GM Aids Virus More Deadly

[Guest guest]

July 19, 2001GM AIDS Virus More Deadly

Researchers have been creating one deadly virus after another in the laboratory,

and the latest is ‘SHIV’, a hybrid between the human and monkey AIDS virus

containing human interleukin genes that suppress immune response against

viruses. At the same time, GM crops engineered with interleukin genes are being

grown in open field trials. Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho ask whether the

relevant biosafety Committees have taking these dangerous scenarios on board

when they separately approve the laboratory experiments and the field trials.

 

In January this year, researchers in Canberra Australia created a GM mouse-pox

virus that killed all its victims simply by inserting into it a gene coding for

interleukin 4, a protein belonging to the cytokine family that regulates thymus

(T ) helper-cells in the immune response. This deadly virus also killed half of

the mice that have been immunized against the mouse-pox virus [1] (See " Genetic

engineering superviruses " ISIS News 9/10, July 2001).

 

Unbeknownst to most of the world, researchers in Kyoto University, Japan, have

created far worse. In order to investigate the role of cytokines in the

progression of AIDS disease, they made ‘SHIV’ - a chimeric virus containing

several genes from the human virus, HIV, in a basic frame of the monkey virus,

SIV - which is capable of infecting both human and monkey cells. Into this SHIV,

they insert various human cytokine genes in order to investigate how the virus

replicate in cell cultures and in experimental macaque monkeys infected with the

GM virus.

 

In the first experiment reported last year [2], the human gene for interleukin

6, IL-6, was inserted into a SHIV with a deletion in one of the genes from the

HIV sequence in the chimeric virus. The deletion slowed the replication of the

SHIV, but does not abolish it. IL-6 is known to be elevated in AIDS disease and

to contribute to immunological abnormalities in HIV-infected patients. The

resultant GM virus successfully replicated in a human thymus cell line as well

as in monkey and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, with high levels of

expression of IL-6. Surprisingly, the inserted gene was stable for at least four

passages in the human thymus cell line, and it was suggested that the IL-6 gene

in the GM virus might make the virus grow faster.

 

In a second report just published [3], the researchers inserted the human gene

for interleukin 5, IL-5, into two SHIVs with deletions in different HIV genes.

Again, the GM virus replicated stably in human thymus-derived cell lines as well

as monkey peripheral blood mononuclear cells, with very high expression of IL-5,

especially in one of the GM viruses.

 

The researchers stated, " The replication of both SHIVs having IL-5 appeared to

be faster than that of the parental viruses without the IL-5 gene. These results

show that co-expression of IL-5 stimulates SHIV replication in vitro. Thus, it

is expected that expression of IL-5 will also have an effect on viral

replication and pathogenicity in vivo. " (p.1051, italics ours)

 

By the admission of the researchers themselves, chimeric viruses such as the

SHIV constructions with interleukins are potentially threatening to both humans

and primates. Unintended release of these viruses through infection of human

beings or escape of experimental monkeys injected with the virus should be

matters of grave concern. These GM viruses can readily recombine with all kinds

of viruses to give them at least one gene – the interleukin gene – that would

make them more virulent.

 

Do the risks of producing SHIV chimeras with interleukins outweigh the potential

benefits that may result from learning about the role of interleukin in

facilitating virus multiplication? We do not think so. Such laboratory

experiments should never have been approved on grounds of both safety and animal

welfare.

 

In a parallel development, interleukins are being produced in GM crop plants.

Field trials of a crop engineered with an interleukin gene had been carried out

in the county where one of us reside. The approval has been given without

considering the risks associated with pollution of surface and ground water by

the protein following plant-wounding or breakage of rootlets. Birds and mammals

readily consume sucking insects feeding on the test crop. Interleukin genes may

spread by pollen to crop plants and weeds consumed by human beings, livestock as

well as wild mammals. The interleukins consumed may lead to suppression of

immune response and immune memory, thereby promoting the spread of viral

diseases.

 

In addition, all kinds of viruses may pick up the interleukin gene from the GM

crops, to become more lethal than nature’s worst.

 

As field trials and production sites for GM crops producing pharmaceuticals are

not made public, the first recognition of their presence near a community may be

devastating viral diseases spreading through human, domestic and wild animal

populations.

 

Jackson R, Ramsay A, Christensen C, Beaton S, Hall D and Ramshaw I.

Expression of mouse interleukin 4 by a recombinant ectromelia virus suppresses

cytotoxic lymphocyte responses and overcomes genetic resistance to mousepox. J

Virology 2001, 75,1205-10.

Haga T, Kuwata T, Kozyrev J, Kowfie T, Hayami M and Miura T. Construction of

a SIV/HIV type 1 chimeric virus with the human interleukin 6 gene and its

production of interleukin 6 in monkey and human cells. AIDS Research and Human

retroviruses 2000, 16,577-82.

Kosyrev, Miura T, Haga T, Kuwata T and Hayami M. Construction of SIV/HIV-1

chimeric virus having the IL-5 gene and determination of their ability to

replicate and produce IL-5. Arch Virol 2001, 146,1051-62.

 

Key words: Superviruses, HIV, SIV, interleukin, GM crops

 

For more information, contact Prof. Joe Cummins at: jcummins

 

or Dr. Mae-Wan Ho at: m.w.ho

 

printer friendly version

RELEVANT LINKS

from the ISIS website

 

Open Letter from World Scientists to All Governments

 

Genetic Engineering Superviruses II

 

Genetically Modified GM crops are neither needed nor beneficial

 

Comprehensive Evidence Against GM

 

AIDS-Vaccines Trials Dangerous

 

The Need for Another Research Paradigm

 

Chardon LL Public Hearing Ocober 26 2000 on behalf of Burnham Group

 

Genetic Engineering Biotechnology - Challenges and Opportunities

 

Poison Pharm Crops Near You

 

 

The only radical science magazine on earth

Science in Society 16 OUT NOW! Order your copy from our online store.

 

Science in Society gets inside science, puts science under the political

spotlight to demand it is accountable to society

 

Join the I-SIS mailing list; enter your email address [input] [input] html

[input] asci

 

[input]

 

I-SIS is a not-for-profit organisation, depending on dontations, membership

fees, and subscriptions to continue its work. Find out more about membership

here

 

 

 

 

Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc.

 

To , e-mail to: Gettingwell-

Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell

 

 

 

 

U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive medley & videos from Greatest Hits CD