Risk analysis of a hypothetical open field release of a self-limiting transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquito strain to combat dengue
Camilla J. Beech1, J. Nagaraju2, S.S. Vasan1,3, Robert I. Rose4, Rofina Yasmin Othman5,6, Vilasini Pillai7, and T.S Saraswathy8* (on behalf of the Working Groups)
1Oxitec Limited, 71 Milton Park, Oxford, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom;
2Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, 4-87/1, ECIL Road, Nacharam, Hyderabad, 500 076, India;
3University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, Parks Road, Oxford, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom;
4 Independent Biotechnology Consultant, 8322, Sharon Drive, Frederick, Maryland 21704, USA;
5University of Malaya, Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia;
6Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Malaysia), National Biotechnology Division, Level 3 & 4, Block C4, Complex C, Federal Government Administrative Centre, Putrajaya 62662, Malaysia;
7Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (Malaysia), Conservation & Environmental Management Division, Level 2, Podium 2, No. 25, Persiaran Perdana Wisma Sumber Asli, Precinct 4, Federal Government Administrative Centre, Putrajaya, 62574, Malaysia;
8 Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Virology Unit, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
*Author for Correspondence.
Biological Safety Officer,
Institute for Medical Research (IMR),
Virology Unit, Jalan Pahang,
50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract.
A UNDP-sponsored Workshop on the Risk Assessment of Transgenic Insects (Series-1) was co-hosted in November 2008 by Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) under the Ministry of Health Malaysia, and the Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture at the University of Malaya. This 3-day workshop was attended by 70 scientists working in the fields of biosafety, entomology and medical entomology, infectious diseases, law, medicine, natural resources and the environment, vector control and virology (details in the Appendix). This workshop is one of the initiatives under the project Capacity Building for Implementation of Malaysia's Biosafety Act 2007, which has the objective to help consolidate Malaysia's national capacity for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety as well as the National Biosafety Act of 2007. The workshop extensively discussed the risks and benefits of three case studies: hypothetical field release of genetically modified fruit flies (Tephritidae sp.), pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) and mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). This paper discusses the methodology of the workshop and the output of the mosquito case study, where participants were asked to determine potential hazards associated with these hypothetical trials, and then apply the tools of risk assessment and risk management to determine the likelihood and consequence of the identified potential hazards, and thus prepare an overall risk assessment.
[Get pdf] |
