Bioterrorism

Bioterrorism is the deliberate use of biological agents to cause death, disease, or other harmful effects in people, livestock, or crops. Quotes Diseases can be caused naturally by biological agents such as bacteria, viruses and toxins (natural risk). However, such biological agents can be intentionally disseminated in the environment by a State (military context) or terrorists to cause diseases in a population or livestock, to destabilize a nation by creating a climate of terror, destabilizing the economy and undermining institutions. Biological agents can be classified according to the severity of illness they cause, its mortality and how easily the agent can be spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classify biological agents in three categories (A, B and C); Category A consists of the six pathogens most suitable for use as bioweapons (Bacillus anthraces, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, botulinum toxin botulinum neurotoxins, smallpox and viral hemorrhagic fevers). Antibody Antibodies represent a perfect biomedical countermeasure as they present both prophylactic and therapeutic properties, act fast and are highly specific to the target. This review focuses on the main biological agents that could be used as bioweapons, the history of biowarfare and antibodies that have been developed to neutralize these agents. Arnaud Avril. 2017 Chapter. Therapeutic Antibodies for Biodefense by A. Avril 173–205 Recombinant Antibodies for Infectious Diseases Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol. 1053 Springer Cham, Switzerland https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72077-7_9 (edited by Theam Soon Lim) Smallpox, the only disease ever eradicated, is one of the six pathogens considered a serious threat for biological terrorism (Donald Henderson Henderson et al., 1999; Mahy, 2003; Whitley, 2003). Smallpox has several attributes that make it a potential threat. It can be grown in large amounts. It spreads via the respiratory route. It has a 30% mortality rate. The potential for an attack using smallpox motivated George W. Bush President Bush to call for phased vaccination of a substantial number of American health care and public health workers (Grabenstein and Winkenwerder, 2003; Stevenson and Stolberg, 2002). Following September 11, 2001, the United States rebuilt its supplies of vaccine and Vaccinia immune globulin Vaccinia Immune Globulin (VIG), expanded the network of laboratories capable of testing for Smallpox#Cause variola virus, and engaged in a broad education campaign to help health care workers and the general public understand the disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003a). J. Michael Lane and Lila Elizabeth Summer, Chapter. Smallpox as a Weapon for Bioterrorism by J. M. Lane and L Summer Title: Bioterrorism and Infectious Agents: A New Dilemma for the 21st Century Emerging Infectious Diseases of the 21st Century Springer New York 2003 147–167 https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4419-1266-4_5 (edited by Ignatius W. Fong and Ken Alibek Kenneth Alibek) .. Among the agents that remain on today's threat lists, anthrax and smallpox make particularly compelling weapons, but as science and technology advance, the number of worrisome agents is expanding greatly.Furthermore, large-scale industrial processes are not necessary for the development of potent biologic weapons. Increasingly, the means for propagating biologic agents under controlled conditions are being made accessible to anyone. Even our traditional concept of “weaponization” is misleading: nature provides mechanisms for packaging and preserving many infectious agents that can be manipulated through Biological engineering biologic and genetic engineering — for example, by enhancing the virulence of naturally sporulating organisms. Materials science and Nanotechnology nanoscale science — advances in encapsulation technology, for instance — will provide new ways to package such agents. And self-replicating agents that are highly transmissible among humans, such as Smallpox#Cause variola virus and Orthomyxoviridae influenza virus, need little or no alteration in order to be disseminated efficiently by terrorists.Nor should we presume, on the basis of history, that when biologic agents are used deliberately and maliciously, they are capable of causing only relatively limited harm. The large biologic-weapons programs of the late 20th century were never unleashed. David Relman David A. Relman, Bioterrorism — Preparing to Fight the Next War January 12, 2006 New England Journal of Medicine 354 2 113–115 10.1056/NEJMp058078 Infection Infectious diseases were recognized for their potential impact on people and armies as early as 600 BC … The crude use of filth and cadavers, animal carcasses, and Contagious disease contagion had devastating effects and weakened the enemy … Polluting wells and other sources of water of the opposing army was a common strategy that continued to be used through the many European wars, during the American Civil War, and even into the 20th century.Military leaders in the Middle Ages recognized that victims of infectious diseases could become weapons themselves … Stefan Riedel, Biological warfare and bioterrorism: a historical review Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings 17 4 400–406 2004 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/08998280.2004.11928002 10.1080/08998280.2004.11928002 Nothing engenders more fear than the thought that when you go outside you may encounter a deadly pathogen that will result in an agonizing illness followed by death. One should keep a sense of proportion. Thus far, at least, the agents of bioterrorism look rather puny is their impact. In terms of kill power, only about 10% of all deaths result from Infection infectious disease, either directly or indirectly. That means that, in a world of 6 billion people with an average life expectancy of 60 years, about 10 million people will die every year from an infectious disease. Currently the three major killers are the HIV human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, and malaria, which account for, respectively, 3 million, 2 million, and 1 million deaths per year. It should be noted that none of these is considered an agent of bioterrorism and that bioterrorism events have never resulted in more than a few thousand deaths in a single episode.A major reason that HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria are not considered likely agents for bioterrorism is that their actin takes many months, or even years, to be felt. Most agents used by bioterrorists are effective in matter of hours or days. Thus, time to impact appears to be an important component of bioterrorism. Geoffrey L. Zubay, Chapter 1. Terror and Fear: How to Cope Agents of Bioterrorism: Pathogens and Their Weaponization New York Columbia University Press 2005 9780231133470 https://books.google.com/books?id=oXrNrHyZlJIC&pg=PA2 1–4 (quote from pp. 2–3; 364 pages; coauthored by Geoffrey L. Zubay and 12 other contributors) External links Bioterrorism - Emergency Response Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov) U.S. Department of Labor https://www.osha.gov/bioterrorism/emergency-response Category:Terrorism