Günter Theißen, Matthias Schleiden Institute / Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany

More than a year after the onset of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic the origin of the causative agent SARS-CoV-2 is still largely unknown. Most experts in the field have agreed early on that the virus is of natural zoonose origin (e.g., Nature 579, 270; 2020). However, meanwhile an increasing number of scientists have pointed out that many of the respective data and interpretations are inconlusive or even flawed, and arguments that the virus might have escaped from a laboratory experiment have not been falsified yet (e.g., PNAS 117, 29246-29248; Bioessays 43(3), e2000240; additional references available upon request).

The idea that humans have generated SARS-CoV-2 e.g. during the course of gain-of-function experiments is a reasonable scientific hypothesis besides others. Such hypothesis at the intersection of natural and historical science could be tested and should not be considered conspiracy theory. The test, however, may require not only biological expertise and evidence, but also historical documents such as original lab books, or even whistle blowers.

As long as the zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2 is not proven beyond reasonable doubt investigations should be done in all directions, in an unbiased way, and with a criminalistic attitude. It is disappointing that the most eminent virologists and leading scientific journals such as Nature miss the historical chance of being at the forefront of such investigations.

Failing to find the true origin of SARS-CoV-2 could mean history repeating itself – the next pandemic might be just around the corner of a virology lab. Gain-of-fucntion experiments with coronaviruses should be stopped as long as it cannot be absolutely guaranteed that a lab escape is impossible to happen.

Cited references:

Nature 579, 270; 2020:
Zhou, P., et al. (2020) A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin. Nature 579, 270 -273. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2012-7

PNAS 117, 29246-29248:
Relman DA (2020) To stop the next pandemic, we need to unravel the origins of COVID-19. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 117, 29246-29248. doi:10.1073/pnas.2021133117

Bioessays 43(3), e2000240:
Segreto R, Deigin Y (2021) The genetic structure of SARS-CoV-2 does not rule out a laboratory origin: SARS-COV-2 chimeric structure and furin cleavage site might be the result of genetic manipulation. Bioessays 43(3), e2000240. DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000240

Author’s address & affiliation:

Dr. Günter Theißen, Professor of Genetics
Matthias Schleiden Institute / Genetics
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
07743 Jena, Germany
Tel.: ++49-3641-949550
E-mail.: guenter.theissen@uni-jena.de
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4854-8692

Extended list of references – Some publications that consider a lab origin of SARS-CoV-2 quite possible or even likely:

Butler CD (2020) Plagues, pandemics, health security, and the war on nature. J Hum Secur 16(1). doi:10.12924/johs2020.16010053

Relman DA (2020) To stop the next pandemic, we need to unravel the origins of COVID-19. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 117, 29246-29248. doi:10.1073/pnas.2021133117

Sallard E, Halloy J, Casane D, Decroly E, van Helden J (2021) Tracing the origins of SARS-COV-2 in coronavirus phylogenies: a review. Environ Chem Lett. Published online. doi:10.1007/s10311-020-01151-1

Segreto R, Deigin Y (2021) The genetic structure of SARS-CoV-2 does not rule out a laboratory origin: SARS-COV-2 chimeric structure and furin cleavage site might be the result of genetic manipulation. Bioessays 43(3), e2000240. DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000240

Sirotkin K, Sirotkin D (2020) Might SARS-CoV-2 have arisen via serial passage through an animal host or cell culture? A potential explanation for much of the novel coronavirus’ distinctive genome. BioEssays 42(10), 1-7. doi: 10.1002/bies.202000091

Sousa A (2020) SARS-Cov-2 Natural or Artificial? That is the Question. Clin Microbiol Res. 1-12. doi:10.31487/j.cmr.2020.01.06

Wiesendanger R (2021) Studie zum Ursprung der Coronavirus-Pandemie. Published online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349302406. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31754.80323

Yan L (2020) Unusual features of the SARS-CoV-2 genome suggesting sophisticated laboratory modification rather than natural evolution and delineation of its probable synthetic route. Published online. DO – 10.5281/zenodo.4028829; DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4028829