DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION, AND WELFARE 
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 
■ KTHESDA. MARYLAND «80t4 20205 
March 22, 1979 
Dr. Prank Dixon 
Director of Research 
Scripps Clinic and Research 
Foundation 
LaJolla, California 92037 
Dear Frank: 
In the course of discussions of possible biohazards of recombinant DNA 
research with £. coli host-vector systems, concern has been expressed, 
as for example in the enclosed materials from Drs. King and Beckwith, 
about possible immunological diseases resulting from the production of 
eukaryotic proteins by an enteric bacterium. These concerns are of 
two general types - production of an autoimmune disease as a result of 
altered antigenicity or recognition of a host protein, or disturbance 
of hormone function as a result of an antibody response to the hormone, 
such as anti-insulin. 
As a member of the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee, I am asking 
several persons (Richard Asofsky, Frank Austen , Baruj Benacerraf , 
William Paul, Norman Talal, Philip Paterson, and you) who are acknowl- 
edged experts in the field of immunology and/or autoimmune disease to 
give a thorough, objective evaluation of the evidence for or against 
the possibility of such disease mechanisms occurring, as well as any 
other relevant considerations. I would like very much to have a rather 
detailed analysis, with literature citations. I propose to circulate 
these analyses to other immunologists for comment, and then to the 
Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee prior to their next meeting on 
May 21, 1979. 
It is by means of this type of expert input and thoughtful analysis 
that we will be able to finally come to terms with what Is real and 
what is not real about risk scenarios of recombinant DNA research. 
[2 39] 
