Improving U.S. Biosafety and Biosecurity: Revisiting Recommendations from the Federal Experts Security Advisory Panel and the Fast Track Action Committee on Select Agent Regulations.

Introduction: In response to a series of biosafety incidents in 2014, the White House directed two high-level expert committees to analyze biosafety and biosecurity in U.S. laboratories and make recommendations for work with select agents and toxins.

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus V3526 Vaccine RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Mutants Increase Vaccine Safety Through Restricted Tissue Tropism in a Murine Model.

Background: Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an arbovirus endemic to the Americas. There are no approved vaccines or antivirals. TC-83 and V3526 are the best-characterized vaccine candidates for VEEV.

SARS-CoV-2 Infects Hamster Testes.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect millions of people worldwide. Although SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus, there is growing concern that the disease could cause damage and pathology outside the lungs, including in the genital tract. Studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection can damage the testes and reduce testosterone levels, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown and evidence of virus replication in testicular cells is lacking.