An agent that has high individual risk but low community risk would be in which Risk Group per the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules?

The classification of biological agents into risk groups is based on the potential risks they pose to individuals and the community. In the context of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules per the NIH Guidelines, agents that present a high individual risk but a low community risk fall into Risk Group 3.

Risk Group 3 agents are characterized by their ability to cause serious or potentially lethal disease through transmission that is not generally known to be transmissible to the community at large. Therefore, while individuals exposed to these agents may face significant health risks, the likelihood of these agents spreading widely within the community is low. This aligns precisely with the scenario described in the question, where there is a distinction between individual and community risk.

In contrast, Risk Group 1 includes agents that are not associated with disease in healthy adult humans, suggesting minimal risk. Risk Group 2 involves agents that can cause disease but are unlikely to be a serious hazard to laboratory workers or the community. Risk Group 4 consists of agents that pose a high risk of aerosol transmission and carry a high risk of life-threatening disease, with a major risk to the community; therefore, they do not fit the criteria outlined in the question.

Thus, the classification of agents into Risk Group 3 is based on