MINUTES OF MEETING - December 6-7 
18 
IX. PROTOCOLS REQUIRING ASSIGNMENT OF CONTAINMENT LEVELS 
A. Request for Containment levels for the cloning of Anabaena 
DNA into Klebsiella 
Dr. Brill introduced a proposal (tabs 770, 774/8, 794) 
submitted by Dr. Robert Haselkom of the University of 
Chicago. This had been discussed at the previous RAC meet- 
ing where it was not accepted pending further information. 
Dr. Brill stated that Dr. Haselkom has cloned Anabaena DNA 
in plasmid pBR322 in E. coli . He said that Dr. Haselkom 
would now like to transform this DNA into Klebsiella pneumoniae 
mutants that are defective in genes responsible for nitrogen 
fixation. Dr. Brill said Dr. Haselkom indicates that the 
strain of Anabaena he proposes to use does not produce any 
toxins. Dr. Brill moved that Dr. Haselkom's request be 
approved at P2 + HV1 containment. Dr. Novick said that the 
concept of HV1 should not be included in the motion. The 
RAC has instituted fairly elaborate procedures to establish 
an organism as an HV1 host and that procedure is not being 
followed here. Dr. Young agreed. 
Dr. Walters noted that Dr. Haselkom requested permission 
to use a conjugative plasmid containing recombinant DNA. 
Dr. Maas said that the conjugative plasmid to be used to 
transfer the nitrogen fixation genes has been used for years. 
Dr. Brill said that he sees no danger. He added that the 
experiment investigates a very important research area. 
Dr. Walters asked how many times the RAC has approved pro- 
posals using a conjugative plasmid. Dr. Setlow said the RAC 
had approved the use of the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium 
tumefaciens in certain experiments. A motion to approve the 
request at P2 containment was accepted by a vote of twelve 
in favor, none opposed, with four abstentions. 
B. Proposal to clone the Exotoxin A gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 
in E. coli 
Dr. Brill presented tab 792. This proposal from Dr. C. W. 
Shuster of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 
de\als with Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which produces an exotoxin. 
Dr. Shuster would like to study the regulation of this 
exotoxin. Dr. Brill said that he supports this request. 
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