Now out @nature! Cloning a coronavirus is one week. Thanks @Thao_TTN @FLabroussaa @nebert59990508, the twitterless JJ, @DijkmanRonald @PhilipVkovski @MelleHolwerda @stalder3012bern... Rapid reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 using a synthetic genomics platform

Synthetic reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 😬 I feel uneasy about publishing this work. I can see some use cases here, (eg, rapidly assessing viral mutations), but not sure we have the experimental models to do that well. Not sure benefits really outweigh risk

Wow !! This paper describes the reconstruction of #SARSCoV2 from 14 synthetic DNA fragments amplified, cloned and assembled using yeast in just a week !! => gives fully functional virus. They also did it with MHV or MERS-CoV ! Amazing !!! #COVID19 #SynBio nature.com/articles/s4158… pic.twitter.com/LJFdzJTqxg

A Nature paper describes a rapid method for producing a synthetic version of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes #COVID19 respiratory disease. Recreation of emerging viruses can help researchers to develop diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. go.nature.com/3diRPsN pic.twitter.com/LFGmSTT6Sg

Concerned about the mechanics & biosafety of this Nature paper today on de novo synthesis of SARS-CoV2. DNA was made by commercial co GenScript, but no indication that GenScript flagged/questioned these orders as potentially dangerous before synthesis?

Putting to rest arguments that access to virus samples is hampering response: New @Nature paper describing a rapid method for synthesizing the #SARSCoV2 virus from sequence data in one week, for use in development of vaccines, diagnostics & treatments. nature.com/articles/s4158… pic.twitter.com/KtfjoAqSkk

Now there's a rapid way to create synthetic SARS-CoV-2, the #coronavirus that causes #COVID19 respiratory disease, to help develop diagnostics, treatments and vaccines, without the need for clinical samples, say @ProfVolkerThiel et al

Congratulations to @OUCRU_Vietnam alumna @Thao_TTN and @ProfVolkerThiel lab on developing this rapid reverse genetics system for #SARS_COV_2

Because genome engineering/synthesis of RNA viruses is challenging (although see recent work in this area from #JoergJores & @ProfVolkerThiel to make this easier: nature.com/articles/s4158…), we did things a bit differently.

@robertwiblin @mlipsitch What are his thoughts on nature.com/articles/s4158… ? Useful tool for quickly experimenting with mutations of the virus, or dangerous dual use research?

A new synthetic genomics platform to genetically reconstruct RNA viruses should allow a rapidly response to emerging viruses; it enables the generation & functional characterization of evolving RNA virus variants—in real-time—during an outbreak @nature nature.com/articles/s4158… pic.twitter.com/nDBDnWvPsN