US scientist creates deadly new flu strain for pandemic research

02/07/2014 19:01

US scientist creates deadly new flu strain for pandemic research


A controversial scientist who carried out provocative research on making influenza viruses more infectious has completed his most dangerous experiment to date by deliberately creating a pandemic strain of flu that can evade the human immune system, The Independent reports. 

Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin-Madison has genetically manipulated the 2009 strain of pandemic flu in order for it to “escape” the control of the immune system’s neutralising antibodies, effectively making the human population defenceless against its reemergence.

Most of the world today has developed some level of immunity to the 2009 pandemic flu virus, which means that it can now be treated as less dangerous “seasonal flu.” However, The Independent understands that Professor Kawaoka intentionally set out to see if it was possible to convert it to a pre-pandemic state in order to analyse the genetic changes involved.

The study is not published, however some scientists who are aware of it are horrified that Dr Kawaoka was allowed to deliberately remove the only defence against a strain of flu virus that has already demonstrated its ability to create a deadly pandemic that killed as many as 500,000 people in the first year of its emergence.

Professor Kawaoka has so far kept details of the research out of the public domain but admitted today that the work is complete and ready for submission to a scientific journal. The experiment was designed to monitor the changes to the 2009 H1N1 strain of virus that would enable it to escape immune protection in order to improve the design of vaccines, he said.

“Through selection of immune escape viruses in the laboratory under appropriate containment conditions, we were able to identify the key regions [that] would enable 2009 H1N1 viruses to escape immunity,” Professor Kawaoka said in an email.

“Viruses in clinical isolates have been identified that have these same changes in the [viral protein]. This shows that escape viruses emerge in nature and laboratory studies like ours have relevance to what occurs in nature,” he said.

Prior to his statement to The Independent, Professor Kawaoka’s only known public mention of the study was at a closed scientific meeting earlier this year. He declined to release any printed details of his talk or his lecture slides.

Some members of the audience, however, were shocked and astonished at his latest and most audacious work on flu viruses, which follow on from his attempts to re-create the 1918 flu virus and an earlier project to increase the transmissibility of a highly lethal strain of bird flu.

“He took the 2009 pandemic flu virus and selected out strains that were not neutralised by human antibodies. He repeated this several times until he got a real humdinger of a virus,” said one scientist who was present at Professor Kawaoka’s talk.

“He left no doubt in my mind that he had achieved it. He used a flu virus that is known to infect humans and then manipulated it in such a way that it would effectively leave the global population defenceless if it ever escaped from his laboratory,” he said.

“He’s basically got a known pandemic strain that is now resistant to vaccination. Everything he did before was dangerous but this is even madder. This is the virus,” he added. 


In case you have found a mistake in the text, please send a message to the editor by selecting the mistake and pressing Ctrl-Enter.

