Unraveling the Origins of COVID-19: A Closer Look at the DEFUSE Proposal

Understanding the DEFUSE Proposal

In recent years, the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic have been the subject of much debate and speculation. One of the leading theories points to research-related origins at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, as suggested by the 2018 DEFUSE proposal. This proposal, backed by phylogenetic data, strongly supports the theory that the virus originated from a laboratory in Wuhan rather than through zoonosis in the wild or in the Huanan market.

The DEFUSE Grant Proposal

The DEFUSE grant proposal, led by EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak, outlined a pre-pandemic collaboration between American and Chinese scientists. The American scientists planned to work with the Wuhan Institute of Virology to engineer novel coronaviruses with the features of SARS CoV 2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal was submitted to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 2018, a year before the virus emerged from Wuhan.

Creating Viruses with Features of SARS CoV 2

The scientists sought to insert furin cleavage sites at the S1 S2 junction of the spike protein to assemble synthetic viruses in six segments. The goal was to identify coronaviruses up to 25 percent different from SARS and to select for receptor binding domains adept at infecting human receptors. However, there is disagreement over the language in the final formal proposal, as it calls for the introduction of proteolytic cleavage sites at the S2 position of the spike protein, but earlier drafts specify the positions of the intended insertions including ones that correspond to the S1 S2 junction not just at S2.

The DEFUSE Project: A Blueprint for Creating COVID-19?

The DEFUSE project, also referred to as the Project DEFUSE Defusing the Threat of Bat borne Coronaviruses, was designed to engineer bat coronaviruses to be infectious to humans. Despite the proposal being denied funding, some virology experts have called the records a clear blueprint to create COVID-19. The lab work was to be done in a biosafety level 2 lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has fewer safety precautions for working with pandemic potential specimens than the US.

A Case of Suppressed Facts and Cover Up?

While there are no official records that the experiments were actually carried out, the release of the DEFUSE proposal details has led to claims of a cover-up by western governments. Furthermore, the lack of transparency from both Chinese and American officials and scientific institutions has been criticized. The need for a high-level nonpartisan inquiry to get a clear picture of how COVID-19 emerged is more pressing than ever.

Looking Forward

As the global community continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding its origins is crucial for preventing future outbreaks. While the DEFUSE proposal does not provide a 'smoking gun', it does offer valuable insights into the possible research-related origins of the virus. It also underscores the need for greater transparency and scrutiny in virus research, particularly when it involves potential pandemic pathogens.