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Russian ministry says US researchers looking into creating synthetic smallpox viruses

Igor Kirillov highlighted research on virus enhancement that was conducted at Boston University

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/. US researchers are looking into opportunities to create synthetic Orthopoxviruses, Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov said.

"US researchers are showing a keen interest in synthesizing Orthopoxviruses. In 2017, they synthesized a functional genome of the horse pox virus. At the same time, there was a demonstration of the possibility of artificially producing the Lassa, Ebola, and Marburg viruses, as well as coronaviruses that are pathogenic to humans," he said at a news conference dedicated to US military biological activities.

He highlighted research on virus enhancement that was conducted at Boston University. Then, as a result of targeted modification, the COVID pathogen acquired a lethality of 80%, "causing atypical neurological symptoms and severe lung damage in model animals.".

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