MINUTES OF MEETING - De centner 6-7 
28 
XV. RISK ASSESSMENT 
A. Report on Status of Risk Assessment 
Dr. Krause said that the final risk assessment plan was 
published in the Federal Register of September 13, 1979, and 
NIAID is attempting to implement that plan. NIAID has two 
continuing intramural activities on risk assessment: (1) 
evaluation of polyoma virus cloned in E. coli host-vector 
systems and (2) studies on the biological activity of E. 
coli K-12 carrying DNA copies of RNA tumor viruses. 
Dr. Krause said the NIAID had convened a small ad hoc group 
chaired by Dr. Stanley Falkow on August 30, 1979, to consider 
implementation of the Falmouth protocols. He said that 
group recommended that there be a study of the HS strain of 
E. coli to study the transmission of plasmid pBR325 to the 
intestinal flora in normal humans. Dr. Krause reported that 
NIAID has issued a request for proposals aimed at developing 
resources for a modular training course on microbiological 
techniques including the development of self-study aids. 
Dr. Nutter then summarized briefly the progress of risk 
assessment contracts. He said there are presently three 
contracts applicable to risk assessment. (1) The contract 
with Dr. Sagik at the University of Texas at San Antonio 
will terminate in June. Its purpose is to test EK1 and EK2 
systems for their survival in sewage treatment plant models. 
(2) The second contract is with Dr. Rolf Freter at the 
University of Michigan. That contract is scheduled to expire 
in March 1980. E3<1 and EK2 systems are being tested for 
their survival in mice and in special culture conditions. 
(3) The third study is at Tufts University which is scheduled 
to expire December 1979. Dr. Stuart Levy has been testing 
EK1 and Q<2 strains in humans and mice. 
Dr. Young said plasmid transfer to anaerobes which comprise 
most of the bcwel flora, was an important question as transfer 
of an E. coli plasmid into Bacteroides fragilis by conjugation 
has been reported. 
Dr. Krause then reported on the joint meeting between a NIAID 
ad hoc working group and the RAC Risk Assessment Subcommittee. 
The invited consultants included Dr. Louis Sherwood, an endo- 
crinologist and peptide hormone biochemist of the Department 
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