Risks and Benefits of Gain-of-Function Experiments with Pathogens of Pandemic Potential, Such as Influenza Virus: a Call for a Science-Based Discussion

Casadevall, Arturo; Imperiale, Michael J.

What are the possible public health benefits of the knowledge gained? This question can probably not be answered prospectively, but at least there should be a discussion of potential benefits in the context of existing public health capabilities. GOF experiments have been justified on the grounds that the information is helpful for surveillance and vaccine design. Opponents have argued, however, that vaccine design can be accomplished without changing transmission properties. In addition, it has been posited that current surveillance strategies are inadequate and cannot readily incorporate knowledge of the exact mutations that may lead to enhanced human virulence or transmission (21, 22) . However, even if the information is not useful today, the availability of such information could drive new capabilities, such as the development of more robust surveillance methods.