Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

An Epistemological Perspective on the Value of Gain-of-Function Experiments Involving Pathogens with Pandemic Potential

2014; American Society for Microbiology; Volume: 5; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1128/mbio.01875-14

2161-2129

Arturo Casadevall, Don Howard, Michael J. Imperiale,

Influenza Virus Research Studies

The views expressed in this Commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of this journal or of ASM. In recent years, scientists have engaged in a vigorous debate regarding the value of so-called gain-of-function (GOF) experiments involving highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and other pathogens with pandemic potential (PPP). Of particular concern have been experiments whereby something is done to PPP, such as HPAIV, and the pathogen acquires a new property, or GOF, that makes the microbe more dangerous, such as mammalian transmissibility, increased virulence, and/or the ability to defeat immunity and antimicrobial drugs. The debate has included arguments focused on biosecurity, biosafety, and ethics (1–5). Proponents of GOF experiments emphasized the utilitarian aspects of the work such as potential uses in vaccine development and strain surveillance, while opponents focused on risk (1). However, the debate has largely ignored the question of the epistemological value of such experiments, which is central to any scientific discussion of the merits of such work. Here we consider GOF experiments in the context of how information is acquired and valued in the fields of microbial pathogenesis and infectious diseases. Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity (6). Most scientists, and microbiologists in particular, practice their art within specialized areas that include a set of normative standards that influence the pursuit and acceptance of knowledge, and such normative standards are a major focus of epistemological research within the philosophy of science (7, 8). Normative standards in science include the methodology that is accepted for making and accepting scientific discoveries. In this regard, different fields rely on partially different methods for the questions that they pursue. Before exploring the value of GOF experiments, we need to consider the …