24 
MINUTES OF MEETING - June 5-6 
Dr. Young cited the complicated life cycle of the organism and said 
he could not envision any biohazard developing fran cloning Shistosoma 
mansonii DNA in Escherichia coli K-12. He recommended PI containment. 
Several committee members concurred. 
Mr. Thornton said that in rec amending this proposal to the Director, 
NIH, the RAC would establish a precedent of acting on proposals frcm 
foreign countries where it has no jurisdiction. He wished to avoid 
such a precedent arx3 proposed that a personal letter be sent to 
Dr. Henriques from one or more scientists to describe the discussion 
and the sentiments of the RAC. Several committee members supported 
this point of view, and Dr. Setlow agreed to inform Dr. Henriques 
unofficially of the deliberations of the RAC concerning his proposal. 
Later in the meeting. Dr. Novick stated that he was dissatisfied with 
this approach and requested further discussion of the issues. He 
felt the RAC should treat the proposal as if it had originated in the 
United States and take an official position by a vote. He so moved. 
Mr. Thornton opposed this position. He moved to table Dr. Novick's 
motion. He said a vote to table would be an endorsement of the 
previously agreed upon procedure. By a vote of ten in favor, one 
opposed, and six abstentions, the RAC tabled Dr. Nov ides' motion. 
D. Request for Consideration of Appropriate Containment Levels for the 
Return of Mucor racemosus Genes Cloned in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to 
Mucor racemosus 
Dr. Maas introduced the request (tab 897, 881/16) of Dr. Paul S. 
Sypherd of the University of California at Irvine. Dr. Sypherd 
requested consideration of containment levels appropriate to the 
return of Mucor racemosus DNA cloned in Saccharo^ces cerevisiae 
host-vector systems to Mucor racemosus . In addition, Dr. Sypherd 
requested permission to transform Mucor racem osus with Saccharomyces 
cerevisiae vectors with or without cloned Saccha romyces cerevisiae 
sequences. Dr. Young said he had no reservation about approving use 
of this organism at appropriate containment. He expressed concern 
on the pathogenic nature of certain Mucor species, which can cause 
Mucormycoses in compromised individuals. He suggested that P2 con- 
tainment conditions be permitted, but felt the investigator should 
be alerted to the possible hazards of handling Mucor . 
Dr. Gottesman asked if Mucor racemosus was characterized enough to 
permit evaluation of the effect of introducing fragments of the 
Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome into Mucor racemosus. Dr. Berns 
asked how Mucor racemosus was classified. E*:. Nightingale replied 
that all Mucor species were classified in the proposed revised CDC 
listing as Class 2 etiological agents. Dr. Berns pointed out that 
Mucor is not highly pathogenic; he noted that many microorganisms 
can become pathogens in compromised individuals. Dr. Maas moved 
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