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COMBATING BIOTERRORISM AND POTENTIAL MISUSE OF BIOTECNOLOGY AS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS SHAHID ALI Ph.D Scholar (Botany) 08-arid-954 Contents • • • • • • • • What are biological weapons? Micoorganisms as weapon History Types of Biological Weapon Agents Case studies of their use How can Biotechnology help? Questions to ponder Conclusion References What is a Biological Weapon? • Uses a living organism or its toxic agent • Delivery devices • Both conventional and unconventional means of delivery Molecular biology and genetic engineering have enabled scientists to increase the virulence, develop antibiotic resistant strains and create novel strains for which population lack immunity INTRODUCTION -Biological weapons infectious agents (bacteria, virus, fungi, protozoan etc.) used to intentionally inflict harm on humans. -The definition is extended to include biologically derived toxins and poisons. -Generally, the types of agents used as biological weapons cause systemic diseases, hemorrhagic fevers, pneumonias, or involve toxins and biological poisons. Microorganisms as WeaponsHistory -Europe, Middle ages – Black plague victims hurled over city walls to infect citizens. -Russia, April 2, 1979 – Bioweapons plant accidentally releases anthrax killing 68 of 94 infected civilians. -Release of sarin gas in a Tokyo subway in 1996. -Anthrax attack on Capitol Hill in 2001. • • • • • • • • • • • • • Types of Biological Weapon Agents Anthrax Botulinum Toxins Brucellosis Cholera Clostridium Perfringens Toxins Congo-Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever Plague Q Fever Ricin Smallpox Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B Trichothecene Mycotoxins Types of Biowarfare Agents •Bacteria oCause disease by reproducing oSingle cell organism oTyphus, anthrax •Viruses oMultiply only inside host cells oSub microscopic organisms oEbola, chikungunya The “Top Four” Bioterrorist Agents B.anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax. Yersini pestis, the bacterium that causes plague. Variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Botulinum toxin, a protein toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism. Category A Bacteria Bacterial Agent Disease Bacillus anthracis Anthrax Francisella tularensis Tularemia Yersinia pestis Plague Category A Virus Viral Agent ArenavirusesLassa, Junin, Machupo FilovirusesEbola, Marburg Variola Major Disease Viral Heamorrhagic fever Viral Heamorrhagic fever Smallpox The face of Biological Warfare …Small pox …Botulin Bacillus anthracis, the cause of anthrax Micrograph of Bacillus anthracis Key production techniques Types Bacteria Viruses Low-tech pro.. High-tech Pro.. Batch fermentation, production in animals Genetically engineered strains, Continuous flow fermentation Culture in mammalian cells & grown on beads Cultivation in eggs, mouse brain or tissue culture Protein toxins Extraction from plant or animal source, Batch fermentation Non-protein Extraction from plant toxins or animal source Coning of toxin genes in microbial host, Extraction of toxin Cloning of a series of genes Case Study US Anthrax Attack September 18 – October 9, 2001 Anthrax spores found in this Princeton NJ mailbox terrorists (?) mail letters containing Anthrax spores to 5 US Newspapers and 2 US Senators • Several thousand people exposed and take antibiotics • 22 people developed anthrax infections – 11 inhalation anthrax – 11 subcutaneous anthrax (less lethal) • 5 died of inhalation anthrax – 2 postal workers – 3 from unknown sources, possibly crosscontamination of mail • total damage (incl. cleanup) exceeded $1 billion The Justice Department has named no suspects in the case How can Biotechnology help? How do you combat Bioterrorism? ….Biodefense Techniques Field tests – Antibody based PCR – Comparison with DNA sequences Biosensors – For monitoring air and water conditions Current Biosensor Technologies • Microfluidics o Tiny chips that have fluid channels and sensing chambers o Uses nucleic acid-base to detect pathogens • http://futuremed2011.com/headlines-from-thefuture/ E-noses Can identify single molecule in samples o Fast, Expensive http://www.indiatalkies.com Existing Systems – E-Noses: • Inspired from nature • uses a combination of new technologies to detect pathogens • reduces time from days to fifteen minute intervals • currently being developed to detect spoiled meat & encounter bioterrorism NASA's E-Nose courtesy JPL courtesy of 4to40.com Aptamer-Encoded Nanopore for Detection of Bioterrorist Agent Aptamer-encoded nanopore for ultrasensitive detection of bioterrorist agent ricin at single-molecule resolution The nanopore, can be formed from protein ion channels by genetic engineering or fabricated on solid substrates using nanotechnology Nanopore sensors have been created for detections metal ions, drug compounds and cellular second messengers, to proteins and DNAs. Vaccination as Countermeasure • If an attack occurs, treatment in the form of antibodies will be needed. – Stockpile of drugs and vaccines necessary for emergency cases – Must be administered before exposure REFERENCES http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/inglesby. htm http://www.newruskincollege.com/maxweber/id1 6.html http://69.36.186.201/article.php?art_ofn=nd04wri ght http://webnetarts.com/socialjustice/biowar.html http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/bioterrorexpert war.html