26 
a genetic ecchanger with B. subtilis cncJer Section I-E-4. Er. Holmes said 
the evidence supporting tKe request that ^ megateriuri be added to Appendix 
A, Si±>list B, is weak. Ck:. Gartland said that i:r. Vtiry had, after oonsultirg 
^th ORDA, withdrawn her request that B. megateriun be added to Appendix 
A. That part of her request was, therefore, not pdolished in the Federal 
Register . 
Dr. Holmes said that em issue in the Federal Register request is that the 
plaamids to be used are not specified. Ckr. HoImes~iaid ^ megaterium is 
not an infortant pathogen in either human or veterinary medicine. It 
will, rarely, cause infections in camprarused or immuiosuppcessed patients. 
Dr. Berns asked if any problems could be visialized which would argue tor 
setting oontairront any higher than PI. cr. Berns said B. megaterium is 
only an cpportmistic pathogen. Dr. Holmes pointed out tKat cr. \fery 
could be introducing antibiotic resistance genes into ^ megaterium . 
cr. Levine pointed out that ^ megaterium totms spores; spores are better 
contained cnder P2 conditions. 
Dr. Holmes moved that the request to transfer recombinant plasmids from E. 
coli , B. subtilis , and aureus into ^ megaterium be approved inder P2 
oontairment conditions. Containment is set at P2 as Cr. Vbry has not 
specified the experiments she wishes to perform nor the plasmids to be used; 
however, she is encouraged to apply to her local IBC with specifics if 
she wishes contaiment lowered to PI, the loced. IBC is authorized to 
lower containment to PI for specific experiments. Dr. Levine seconded the 
motion. By a vote of thirteen in favor, none opposed, and one abstention, 
the RAC approved the motion. 
X. PEQUEST TO CLONE PLMTT ENA IN THE CYANOBACTERIUM ANACYSTIS NIDULANS 
Cr. ScandalioB introduced tabs 1055 and 1062/2, a request from Dr. Lawrence 
Bogorad of Harvard University tor permission to initiate, at PI containment, 
a program involving the cloning , in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans 
(strain R2), of HA from chlorcplasts of various plants (initially primarily 
from Zea mays ). Ct. Bogorad would employ the plasmid vector pX104, a 
construct of the cyanobacteried plasmid pUCl and the E. coli vector pACYC184. 
Dr. Scandalios said he had consulted cr. Winston BrilT~by telephone on this 
proposal. Cr. Scandalios said neither he nor cr. Brill could envisage any 
potential problems, so he would recoimend that the experiments be permitted 
at the PI containment level. He so mov/ed. Dr. Levine seconded the motion. 
By a y/ote of fourteen in favror, none opposed, and no abstentions, the RAC 
approved the motion. 
( 355 ) 
