Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 9 August 1996:
Vol. 273. no. 5276, pp. 746 - 747
DOI: 10.1126/science.273.5276.746
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Policy Forum

Frederick A. Murphy

Xenotransplantationmdash the use of animal organs or tissues for transplantation into humansmdash may overcome the severe problem posed by organ shortages. However, it also has the potential to compromise public health through the spread of novel viral diseases between species. Fundamental questions regarding the relative risks of viruses from potential donor species and different sources of donor material must be addressed. Policy developers must consider whether there are significant differences between xenografts and the unsterilized biological products derived from animals that are now commercially available. A national system for virus screening, discovery, detection, and diagnostics is necessary and will require infrastructural changes.

The author is Dean and Professor of Virology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Volume 273, Number 5276, Issue of 9 August 1996, pp. 746-747
©1996 by The American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Genetic variability of porcine parvovirus isolates revealed by analysis of partial sequences of the structural coding gene VP2.
R. M. Soares, A. Cortez, M. B. Heinemann, S. M. Sakamoto, V. G. Martins, M. Bacci Jr, F. M. de Campos Fernandes, and L. J. Richtzenhain (2003)
J. Gen. Virol. 84, 1505-1515
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Infectious Disease Issues in Xenotransplantation.
R. S. Boneva, T. M. Folks, and L. E. Chapman (2001)
Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 14, 1-14
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Genetic and Experimental Evidence for Cross-Species Infection by Swine Hepatitis E Virus.
X.-J. Meng, P. G. Halbur, M. S. Shapiro, S. Govindarajan, J. D. Bruna, I. K. Mushahwar, R. H. Purcell, and S. U. Emerson (1998)
J. Virol. 72, 9714-9721
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Therapeutic Inhibition of the Complement System.
S. C. Makrides (1998)
Pharmacol. Rev. 50, 59-88
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A novel virus in swine is closely related to the human hepatitis E virus.
X.-J. Meng, R. H. Purcell, P. G. Halbur, J. R. Lehman, D. M. Webb, T. S. Tsareva, J. S. Haynes, B. J. Thacker, and S. U. Emerson (1997)
PNAS 94, 9860-9865
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)