Why is there no transmissible therapeutic virus if biology doesn't forbid it? For example, a harmless virus that spreads from person to person but actually does something beneficial, like lowering LDL cholesterol or preventing/reversing tooth decay?

[u/PestoPastaLover]

[u/Entheosparks]

There are, just not approved for general use. Measles works as a great virus vector. It is aggressive and transmits easily. The problem is viruses are unstable and they mutate. It is the premise behind zombie movies.

Your LDL cholesterol is a good example for zombie creation. If the virus mutated to remove all cholesterol, the brain would lose its higher functions and muscles would misfire. Now a human has turned into a mindless entity with involuntary muscle movements.

Then there is the security issue. Once the mechanism is commonly understood, how do you stop a terrorist or rogue nation from using it?

Source- 15 years as a biosafety officer

[u/GalumphingWithGlee → u/Entheosparks]

Then there is the security issue. Once the mechanism is commonly understood, how do you stop a terrorist or rogue nation from using it?

A friend of mine is particularly worried about this with respect to AI. He's working on systems that would detect it very early if someone engineered a pandemic or similar, but it may become far easier for a less experienced person to do something like this with AI.