Industry Association Synthetic Biology Biological Weapons - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Industry Association Synthetic Biology

Biological Weapons Convention Meeting Geneva, 2008-12-03

www.ia-sb.eu

Synthetic Biology as an Industrial Field

• About 50 dedicated DNA synthesis

companies worldwide

• Rapidly growing technical capabilities
• Complete viral genomes can be

synthesized

• Complete bacterial genomes within

reach

• Systems biology and knowledge of

biological networks expands fast

2

www.ia-sb.eu

Global Players

• IASB members

– ATG Biosynthetics GmbH – Biomax Informatics AG – Entelechon GmbH – febit holding GmbH – Sloning Biotechnology GmbH

• Europe

– Geneart AG – MWG Eurofins AG

3

• USA

– Blue Heron – Codon Devices – DNA 2.0 – IDT – CODA Genomics

• Asia and Australia

– Geneworks – Bioneer – BioBasic – SunGene

www.ia-sb.eu

Founding of the Industry Association Synthetic Biology

• Germany is a hot spot for Synthetic

Biology

• Founding members share same

perspective on biosafety and biosecurity

• Aim was to set the foundation for

secure and responsible development of the field

• Leverage the potential of SB for

benefitial applications

4

www.ia-sb.eu

Goals

• Increase biosecurity and biosafety of

SB

• Develop and harmonize best practises
• Create a Code of Conduct
• Promote the field
• Engage in an open discourse with the

public

• Create a platform for international

collaboration

5

www.ia-sb.eu

Activities

• Ongoing dialog with government

agencies and industry players

• Participation in SB 3.0, SB 4.0 and

SynBioSafe

• Workshop on ‘Technical Solutions for

Improved Biosecurity in Synthetic Biology‘

• April 2008
• Resulted in 5 work packages for IASB

and other industry members

6

www.ia-sb.eu

Work Packages

• 1. Virulence Factor database VIREP
• 2. Article on status quo in SB
• 3. Technical Biosecurity Group
• 4. Seal of Approval: Harmonized

screening practises and commitment to biosecurity screening

• 5. Code of Conduct

7

www.ia-sb.eu

Seal of Approval

• All IASB members do screen
• Advertise the fact
• Create an incentive for other vendors
• Demonstrate to customers that

screening is broadly implemented

• Create a platform for more specific best

practises

8

www.ia-sb.eu

Requirements

• Preserve freedom of research
• Leave door open for benefitial

developments

– Vaccines – Insights into pathogenicity mechanisms

• Provide tangible directions for

companies

• Increase legal certainty for market

players

9

www.ia-sb.eu

Aims

• Raise barriers for malign attackers
• Encourage continued improvements

and harmonization

• Promote international dialogue
• Protect Synthetic Biology from abuse

and promote the field

10

www.ia-sb.eu

Articles (1/4) - DRAFT

• Records of suspicious inquiries and

positive screening hits will be kept

• Statistics on biosecurity and biosafety

related inquiries and orders will be kept

• Authorities will be informed about

inquiries and orders that clearly indicate illegal activities

– such as attempts at concealing a non- business delivery address

11

www.ia-sb.eu

Articles (2/4) - DRAFT

• Responsible business practises that

promote the field and help to leverage its potential

• Screen customers
• Do not ship to PO boxes or residential

addresses

• Verify addresses of businesses and

institutions, and make sure that the address owner is a legitimate, registered organization

12

www.ia-sb.eu

Articles (3/4) - DRAFT

• Screen DNA sequences
• Against all Australia Group biological

dual-use organisms

– For bacteria, against all known genomic and plasmid transcripts – For viruses, against all known genomic sequences – For eukaryotes, against all known genomic and plasmid transcripts – For toxins, against the toxin gene sequences

13

www.ia-sb.eu

Articles (4/4) - DRAFT

• Against Select Agent list
• Against national organism lists for

export control or biological safety / security protocols

• When a hit comes up,

– notify customer – accept order only if customer is legitimate user and all national and international regulations have been met

14

www.ia-sb.eu

Contact

www.ia-sb.eu