Newsfeed

Today, 11:10 Byblos Bank Armenia stands by 90-year-old YSU Faculty of Economics and Management 31/10/2024 15:16 From enclosed worlds to new realities: 18 years of cooperation full of success stories 29/10/2024 18:01 Minimal investment, cost savings, and increased sales։ Organizations using Viva’s Virtual PBX achieve maximum results 28/10/2024 10:30 Viva service center - at Gogavan state border check point 10/10/2024 17:45 Viva sees growing demand for cloud services 10/10/2024 10:30 Businessman and benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan was awarded the title of Honorary citizen of Masis community 03/10/2024 15:05 Trip to Dubai: Exciting new campaign for Byblos Bank Armenia premium cardholders 03/10/2024 13:40 The stamp dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Hrant Vardanyan, the founder of "Grand Holding", was issued 03/10/2024 10:35 Chat-Assistant in “My Viva”: new digital tool for online communication lovers 02/10/2024 19:27 Ameriabank’s Special Offer for New Mastercard Holders. 1% Cashback and Lots of Gifts 30/09/2024 16:17 Byblos Bank Armenia named General Sponsor of YSU Faculty of Economics and Management's 90th anniversary events 26/09/2024 10:45 Armenian confectionery production counts a century-long history. "Grand Candy" celebrates the 100th anniversary of creation of Armenian sweets 25/09/2024 12:32 Large-scale upgrade in Team Telecom Armenia's network 24/09/2024 18:24 Amundi-Acba Launches Academy to Enhance Financial Literacy and Professional Development 20/09/2024 16:53 Best startup ideas of “Get Started” revealed 19/09/2024 18:42 “Yandex Plus” and “Kinodaran” within Viva’s “START+” prepaid tariff plan 19/09/2024 13:57 Catalyst for growth and innovation: Viva presents new “Narrow Band-IoT” tariff plan 13/09/2024 12:24 5 more YSU students awarded AMD 1 million scholarship each: Byblos Bank Armenia continues to motivate young minds 11/09/2024 16:21 “Virtual PBX”: effective business management tool from Viva 11/09/2024 10:49 Barerar.am is a new platform that provides an opportunity to provide assistance to needy families directly and without any mediation 09/09/2024 14:11 Nokia and Team Telecom Armenia bring 25G PON commercial services to customers across Armenia 31/08/2024 12:03 “Remote hands” for any business from anywhere Viva offers a reliable and flexible server support service 30/08/2024 15:09 Achieving self-development with “Viva University” 30/08/2024 14:55 It pains me that those who fought for their nation and homeland have been consigned to oblivion. Mikayel Minasyan 29/08/2024 17:04 Kyiv Announces Plans to Transport Azerbaijani Gas to Europe Instead of Russian 29/08/2024 16:58 "Spayka" Threatens Our Livelihood: Export Truck Drivers Protest 29/08/2024 16:50 Russia Reaffirms Commitment to Armenia Partnership 29/08/2024 16:00 Armenia Plans to Amend the Constitution in 2027 25/08/2024 11:01 Theories of Conspiracy Among Armenians: Ambassador Mikael Minasyan's Analysis 23/08/2024 14:45 Around 100,000 households are making use of Team's Internet; 2nd quarter indicators 16/08/2024 14:34 Unlimited YouTube for AMD 3000 monthly 14/08/2024 15:27 Armenian Tax Authority Proposes Draconian Measures Against Businesses 14/08/2024 15:19 Massive Fire Engulfs Moscow’s RIO Shopping Center 14/08/2024 15:09 Azerbaijan Levels Mokhrenes Village in Artsakh 14/08/2024 15:01 Mikayel Minasyan, former ambassador and son-in-law of ex-President Serzh Sargsyan, is back in the spotlight 12/08/2024 15:15 First steps in establishing a startup with “Get Started” 12/08/2024 11:22 12-year-old Gabriela Harutyunyan aims for the European chess champion’s title 10/08/2024 13:56 VOYAGE 30 - 1000 MB of Internet, for only AMD 1500/Activation through “My Viva” application 02/08/2024 17:55 Unlimited Internet from Viva becomes even more affordable 29/07/2024 14:34 Wi-Fi Calling. calls and SMS abroad at the same rates as in Armenia 25/07/2024 17:51 Ameriabank Receives 3 Awards for Excellence by Euromoney: the Best Bank, the Best Digital Bank, and the Best Bank for SMEs in Armenia for 2024 23/07/2024 15:41 Byblos Digital Cards: Tailored for a generation opting for everything digital 22/07/2024 18:16 EBRD and Ameriabank to support Armenian businesses through stable trade finance funding 19/07/2024 13:38 Business Leadership in the Era of Internet of Things (IoT) and Digital Transformation 11/07/2024 19:41 “VOYAGE 30” Internet roaming: 1000 MB for just AMD 1500 03/07/2024 16:31 Ameriabank and COAF Pool Efforts to Develop Beekeeping in Lori Region 01/07/2024 18:11 Viva: Armenia's leading technology company introduces a new trademark 01/07/2024 13:05 Cumulative deposit on flexible terms. Byblos Bank Armenia's new offer 26/06/2024 12:15 Viva-MTS: Green technologies in Gomq 24/06/2024 18:20 “Viva University”: self-development and specialization platform for students․ About 300 graduates in 9 years 20/06/2024 