How to develop a viral bioweapon and get away with it 101:
>get mammalian RNA virus that cannot infect humans as is
>select human binding receptor protein known to be exploited by existing viruses for infection
>get bunch of cheap animal hosts with hybrid humanized-natural receptor and humanized immune system
>while (spike doesn't infect): {
>modify spike protein with a few amino acids (make sure it isn't too obvious, don't want to use something too good)
>existing literature can help in design
>using protein folding and binding simulation modelling required for above step check it has good binding affinity with human receptor protein
>since you already have the spike protein you can use that topology to constrain the folding simulation
>check spike protein model
>}
>modify virus with new RNA sequence [use foot-print free method like CRISPR-Cas13 with well designed guides(some trial error might be necessary)]
>infect cheap animal hosts
>since host also has old binding receptor it will infect that then produce new viral strain
>wait a little while
>since its an RNA virus the mutation rate is very high and being a new host the rate of mutation accumulation will be too
>release onto populace, everyone will think it's a natural zoonotic spillover event due to o-glycan evolution adhering to humanized immune system model
>????
>profit
>get mammalian RNA virus that cannot infect humans as is
>select human binding receptor protein known to be exploited by existing viruses for infection
>get bunch of cheap animal hosts with hybrid humanized-natural receptor and humanized immune system
>while (spike doesn't infect): {
>modify spike protein with a few amino acids (make sure it isn't too obvious, don't want to use something too good)
>existing literature can help in design
>using protein folding and binding simulation modelling required for above step check it has good binding affinity with human receptor protein
>since you already have the spike protein you can use that topology to constrain the folding simulation
>check spike protein model
>}
>modify virus with new RNA sequence [use foot-print free method like CRISPR-Cas13 with well designed guides(some trial error might be necessary)]
>infect cheap animal hosts
>since host also has old binding receptor it will infect that then produce new viral strain
>wait a little while
>since its an RNA virus the mutation rate is very high and being a new host the rate of mutation accumulation will be too
>release onto populace, everyone will think it's a natural zoonotic spillover event due to o-glycan evolution adhering to humanized immune system model
>????
>profit
