Nexus - 0103 - New Times Magazine-pages

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subgroup Includes the viruses which inject animals with viruses about cause the brain disease scrapie which they knew virtually nothing. (visna virus) In sheep and goats, and Even though there are still many Afri fi i hich the viruses which cause the brain unknown monkey viruses, biologists at ies tea eairatts * diseases Kuru and Cruetzfeld-Jacob are even now injecting HIV, the Pcie ite ee ree satin Disease (CJD) In humans. human AIDS virus, into these ani- away from — and the USA. According to Nobel Prize winner mals. : D. Caritos dusek, these vii where for the past forty years blolo- | ("3° not a ‘ies tees 3 Escape from the Lab ists have heen bilndl: layli 2 * F fp etine different strains of the same virus. Tt the AIDS virus was laboratory-cre- around with primate viruses. It ls now generally agreed by most | © 1986 Annual Report of the Brit- ated, it would have been all too easy virologists that the AIDS human Im- ish Medical Research Council also for it to escape into the local popula- mune-system virus (HIV) Is related supports this statement. tlon via jaboratory workers; such to the monkey virus STLV-II, which The evidence poluts to HIV being incidents are well documented. was discovered as recently as 1983 formed by a mbtation which in- For example, Fort Detrick, the top and is now known to Infect up to 80% volved STLV-III and a lentivirus. security US Army Biological War- of African green monkeys. Such a mutation could not happen fare Establishment in Maryland, is People infected with the AIDS under natural circumstances be- conmkiefed fo be the matt sevire virus actually produce antibodles cause of the completely different laboratory in the world. Yet over a 25 against proteins of STLV-III, since host ranges of the viruses Involved. year period there has been, on that virus forms part of human HIV. Creation of AIDS? average, an accident involving seri- e ous infection (including three Mutations Much, but not all, of the research deaths) every three or four weeks. Into the viruses of Kuru and CJD has In 1981 several litres of deadly been carrled out In the laboratories chikungunya virus disappeared from of the National Institutes of Health Fort Detrick - “a disease of explosive at Bethesda, Maryland, USA, under potential as either a biological war- the directlon of D. Carlton fare agent or a natural disease AIDS Created in Experiments? virus to mutate. A spontaneous or Gajdusek. His work involved Inject- threat”, Pentagon documents report. deliberate mutation can also cause a ing these viruses, and others, into Accidents are even more likely to virus to cross the species barrier to a the brains and bloodstreams of many occur under civillan conditions and new host. species of monkey, Including the increase dramatically when staff are Spontaneous mutation occurs African Green. unaware of the hazards. Similar work naturally; this gives rise to epidem- By 1976, over 300 monkeys and with viruses is carried out in Britain, ics of flu which periodically sweep apes of at least 19 specles had been where many laboratories use pri- the world. Mutation can involve a used. The viruses were also grown in mates. It’s quite possible that an- swap of genes between two or more cultures of cells from African green otber virus similiar to HIV will soon different types of normally mild flu monkeys and during this experlment be ‘discovered’. viruses to produce a single very were dellberately mixed with many This is why vivisection laborato- dangerous one, other forms of virus, It is very likely ries are regarded by Animal Welfare ’ that mutations occurred and that roups as biological time-bombs AIDS’ Ancestors STLV-III combined with a len- = to go off, presenting a mas- Under laboratory conditions many tlvirus to produce HIV. sive health threat to their Immediate viruses have been studied and delib- The workers Involved were to- population and the entire world erately made to mutate and change tally Ignorant of the presence of This information is a very brief sum- host range. olf ne 4 a ay | nig ae peng Faities by we e its ationa. nti-Vivisection It Js equally possible for such a long en years oe Society (NAVS), from over a thousand mutation to occur accidentally In a the USA during the 1960s a 'd 1970s, research papers dating back to the laboratory (see NEXUS issue 1)., as ie Sy Ie pea ” 1930’.. For more information, including such a disaster Is encouraged by the experimenters were deliberately " full scientific references., send an appro- nature of animal experimentatlon. transmitting simian AIDS from ani- priately stamped self-addressed envelope To date, HIV is the most complex mal to animal, species to species, for ; laboratory to Jaboratory, watcbing it aF group =. as a develop) In Severity sind speed of NAVS, SI Harley Street, ereas mos ese contain only action. London wil, England four genes, HIV also has genes which No attempt was made to contain ate oaly foiind i, &ismall saberoup pt the viruses. Biologists continued to retroviruses called lentiviruses. This " Scientists groping for the origins of AIDS have proposed that It origl- nated In Africa In the form of an Viruses can mutate when exposed to various chemicals, radiation or hormones. Transmission from” one specles to another can also cause a Nexus New Times Three 33 subgroup Includes the viruses which cause the brain disease scrapie (visna virus) In sheep and goats, and the viruses which cause the brain African green monkey virus which d Iseases Kuru and Cruetzfeld-Jacob crossed the species barrier to hu- Disease (GID) in finmay: jo tl ing bd reset a According to Nobel Prize winner ’ where for the past forty years blolo- a "Ty aia Gal Ger tee , Pp A pr gis different strains of the same virus. y The 1986 Annual Report of the Brit- It is now generaliy agreed by most ish Medical Research Council also 10g I m: m- viroiogists that the AIDS human h Supports! this statement, mune-system virus (HIV) Is related A Tle evidence points to HIV belng t STLV- o the monkey virus STLV-III, which Tocmeaihy) 2 imbtation | whioetn- d vered tl pe Pope allem ee le voived STLV-III and a lentlvirus. of African green monkeys. Such a mutation could not happen under natural circumstances be- People infected with the AIDS virus actually produce antlbodles peg ¥ - oe . a against proteins of STLV-III, since Ce One Ces that virus forms part of human HIV. Creation of AIDS? Mutations Much, but not all, of the research Into the viruses of Kuru and CJD has been carrled out In the laboratories of the National Institutes of Health at Bethesda, Maryland, USA, under the dlrectlon of D. Carlton Scientists groping for the origins of AIDS have proposed that It origl- nated In Africa In the form of an Viruses can mutate when exposed to various chemicals, radiation or hormones. Transmission from” one specles to another can also cause a inject animals with viruses about which they knew virtually nothing. Even though there are still many unknown monkey viruses, biologists are even now injecting HIV, the human AIDS virus, into these ani- mals. Escape from the Lab Tt the AIDS virus was laboratory-cre- ated, it would have been all too easy for it to escape into the local popula- tlon via jaboratory workers; such incidents are well documented. For example, Fort Detrick, the top security US Army Biological War- fare Establishment in Maryland, is considered to be the most secure laboratory in the world. Yet over a 25 year period there has been, on average, an accident involving seri- ous infection (including three deaths) every three or four weeks. In 1981 several litres of deadly chikungunya virus disappeared from Fort Detrick - “a disease of explosive potential as either a biological war- fare agent or a natural disease Mutations Experiments? AIDS Created in dangerous one. NAVS, SI Harley Street, London W1, England 38 Escape from the Lab Creation of AIDS? AIDS’ Ancestors