SHAHID ALI Ph.D Scholar (Botany) 08-arid-954 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 Weapons-History -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 Cause disease by reproducing Single cell organism Typhus, anthrax Viruses Multiply only inside host cells Sub microscopic organisms Ebola, 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 Disease Arenaviruses- Viral Heamorrhagic fever Lassa, Junin, Machupo Filoviruses- Viral Heamorrhagic fever Ebola, Marburg Variola Major Smallpox

The face of Biological Warfare …Small pox

…Botulin

Bacillus anthracis, the cause of anthrax Micrograph of Bacillus anthracis

Key production techniques Types Low-tech pro.. High-tech Pro.. Bacteria Batch fermentation, Genetically engineered production in animals strains, Continuous flow fermentation Viruses Cultivation in eggs, Culture in mammalian mouse brain or cells & grown on beads tissue culture Protein toxins Extraction from plant Coning of toxin genes or animal source, in microbial host, Batch fermentation Extraction of toxin Non-protein Extraction from plant Cloning of a series of toxins or animal source 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 cross-contamination of mail total damage (incl. cleanup) exceeded $1 billion

The Justice Department has named no suspects in the case

How do you combat Bioterrorism? How can Biotechnology help?

….Biodefense Techniques Field tests Antibody based PCR Comparison with DNA sequences Biosensors For monitoring air and water conditions

Current Biosensor Technologies Microfluidics Tiny chips that have fluid channels and sensing chambers Uses nucleic acid-base to detect pathogens E-noses Can identify single molecule in samples Fast, Expensive http://futuremed2011.com/headlines-from-the-future/ 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/id16.html http://69.36.186.201/article.php?art_ofn=nd04wright http://webnetarts.com/socialjustice/biowar.html http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/bioterrorexpertwar.html