MINUTES OF MEETING - March 6-7 
21 
Dr. Broadbent said that Wangiella dermatitidis is normally a sapro- 
phytic soil organism. In some instances Wangiella dermatitidis is 
pathogenic and can cause a deep mycosis in humans. He noted that the 
Center for Disease Control (tab 860) suggests that Wangiella dermati- 
tidis should be handled as a Class 2 agent. Dr. Broadbent recommended 
P3 containment. 
Dr. Mason said the organism can infect normal unocmpramised individuals. 
He said Wangiella dermatitidis has a propensity to invade the central 
nervous system. 
Dr. Nightingale asked if the infection can be treated. Dr. Mason said 
treatment is difficult and the drugs used are highly toxic. Dr. Young 
said that he did not believe the proposed .recombinant ENA experiment 
was a hazard, but he was concerned that in dealing with the organism 
itself deep mycoses might be contracted. He suggested P3 containment. 
Noting that Dr. Jacobs preposes to select cycloheximide resistant 
transformants. Dr. Gottesman asked if cycloheximide would ever be used 
to treat a Wangiella dermatitidis infection. Dr. Young said it would 
not. 
Dr. Campbell asked if other yeast genes might be linked to the cyclo- 
heximide resistance gene. He asked hew resistance might be expressed. 
Dr. Baltimore noted that alterations in membrane permeability are 
common mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Nightingale asked 
whether an alteration in membrane permeability might compromise treat- 
ment with drugs used clinically to treat the disease. Dr. Gottesman 
requested that the investigator assess potential alterations in thera- 
peutic drug sensitivity resulting from the introduction of cycloheximide 
resistance. 
Dr. Mason moved to approve the request at P3. Dr. Baltimore asked 
which plasmid vectors were to be used. Dr. Walters suggested that 
the investigator be telephoned. Dr. Setlow agreed and postponed the 
discussion until further information could be obtained. 
Following a telephone conversation with Dr. Jacobs, Dr. Milewski 
reported to the RAC that Dr. Jacobs had agreed to utilize one of the 
HV2 certified Saccharomyces cerevisiae/Escherichia coli hybrid plas- 
mid vectors and not to select for cycloheximide resistance. Dr. Mason 
moved approval at the P3 level of containment. The RAC approved the 
motion by a vote of ten in favor, none opposed, and four abstentions. 
D. Request to lower containment for experiments involving a thermophilic 
Bacillis and the cellulase gene of Sporocytophaga 
Dr. Williams introduced a proposal (tab 834, 852, and 843/13) from 
Dr. David Wilson of Cornell University. He said Dr. Wilson would 
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