May 21-23 - MINUTES OF MEETING 
During the 30-day comment period, one comment was received on this proposal. 
The commentator stated that "I see no logical reason for using containment 
as high as P2 for Strep tcmyces and Bacillus subtilis. They just require 
good microDiological practices without any bureaucratic containment. It 
is the duty of RAC to justify the P2 containment, which introduces its 
own risks and is quite costly." 
It was explained that the Actinomycetes are a large group of closely 
related organisms, many of which are used to produce therapeutically 
active compounds. Ninety percent of the antibiotics produced industrially 
are derived from the Micrcmonospora and Streptomyces genera. They are 
mainly soil organisms, and do not exist in the gut. Genetic exchanges 
occur in almost all cases for which it has been looked. The basis for 
exchange includes recombination, mating, and fusion (heterokaryosis) . 
Plasmid transfer of genetic information has also been demonstrated. 
Substantial DMA homology frcm 20-80% has been demonstrated in the 
Streptomyces genus. Although some members of the Actinomycetes are 
known pathogens for man, animals and plants, the Streptomycetes and 
Micromonospora genera are non-pa thogenic for man and animals. An 
extensive search of the literature has revealed no reports of patho- 
genicity. It was pointed out that experiments with these organisms 
currently would require P3 containment under Section III-B-3 of the 
Guidelines. Dr. Campbell stated that Section III-B-3 set containment 
at P3 because so many experiments are covered by that section. The 
proposal before the RAC is far more limited. During this discussion. 
Dr. Day cited the 1978 USDA/NSF/NIH Workshop on Risk Assessment of 
Agriculture Pathogens and said that plant pathogens should not be grouped 
with human and animal pathogens. Dr. Day suggested that reference to 
plant pathogens should be deleted from the proposal. Dr. Zaitlin 
supported Dr. Day's proposal. Dr. Walters proposed that the clause 
dealing with pathogenicity for man, animals or plants be included as 
written. Dr. Campbell supported Dr. Walters' proposal, and said that 
the question of plant pathogens could be discussed at the next meeting. 
Based on the importance of these microorganisms, non-pathogenicity, and 
evidence for genetic relatedness, it was proposed that recombinant 
experiments between the Streptomyces and Micromonospora species be 
permitted under P2 containment. The original proposal was restricted 
by the RAC to only the Streptomyces and Micromonospora genera. 
A motion by Dr. Gottesman to accept the proposal, amended as follows, was 
passed with 16 for, none apposed, and 2 abstentions: 
[ 98 ] 
