Scientists modify H5N1 virus, could kill millions if set free, going to tell everyone how they did i

Xordium · 27 Nov 2011 at 13:26

You don't need to make new stuff there are plenty of nasty little things already floating around and as antibiotic efficacy diminishes we will rapidly discover that.

Rroff · 27 Nov 2011 at 13:29

anti-biotics are somewhat inelegant in operation anyhow, once they stop becoming effective science will be forced to look at adapted viral or nanite counter measures (which in the long term is probably more scary than most of the diseases already in existance).

Deleted member 77746 · 27 Nov 2011 at 13:41

meh they should just let it free, inject a chicken, a cow, a rooster, a hamster, a dog, a pig, a fish and a bird. That should do it.

Xordium · 27 Nov 2011 at 13:43

Rroff said:
anti-biotics are somewhat inelegant in operation anyhow, once they stop becoming effective science will be forced to look at adapted viral or nanite counter measures (which in the long term is probably more scary than most of the diseases already in existance).

Yer we had this thread the other day so I shouldn't have mentioned that really. You work in this field?

James J · 27 Nov 2011 at 13:53

It's a bit of a none story really isn't it. The info will be released for research purposes so new vaccines can be made against the most infectious variations of the disease. This approach is clever in the fact you make an drug resistant or highly infectious strain of a pathogen to find a way of killing it now, instead of waiting for nature to do it and potentially have millions of deaths whilst we sit around scratching our heads.

setter · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:04

Xordium said:
Which ones are more dangerous?

There are a few institutes that hold samples of blood borne virus's, such as ebola and marburg, the centre for disease research, and the us army institute of medical research being two of note. The fatality rates for theese virus's are extremely high. Thankfully theres only been a few outbreaks over the years.

Art · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:08

int said:
As a scientist you're expected to release your work for peer review, they're only accompanying it with a press release.

If it was released for peer review and then stumbled across by a journalist with a vague understanding of science, there would no doubt be a big furore over why the scientists were trying to release this information 'under-the-radar'.

It has been submitted for peer review:

Both studies have been submitted for publication, and both are currently under review by the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)

Xordium · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:15

setter said:
There are a few institutes that hold samples of blood borne virus's, such as ebola and marburg, the centre for disease research, and the us army institute of medical research being two of note. The fatality rates for theese virus's are extremely high. Thankfully theres only been a few outbreaks over the years.

Yes I am well aware of that but those disease are not that dangerous at all really because of their inability to spread. They burn themselves out which is why we see few fatalities from them compared to influenza. It should also be noted in the case of ebola that the more recent outbreaks have shown markedly lower death rates as people become more able to deal with the diseases effects which are not too dissimilar from treating something like DIC which whilst not easy has some evidence behind it. In a Western setting those rates would be far lower than when the disease are seen in their native Central African environments - you can see these from the lab infection death rates.

Rroff · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:17

Xordium said:
Yer we had this thread the other day so I shouldn't have mentioned that really. You work in this field?

Nope, my dad does.

Xordium · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:21

Rroff said:
Nope, my dad does.

Thought you had more than the usual knowledge as you can normally differentiate between a "googled" post and a "held-knowledge" post.

setter · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:22

Yes, i remember reading about the reston strain of ebola that appeared in primate containment facilities. The virus was spread by airborne movement, however while some people developed antibodies they didnt actually become sick. Still think it would be pretty frightening if the other strains, could mutate to an airborne type.

Xordium · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:24

setter said:
Yes, i remember reading about the reston strain of ebola that appeared in primate containment facilities. The virus was spread by airborne movement, however while some people developed antibodies they didnt actually become sick. Still think it would be pretty frightening if the other strains, could mutate to an airborne type.

But what would be the point - in many ways the perfect virus is the common cold type scenario - it keeps it vector alive and passes freely. What the Daily Mail would term as "OMG THE KILLER VIRUS" would just kill everyone who could pass it on that quickly it would never survive. That is not to say that due to the 'lock and key' mechanics of these things that some quite benign viruses may well kick the stuffing out of a few poor unfortunate souls if they just happen to be a bit unlucky on the genetics side.

Daze · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:25

I feel slightly uncomfortable after reading that. I would much rather have a world war than that.

setter · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:26

Knowing the daily fail, theyd probably blame it on immigrants.

Xordium · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:28

setter said:
Knowing the daily fail, theyd probably blame it on immigrants.

Well it may well be the one time they are right - do not forget that good old Uncle Sam deliberately infected the local Native American populations to this very end (smallpox from memory). Good old USA - protectors of freedom and the only country to have used chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

Rroff · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:33

Xordium said:
Thought you had more than the usual knowledge as you can normally differentiate between a "googled" post and a "held-knowledge" post.

I did work in a lab for a couple of years (materials science) and have good qualifications in physics and chemistry but tbh I'm not that clued up and forgotten most of what I learnt.

Xordium · 27 Nov 2011 at 14:55

Rroff said:
tbh I'm not that clued up and forgotten most of what I learnt.

Isn't that the point of education though to learn stuff you'll never use and then forget it?

CREATIVE!11 · 27 Nov 2011 at 15:04

Yeah could do with a virus to wipe out the already overpopulation of idiots.

People who say oh what about you?! i'm very fit healthy don't even drink i'll take my chances you take away eating beer belly forum browsers.

int · 27 Nov 2011 at 20:08

Art said:
It has been submitted for peer review:

I know, what I meant was that they're submitting and including a press release too.

I was just pointing out that they have to release their work, it's kind of the done thing...

Art · 27 Nov 2011 at 20:12

int said:
I know, what I meant was that they're submitting and including a press release too.

I was just pointing out that they have to release their work, it's kind of the done thing...

Ah, I got the wrong end of the stick there then. Sorry.

I'm sure the institute they work at was probably a bit nervous about releasing that, it's not exactly the thing you want to be known for.