Abstract
The global health system is under a constant threat from microbial outbreaks. The innovation in genetic engineering has created an existential threat to national, regional and international security. This threat, that can edit microbial or human genomes, requires global attention. In the current review, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS and Google Scholar to identify literature discussing modern biotechnology tools as well as relevance to biosafety in the Middle east region.
This review was undertaken to provide an overview of biological threats due to advancements in genetic engineering, making it possible to insert or delete specific genes to increase the virulence of particular microbes. These pathogens or other toxic factors can be multiplied by technology, creating new biological weapons. Genome editing technologies including meganucleases (MNs), zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector (TALE)-nucleases (TALENs) and recently discovered clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas) induce a double strand break at specific DNA target site. Genome editing technologies lead to an irreversible and permanent alteration of the genetic code and therefore, can inevitably result in security risks. Vulnerabilities in Middle Eastern laboratories raise the prospect of high levels of pathogenic microbes potentially creating a weakness in the diagnosis and monitoring of epidemics. Furthermore, the lack of regional legislation to regulate biosafety and biosecurity may lead to biological threat at the regional level.