Recently published in NPJ Vaccines, a study revealed that Japanese researchers have developed a new strain of bird flu called Vac-3 by combining genetic material from two different wild viruses. This new pathogen, a reassortant virus between A/duck/Hokkaido/101/2004 (H5N3) and A/duck/Hokkaido/262/2004 (H6N1), was artificially created in a lab and has never been observed in nature.
This lab-created virus, known as A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-3/2007 (H5N1), was used to develop a whole-particle vaccine that was tested on nonhuman primates. This study follows previous incidents where NIH-funded researchers were found to be engineering lab-made H5N1 bird flu viruses under federal contracts.
Collaboration between Japanese and U.S. scientists has also led to the development of lab-made horse-human influenza hybrids that replicate 100 times faster than natural strains, using controversial methods.
These developments have raised concerns about the potential for another man-made pandemic, as various government agencies have acknowledged the possibility that COVID-19 originated from a lab-related incident involving gain-of-function research.
An Engineered Virus with Enhanced Immune Responses
The Vac-3 bird flu strain was designed to trigger stronger immune responses compared to traditional flu vaccines. By preserving the virus’s full genetic structure, including viral RNA, the vaccine stimulated toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and activated innate immune responses.
Unlike conventional split vaccines, which separate viral proteins from RNA, Japan’s whole-particle vaccine retained the virus’s complete structure, enabling it to induce a more robust immune reaction.
Furthermore, the engineered virus reprogrammed the immune system by activating dendritic cells, T cells producing interferon, and inducing somatic hypermutation.
In essence, the new virus not only trained the immune system but also altered its response.
Understanding Gain-of-Function Research
Although not explicitly labeled as gain-of-function research, the creation of the Vac-3 virus demonstrates characteristics of this controversial practice. By merging influenza genes from unrelated viruses, researchers enhanced the virus’s abilities, particularly in triggering memory immune responses.
A White House Executive Order defines dangerous gain-of-function research as work that modifies infectious agents to enhance their pathogenicity or transmissibility, including altering the immune response to the virus.
Biosecurity Concerns
Long-term immunity testing involved infecting macaques with a human-lethal strain of H5N1 after vaccination with Vac-3. This experiment raises biosafety concerns due to the genetic engineering of a new virus and challenging nonhuman primates with a highly lethal strain in a BSL-3 lab.
These activities, although framed as vaccine development, border on gain-of-function research, highlighting potential risks associated with bioengineering pathogens.
Implications and Public Health
As avian influenza outbreaks continue to pose threats, it is crucial to distinguish between natural strains and lab-manufactured viruses used for research purposes. The growing trend of creating unnatural pathogens for vaccine development raises ethical and safety concerns, emphasizing the need for transparency and informed consent in bioengineering practices.
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The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.