- Home
- World
- News
- Russian Defense Ministry Sounds Alarm Over US Research That Amplified Omicron Lethality
Russian Defense Ministry Sounds Alarm Over US Research That Amplified Omicron Lethality
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published November 26, 2022 | 08:37 PM
The head of the Russian Defense Ministry's biohazard unit raised alarm on Saturday over a recent experiment by the Boston University to create a much more infectious and deadly coronavirus strain than the existing Omicron
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2022) The head of the Russian Defense Ministry's biohazard unit raised alarm on Saturday over a recent experiment by the Boston University to create a much more infectious and deadly coronavirus strain than the existing Omicron.
The university released a study on the preprint website bioRxiv in October claiming that the new recombinant virus, dubbed Omi-S, caused "a severe disease leading to around 80% mortality" in mice. The strain was pieced together from an early 2020 coronavirus variant and the spike protein of Omicron BA.1, a strain that kicked off most COVID-19 waves in the first pandemic winter.
Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov said the fact that the experiment was allowed to go ahead spoke to a lack of state supervision over genetic engineering and synthetic biology, which studies how living organisms can be redesigned for new purposes.
"Despite high biological risks, the experiment was paid for with American budget money without the permission of a national biosecurity regulator," Kirillov said at a news briefing.
The experiment was conducted at the Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories. In the pre-print, the scientists said their coronavirus research was funded in part with grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Back in 2021, the NIH sought to distance itself from any gain-of-function research on coronaviruses, saying neither it nor NIAID ever approved a grant supporting research that would have increased the transmissibility or lethality of the virus for humans. The Boston University's study only looked at mice.
Recent Stories
PTI to stage nationwide protests against alleged electoral frauds
Senate continues discussion on Presidential address to Joint Sitting of Parliame ..
Masood Khan calls for Pak-US cooperation for regional peace
Interior Minister starts Margalla Trail Patrol for security
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
More Stories From World
-
Golf: PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans scores
7 minutes ago -
Cybersecurity firm Darktrace accepts $5 bn takeover
27 minutes ago -
Clean energy drives massive BHP takeover bid
57 minutes ago -
Copper price tops $10,000 for first time in two years
1 hour ago -
Ukraine agriculture minister held for alleged corruption
1 hour ago -
China calls Germany spy claims 'pure fabrication'
2 hours ago
-
Singapore expects 1-3 pct growth this year
2 hours ago -
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Tech Index rises over 5 pct
2 hours ago -
New Zealand business sector R&D expenditure hits 2.21 bln USD
2 hours ago -
3 dead after mini car falls into west Japan paddy field
2 hours ago -
Chinese shares higher at midday Friday
2 hours ago -
Myanmar plans to export 2,000 tons of coffee in 2024-25 fiscal year
2 hours ago