Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse
Felicia Goodrum, Anice C. Lowen, Seema S. Lakdawala, James C. Alwine, Arturo Casadevall, Michael J. Imperiale, Walter J. Atwood, Daphne C. Avgousti, Joel D. Baines, Bruce W. Banfield, Lawrence Banks, Sumita Bhaduri‐McIntosh, Deepta Bhattacharya, Daniel Blanco-Melo, David C. Bloom, Adrianus C. M. Boon, Steeve Boulant, Curtis R. Brandt, Andrew J. Broadbent, Christopher B. Brooke, Craig Cameron, Samuel K. Campos, Patrizia Caposio, Gary C. Chan, Anna R. Cliffe, John M. Coffin, Kathleen L. Collins, Blossom Damania, Matthew D. Daugherty, Kari Debbink, James A. DeCaprio, Terence S. Dermody, Jimmy D. Dikeakos, Daniel DiMaio, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, W. Paul Duprex, Rebecca Dutch, Nels C. Elde, Michael Emerman, Lynn W. Enquist, Bentley A. Fane, Ana Fernández-Sesma, Michelle L. Flenniken, Lori Frappier, Matthew B. Frieman, Klaus Frueh, Michaela U. Gack, Marta Gaglia, Tom Gallagher, Denise Galloway, Adolfo García‐Sastre, Adam P. Geballe, Britt A. Glaunsinger, Stephen P. Goff, Alexander L. Greninger, Meaghan H. Hancock, Eva Harris, Nicholas S. Heaton, Mark T. Heise, Ekaterina E. Heldwein, Brenda G. Hogue, Stacy M. Horner, Edward Hutchinson, Joseph M. Hyser, William T. Jackson, Robert F. Kalejta, Jeremy P. Kamil, Stephanie M. Karst, Frank Kirchhoff, David M. Knipe, Timothy F. Kowalik, Michael Lagunoff, Laimonis A. Laimins, Ryan A. Langlois, Adam S. Lauring, Benhur Lee, David A. Leib, Shan‐Lu Liu, Richard Longnecker, Carolina B. López, Micah A. Luftig, Jennifer M. Lund, Balaji Manicassamy, Grant McFadden, Michael T. McIntosh, Andrew Mehle, W. Allen Miller, Ian Mohr, Cary A. Moody, Nathaniel J. Moorman, Anne Moscona, Bryan C. Mounce, Joshua Munger, Karl Münger, Eain A. Murphy, Mojgan H. Naghavi, Jay A. Nelson, Christopher J. Neufeldt, Janko Nikolich, Christine M. O’Connor
Abstract
Viruses have brought humanity many challenges: respiratory infection, cancer, neurological impairment and immunosuppression to name a few. Virology research over the last 60+ years has responded to reduce this disease burden with vaccines and antivirals. Despite this long history, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented attention to the field of virology. Some of this attention is focused on concern about the safe conduct of research with human pathogens. A small but vocal group of individuals has seized upon these concerns - conflating legitimate questions about safely conducting virus-related research with uncertainties over the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The result has fueled public confusion and, in many instances, ill-informed condemnation of virology. With this article, we seek to promote a return to rational discourse. We explain the use of gain-of-function approaches in science, discuss the possible origins of SARS-CoV-2 and outline current regulatory structures that provide oversight for virological research in the United States. By offering our expertise, we - a broad group of working virologists - seek to aid policy makers in navigating these controversial issues. Balanced, evidence-based discourse is essential to addressing public concern while maintaining and expanding much-needed research in virology.