How to create a virus that completely evades vaccine

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Paul Biensiasz, a virologist at Rockefeller Medical, expressed concerns on Twitter regarding the potential misuse of scientific research in his post titled "musings of a pissed virologist." He warns that his work could be misinterpreted as a blueprint for creating designer viruses, similar to how marijuana research led to the development of synthetic drugs like K2. However, the primary intent of his writing is a satirical critique of the policy decisions related to COVID-19 containment measures, rather than a literal guide for virus creation. The discussion also touches on the alarming ease with which existing viruses, such as smallpox, could be synthesized using modern technology, raising ethical concerns about the implications of such capabilities in the context of global health crises. The conversation highlights the ongoing fears surrounding virology research and its potential for misuse.
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Paul Biensiasz is a virologist at Rockefeller Medical, he authored this on twitter, titled "musings of a
pissed virologist"
Screenshot_2021-02-09 Paul Bieniasz on Twitter.png
 
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One can only hope that some bad actor skilled in the art doesn’t take this paper as a high level blueprint for a designer virus such as happened with research into marijuana that devolved into K2 and other designer drugs.
 
jedishrfu said:
One can only hope that some bad actor skilled in the art doesn’t take this paper as a high level blueprint for a designer virus such as happened with research into marijuana that devolved into K2 and other designer drugs.

It's not so much a "blueprint" for designing a virus, but a satirical criticism of policy decisions surrounding COVID-19 containment measures.

Also, there's no need to make designer viruses, when it would be pretty easy just to artificially synthesize smallpox and unleash that: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/201...-extinct-poxvirus-100000-using-mail-order-dna
 
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A virus made from nanotechnology.
 
Flatland said:
A virus made from nanotechnology.

Why would you want to do that? There's enough hell on Earth thanks to the SARS-CoV-2 virus!

[Post edited by the Mentors]
 
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