MINUTES OF MEETING - March 6-7 
25 
After sane discussion, the working group agreed that Class 3 etiological 
agents should be removed from the prohibited category. The approach 
the working group recommends would require RAC review of proposals but 
would not require prior publication of the proposals in the Federal 
Register for a comment period. 
Dr. Zaitlin said experiments which increase the virulence and host range 
of plant pathogens currently prohibited by Section I— D— 3 could effectively 
be dealt with under this proposal. Dr. Gottesman agreed to include 
language concerning plant pathogens in the proposal. 
Dr. Krimsky asked about the current status of the pending revision of the 
CDC classification of etiological agents. Dr. Krause replied that the 
release date is unknown. Dr. Talbot said that the NIH Guidelines refer 
specifically to the 1974 CDC Classification of Etiological Agents and 
that therefore the 1974 edition would be used for the Guidelines until 
the RAC recommends otherwise. 
Dr. Gottesman asked whether the draft language should specify that all 
work with Class 3 agents would require RAC prior review or should automa- 
tically allow it at the P3 level of containment with a lower level possible 
after RAC review. Dr. Nightingale asked if the number of reviews would 
be reduced by the inclusion of the P3 containment provision.. Dr. Young 
replied that most facilities studying Class 3 pathogens are equipped 
with a P3 facility, and he would expect inclusion of the P3 containment 
level clause to decrease the RAC's burden. 
Dr. Walters asked if certain Class 3 agents might be of particular concern. 
It was noted during this discussion that Smallpox, Whitepox and Alastrim 
are included among Class 3 agents. Dr. Young and Dr. Bems suggested 
that mention of these etiological agents in the Guidelines be flagged to 
indicate that due to World Health Organization efforts at eradication, 
all activities, including storage of these agents, are restricted to a 
single national facility. 
Dr. Gottesman asked whether the introduction of genomic fragments from 
Class 3 agents into eukaryotic viral systems might pose any concern. 
Dr. Bems replied that if less than the whole viral gencme is being 
cloned no special problems should arise. 
A proposal covering Class 3 agents will be published in the Federal 
Register for comment prior to the June meeting, and will be reconsidered 
then. 
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