For the first time, scientists have used the genetic map of the poliovirus to construct a man-made version of the crippling virus -- in a move they say illustrates the potential for humans to manufacture viruses for use as bio-weapons.

Many researchers have believed poliovirus could be "recreated" using the published data on the virus' genome, but no one had done the work.

The researchers were able to piece together synthetic poliovirus DNA, then use an enzyme to transcribe it into viral RNA -- which then functioned like real viral RNA and made proteins, ultimately forming infectious poliovirus. The man-made virus led to paralysis or death in mice engineered to carry the human receptor for poliovirus.

Because of global vaccination efforts, most of the world is protected from polio, and health officials say polio eradication is in sight. But even if the world is declared polio-free, the ability to synthesize poliovirus could pose a bioterror threat if mass polio vaccination were to end.

Sciencexpress 2002;10.1126/science.1072266

Journal Virology August 2002;76(15):7485-7494

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