12:15 “Dream big, start small”: Anna from Artsakh participates in “Get Started” 18/06/2024 11:00 Viva-MTS: Four families displaced from Artsakh have become beneficiaries of the "Individual Assistant" program 14/06/2024 19:08 EventHub.am is the official ticketing agent for the concert of the world renowned Black Eyed Peas in Tbilisi 04/06/2024 11:22 Byblos Bank Armenia puts children first: June 1 event celebrates childhood, imagination 31/05/2024 10:15 Karen Vardanyan donated 118 million drams to the National Center for Burns for the medical equipment 29/05/2024 16:56 EPIC Applauds EWC Armenia 2024 National Prizewinners Three Victorious Startups Advance to Global Competition 23/05/2024 18:05 Welcome to CaseKey 2024. Byblos Bank Armenia firmly stands by future innovators 23/05/2024 12:01 New technologies as guarantees for wildlife conservation and rural development 22/05/2024 16:06 Tariff plan “TOURIST UNLIM”: Unlimited Internet while travelling in Armenia 21/05/2024 15:45 Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora 20/05/2024 18:01 Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC 16/05/2024 17:03 “Get Started”: An educational platform for young startuppers 16/05/2024 15:40 Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients 08/05/2024 15:42 Viva-MTS: modern technological solutions to modernize the infrastructure of the border village 25/04/2024 18:46 Solar photovoltaic station at the kindergarten of the border village Yeraskh 22/04/2024 13:06 Caring for nature, we have started with ourselves - Team Telecom Armenia 18/04/2024 11:27 New streets in Koti equipped with illumination operated via automatic and remote control 11/04/2024 10:30 Byblos Bank Armenia donates AMD 5 million to Health Fund for Children of Armenia 06/04/2024 14:34 Viva-MTS sums up the financial results for 2023 and confirms its leadership in the sector 02/04/2024 12:20 Success story resulting from continued support. From music therapy to the conservatory 29/03/2024 14:41 Ameriabank named the Best Bank in Armenia for 2024 by Global Finance magazine 28/03/2024 14:02 IoT Lab opens at National Polytechnic University of Armenia 26/03/2024 16:58 “START+”: “Kinodaran” without subscription fee, 10 GB internet, 1000 minutes and favorite apps without any limits 25/03/2024 16:14 Change in Viva-MTS company name and General Terms of Provisioning Services 22/03/2024 17:24 Marzes remain in the focus of attention of Viva-MTS: New service center opened in Tchambarak 21/03/2024 14:12 In 2023, the SME Loan Portfolio of Ameriabank Reported More Than 30% Growth 19/03/2024 10:20 Mikael Vardanyan donated 117 mln drams for garbage trucks and 230 waste bins for Masis community 14/03/2024 18:12 New technologies at the core of rural infrastructure development 13/03/2024 16:32 The number of Team mobile subscribers is over 1 million 13/03/2024 13:01 “RED”: fixed and mobile services in one package for customers valuing convenience and quality 11/03/2024 14:51 Global Finance Recognizes Ameriabank's Leadership in Sustainable Finance in Armenia 06/03/2024 14:07 Byblos Bank Armenia named CaseKey title sponsor again 05/03/2024 13:36 Doing Digital Forum Returns Featuring Brett King as Keynote Speaker 01/03/2024 18:42 "The Innovator's Dilemma": Byblos Bank Armenia supports publication of Armenian edition 29/02/2024 16:45 “Personal Assistant” program changes popular mindset in regions 27/02/2024 18:12 Viva-MTS: 30-day internet-package for the many destinations within “VOYAGE” service 22/02/2024 17:53 The kindergarten of Armavir village is already being supplied with solar photovoltaic panels 19/02/2024 16:53 Viva-MTS, a company cultivating reading traditions 19/02/2024 12:48 Ameriabank set to join BOGG, a London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed financial group as a standalone entity 14/02/2024 14:53 Years of hard work and a sustainable approach to infrastructure development in regions 07/02/2024 14:49 Virtual PBX: Smart tool for corporate clients 02/02/2024 18:26 Viva-MTS named one of the ten most attractive employers 26/01/2024 18:15 Ameriabank is the Largest Taxpayer Among Armenian Banks 25/01/2024 17:03 Viva-MTS and “SOURCE” Foundation's “Personal Assistant” program is achieving the desired result in Syunik 24/01/2024 19:14 The shareholder of Viva-MTS has changed: The company will reach new achievements 23/01/2024 12:56 Byblos Bank Armenia to sponsor CaseKey team’s participation in Budapest’s CUBE 2024 22/01/2024 14:27 53% increase in Internet traffic in the Viva-MTS network. New Year's Eve and the first day compared to the same period last year 18/01/2024 18:30 “Viva University”: a long-term investment in youth empowerment 29/12/2023 15:49 Viva-MTS: investments that ensure sustainable development using innovative solutions 28/12/2023 14:46 The Christmas Miracle in Shirak Region - Ameriabank Santas Visited Children from Artsakh