IS GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF HIDDEN DANGEROUS VIRUSES?

Gain-of-function experiments may help medical researchers to test scientific theories, develop new technologies and find treatments for infectious diseases. When the original SARS-CoV outbreak occurred in 2003, scientists developed a method to study the virus in the laboratory, by growing the virus in mice. This endeavour showed a model for researching the virus and testing potential vaccines and treatments. Inadequate and insufficient research on viruses will authorize unaware of future pandemics. But too little consciousness of security threats will multiply the hazards that an experiment virus may escape a lab through an accident and cause an outbreak of its own. A virus generated in the lab by genetically modified its gene products, altering an organism, and if accidentally released, could result in millions of deaths. Gain-of-Function research is followed in scientific studies to cautiously understand the possibility of the emergence of infectious viruses in nature. Gain-of-Function experiments include engineering in the lab genetic alterations that simulate an increase in virulence. The organism modified this way is tested on laboratory animals like ferrets, mice, and guinea pigs. These tests provide insight that is utilized to develop vaccines, test out new antivirals, understand the host-immune response, and comprehend the disease-causing ability of the virus. In this way, we can remain a step ahead of viral evolution by developing suitable medical countermeasures. Gain-of-function research is the serial passaging of microorganisms to increase transmissibility, virulence, immunogenicity, and host tropism.