mBio Addresses the Pause in Gain-of-Function (GOF) Experiments Involving Pathogens with Pandemic Potential (PPP)

Since the spring of 2014, there has been a vibrant debate in thescientific community about the benefits and risks of so-called gain-of-function (GOF) studies involving pathogens with pan-demic potential and particularly highly pathogenic avian influ-enza virus (HPAIV) (1). In October 2014, the U.S. government announced a pause for research involving GOF experiments with three respiratory viruses—influenza virus, Middle East respira-tory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus—if that research could be “reason-ably anticipated ” to enhance their pathogenicity or transmissibilit