ability to potentially jump directly to humans,” reported the UNC’s website. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/coronavirus-lab-escape-theory.html https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/coronavirus-lab-esca... As for why people engage in research that has such enormous downside risks - well, they want grant money and to keep getting paid. I'm sure they think - 'it's ok, I'm careful', just like anyone else engaging in such behavior, even though there's a long history of lab leaks leading to serious problems.
- bayesian_horse 5y ago
  In that particular case, I wouldn't say "the virus jumps directly to humans", because it is already a human-specific virus, just with a different spike protein. It may evade preexisting immunity (or maybe not, since the spike protein isn't the only point of attack), but that's about it. SARS-CoV-2 is decidedly nothing of the sort, the entire thing is unknown, while it has some resemblance to bat corona viruses. Viruses that pass through cell cultures are usually getting weaker, by the way. You'd have to "pass" them through actual human subjects to actively increase their pandemic potential. That would not only be unethical but also very difficult.