ZKBS updates statement on Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-syn2.0 and Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-syn3.0

At its meeting on June 9, 2020, the ZKBS updated a statement dated October 4, 2017, on the risk assessment of the synthetically produced strains M. mycoides JCVI-syn2.0 and M. mycoides JCVI-syn3.0. We have sent you the new statement.  here We have summarized the key changes for you below. In addition to a comprehensive description of the organisms, the statement also contains a more detailed justification for the classifications. You can also find the original statement for comparison here .
In its update, the ZKBS essentially adjusted the classification recommendation for M. mycoides JCVI-syn3.0 and downgraded this strain to risk group 1. M. mycoides JCVI-syn2.0, however, remains in risk group 2. The ZKBS justifies this classification recommendation by referring to the differences in the genomes of the two mycoplasmas. Since the selection of JCVI-syn2.0 and JCVI-syn3.0 took place outside the host and in complete medium, it can be assumed that the genes required for host colonization and parasitic life are no longer present. The pathogenicity of JCVI-syn3.0 is also classified as lower, as another 67 genes are deleted and JCVI-syn3.0 also has a significantly longer doubling time. This justifies the downgrading that has now been decided. However, for JCVI-syn2.0, no experimental data on pathogenicity are available so far and it is unclear whether the remaining genes represent virulence factors for glycerol transport, so that JCVI-syn2.0 remains in risk group 2.