Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is the use of a biological weapon against civilian populations for the purpose of undermining morale and creating chaos. Biological weapons use microorganisms and toxins to produce disease and death in humans, livestock, and crops.
Biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons have the same goals of wreaking destruction, but unlike chemical and nuclear technologies, which are expensive to create, biological weapons are relatively inexpensive. They are easy to transport and resist detection by routine security systems. Chemical terrorism can result in illness minutes to hours at the scene of release. For example, the release of sarin gas by a religious sect in the Tokyo subway in 1995 killed 12 and hospitalized 5000 people. A biological weapon could kill thousands over a large area.
Genetic engineering is a double-edged sword. While its use may solve burgeoning health problems, its misuse could lead to development of anti-biotic resistant microorganisms or other harmful pathogens. Only since the mid-1980s has the US military expressed interest in biological agents. Spurred by the development of recombinant DNA and technology of genetic engineering, scientists began to realize that biological weapons are a threat and that strategies to counter terrorism were necessary.
Gene-designed organisms can be used to produce a wide variety of bioweapons such as: organisms that produce a toxin, venom, or bioregulator; organisms that can stay in the air as aerosols for a long period of time and that are not broken down in the environment; organisms resistant to antibiotics, routine vaccines, and therapeutics; organisms that cannot be detected by the antibody-based sensor systems.
Among serious biological weapons of concern are smallpox (caused by the Variola virus), anthrax (caused by Bacillus anthracis), and plague (caused by Yersinia pestis). During naturally occurring epidemics throughout the ages, these organisms have wiped out entire populations. With advent of vaccines and antibiotics, few US physicians would readily recognize these diseases. Any one of these diseases could have the capacity of producing a catastrophic epidemic.
Although the last case of smallpox was reported in Somalia in 1977, experts suspect that smallpox viruses may be in the biowarfare laboratories of rogue nations around the world. As recently as 1992, United States intelligence agencies learned that Russia had the ability to launch weapons-grade smallpox in specially prepared warheads on major cities of the US. Facing severe economic problems, some governments may resort to selling bits of scientific information that could be pieced together by the buyer, enabling the development of biological weapons. Scientists in politically repressive or unstable countries may be forced by governmental oppression or dogma to participate in research that eventually ends up in the hands of terrorists.
A biological weapon may ultimately prove more powerful than a conventional weapon because it's effects can be far-reaching and uncontrollable. In 1979, in an accident involving B. anthracis in the Soviet Union, doctors reported patients dying of anthrax pneumonia. Death from anthrax pneumonia is usually swift. The bacilli multiply rapidly that they produce a toxin that causes breathing to stop. While antibiotics may combat this bacillus, supplies adequate to meet the emergent need during an epidemic would have to be located and delivered within hours--a virtual impossibility.
Preparing a strategy to defend against such different types of organisms in a natural or genetically modified state is difficult. Some of the strategies include the following: use of bacterial RNA based on structural templates to identify all pathogens; developing a data base of virtual pathogenic molecules corresponding to templates; development of antibacterial molecules that attach to pathogens but do not harm humans or animals.
Researchers are working to count the possible attacks at several different levels. The biorobot is one such device. Using biochips or microchips mechanized insects with computerized artificial systems mimic biological processes, like neural networks to test responses to substances of biological or chemical origin. These insects in a single operation can process DNA, screen blood samples, scan for disease genes, and monitor genetic cell activity. Biorobots use insects like the cockroach, desert ant, and the cricket. The robotics program of the Defense Advanced Research Project (DARPA) works to rapidly identify these pathogens for design of a treatment.
Biosensor technology is the driving force in the development of biochips for detection of biological and chemical contaminants. Bees, beetles, and other insects outfitted with sensors are used to collect real-time information about the presence of toxins or similar threats. Using fiber optics or electrochemical devices, biosensors have detected microorganisms in chemical, foods, as well as military applications
To combat biological agents, bioindustries are developing a wide range of biotherapeutics of antibiotics and vaccines. Genetic screening of human diseases and drug discovery has advanced the field of bioinformatics. This field computerizes shared information in the genomic DNA, automated with digital processes and graphics.
Biological weapons are banned by international treaty and by US law. Nevertheless, the threat from other nations requires development of countermeasures. A major problem involves the breadth of organisms used in biological warfare. Researchers are analyzing pathogens. The gene products of all bacteria have certain shapes that are universal to bacteria. Finding these common traits will assist in developing counter measures, whether the bacteria evolve or are engineered. Another strategy is to look for vulnerabilities in specific sites of DNA, RNA, or proteins. All pathogens have RNA (consisting of only four letters) but folds into shapes where drugs with small molecules can combine.
Another strategy develops bioadhesion molecules, something like double-sided tape, that may create a barrier between blood cells and pathogens. A system known as heteropolymer (HP) can be tailored to remove blood-borne pathogens. HP uses as a monoclonal antibody (Mab) that has an affinity for a special receptor called CR-1 on red blood cells. Tests with non-human primates revealed pathogens were reduced a million-fold after administration with HP. HP has worked with ten different pathogens.
Battle-ready bombs of anthrax, bubonic plague, smallpox, and Ebola have already been reported. A multi-faceted approach to counter-terrorism will continue because the problem is diverse. The prevailing question among most scientists and military specialists is not "if" a surprise biological attack will occur but "when."
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