Experiments that led to the first gene-edited babies: the ethical failings and the urgent need for better governance / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

The rapid developments of science and technology in China over recent decades, particularly in biomedical research, have brought forward serious challenges regarding ethical governance. Recently, Jian-kui HE, a Chinese scientist, claimed to have “created” the first gene-edited babies, designed to be naturally immune to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The news immediately triggered widespread criticism, denouncement, and debate over the scientific and ethical legitimacy of HE’s genetic experiments. China’s guidelines and regulations have banned germline genome editing on human embryos for clinical use because of scientific and ethical concerns, in accordance with the international consensus. HE’s human experimentation has not only violated these Chinese regulations, but also breached other ethical and regulatory norms. These include questionable scientific value, unreasonable risk-benefit ratio, illegitimate ethics review, invalid informed consent, and regulatory misconduct. This series of ethical failings of HE and his team reveal the institutional failure of the current ethics governance system which largely depends on scientist’s self-regulation. The incident highlights the need for urgent improvement of ethics governance at all levels, the enforcement of technical and ethical guidelines, and the establishment of laws relating to such bioethical issues.

Experiments that led to the first gene-edited babies: the ethical failings and the urgent need for better governance / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

The rapid developments of science and technology in China over recent decades, particularly in biomedical research, have brought forward serious challenges regarding ethical governance. Recently, Jian-kui HE, a Chinese scientist, claimed to have "created" the first gene-edited babies, designed to be naturally immune to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The news immediately triggered widespread criticism, denouncement, and debate over the scientific and ethical legitimacy of HE's genetic experiments. China's guidelines and regulations have banned germline genome editing on human embryos for clinical use because of scientific and ethical concerns, in accordance with the international consensus. HE's human experimentation has not only violated these Chinese regulations, but also breached other ethical and regulatory norms. These include questionable scientific value, unreasonable risk-benefit ratio, illegitimate ethics review, invalid informed consent, and regulatory misconduct. This series of ethical failings of HE and his team reveal the institutional failure of the current ethics governance system which largely depends on scientist's self-regulation. The incident highlights the need for urgent improvement of ethics governance at all levels, the enforcement of technical and ethical guidelines, and the establishment of laws relating to such bioethical issues.

Association between phage-mediated shiga toxin and molecular distribution of CRISPR in Escherichia coli O26 : H11 or NM / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the association between phage-mediated shiga toxin and molecular distribution of CRISPR in Escherichia (E.) coli O26:H11 or NM.Methods A total of 135 E.coli O26:H11 or NM strains were collected from NCBI database.Software CRT and CRISPR Finder were used to extract CRISPR and Excel was used to assign the spacer of unique number and type CRISPR.And the relationship between CRISPR and stx phage was analyzed.Results All the 135 E.coli O26:H11 or NM strains had the CRISPR.For CRISPRI,CRISPR2.1,CRISPR2.2 and CRISPR3-4,19,22,1 and 1 subtypes were found,respectively.According to the four CRISPR sites,the strains could be divided into 40 subtypes.Stx-phage was only observed in the group C of CRISPR.Compared with E.coli of stx-phage negative,E.coli with stx-phage harbored more spacers.Conclusions CRISPR loci was extensively existed in E.coli O26:H11 or NM,and many subtypes were found in these strains.The presence of stx-phage was related to the molecular distribution of CRISPR in E.coli O26:H11 or NM.CRISPR might be a valuable biomarker to identify strains with high virulent potential.

Association between phage-mediated shiga toxin and molecular distribution of CRISPR in Escherichia coli O26 : H11 or NM / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the association between phage-mediated shiga toxin and molecular distribution of CRISPR in Escherichia (E.) coli O26:H11 or NM.Methods A total of 135 E.coli O26:H11 or NM strains were collected from NCBI database.Software CRT and CRISPR Finder were used to extract CRISPR and Excel was used to assign the spacer of unique number and type CRISPR.And the relationship between CRISPR and stx phage was analyzed.Results All the 135 E.coli O26:H11 or NM strains had the CRISPR.For CRISPRI,CRISPR2.1,CRISPR2.2 and CRISPR3-4,19,22,1 and 1 subtypes were found,respectively.According to the four CRISPR sites,the strains could be divided into 40 subtypes.Stx-phage was only observed in the group C of CRISPR.Compared with E.coli of stx-phage negative,E.coli with stx-phage harbored more spacers.Conclusions CRISPR loci was extensively existed in E.coli O26:H11 or NM,and many subtypes were found in these strains.The presence of stx-phage was related to the molecular distribution of CRISPR in E.coli O26:H11 or NM.CRISPR might be a valuable biomarker to identify strains with high virulent potential.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat associated protein genes cas1 and cas2 in Shigella / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To detect the distribution of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat(CRISPR)associated protein genes cas1 and cas2 in Shigella and to understand the characteristics of CRISPR with relationship between CRISPR and related characteristics on drug resistance. Methods CRISPR associated protein genes cas1 and cas2 in Shigella were detected by PCR,with its products sequenced and compared.Results The CRISPR-associated protein genes cas1 and cas2 were found in all the 196 Shigella isolates which were isolated at different times and locations in China. Consistencies showed through related sequencing appepared as follows:cas2,cas1 (a) and cas1(b)were 96.44%,97.61%and 96.97%,respectively. There were two mutations including 3177129 site(C→G)and 3177126 site(G→C)of cas1(b)gene in 2003135 strain which were not found in the corresponding sites of Z23 and 2008113. Results showed that in terms of both susceptibility and antibiotic-resistance,strain 2003135 was stronger than Z23 and 2008113. Conclusion CRISPR system widely existed in Shigella,with the level of drug resistance in cas1(b) gene mutant strains higher than in wild strains. Cas1(b)gene mutation might be one of the reasons causing the different levels of resistance.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat associated protein genes cas1 and cas2 in Shigella / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To detect the distribution of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat(CRISPR)associated protein genes cas1 and cas2 in Shigella and to understand the characteristics of CRISPR with relationship between CRISPR and related characteristics on drug resistance. Methods CRISPR associated protein genes cas1 and cas2 in Shigella were detected by PCR,with its products sequenced and compared.Results The CRISPR-associated protein genes cas1 and cas2 were found in all the 196 Shigella isolates which were isolated at different times and locations in China. Consistencies showed through related sequencing appepared as follows:cas2,cas1 (a) and cas1(b)were 96.44%,97.61%and 96.97%,respectively. There were two mutations including 3177129 site(C→G)and 3177126 site(G→C)of cas1(b)gene in 2003135 strain which were not found in the corresponding sites of Z23 and 2008113. Results showed that in terms of both susceptibility and antibiotic-resistance,strain 2003135 was stronger than Z23 and 2008113. Conclusion CRISPR system widely existed in Shigella,with the level of drug resistance in cas1(b) gene mutant strains higher than in wild strains. Cas1(b)gene mutation might be one of the reasons causing the different levels of resistance.