Why bacillus anthracis is a biological weapon

After the Second World War, the US continued its biological weapon research into the s, when Iowa State University produced the virulent "Ames strain" of anthrax which was later sold to many parts of the world. In , President Nixon ordered an end to the production of biological weapons in the United States, since when research there has been confined to developing means of defence against any biological attack.

In , international concern led to a treaty banning the production and stockpiling of biological weapons. This was eventually signed by some nations. Although it was one of the treaty signatories, the Soviet Union continued researching and producing biological weapons - and in April an accidental release of anthrax spores from a military facility near Sverdlovsk caused 68 known deaths.

But the greatest fears that anthrax might be used as a weapon came during the Gulf War. Iraq purchased anthrax spores from the United States in the s, and was thought to be developing the capability to use them in warheads and in aerial attacks. In the s, the one publicised case of the use of anthrax for terrorist aims was by the Aum Shinrikyo group in Japan. They are said to have tried unsuccessfully to release anthrax in Tokyo several times, leading them to change to sarin gas, with fatal results.

To learn about other potential bioterrorism agents, go to The History of Bioterrorism. Anthrax is the most likely agent to be used in a biological attack.

It only takes a small amount to infect a large number of people. Learn more about anthrax and how CDC is prepared for a possible attack. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. The Threat of an Anthrax Attack. Minus Related Pages. Anthrax as a weapon. Possible signs of an anthrax attack. Anthrax is a Tier 1 biological agent A subset of select agents and toxins have been designated as Tier 1 because these biological agents and toxins present the greatest risk of deliberate misuse with significant potential for mass casualties or devastating effect to the economy, critical infrastructure, or public confidence, and pose a severe threat to public health and safety.

Additional Information. The vaccine had an overall efficacy rate against cutaneous anthrax of Thirty-five percent of the recipients reported some type of reaction to vaccination. The preponderance of these events were minor, with 0.

Animal studies examining the efficacy of available anthrax vaccines against aerosolized exposure have been performed. While some guinea pig studies question vaccine efficacy, 56 , 57 primate studies support its role. In recent work, rhesus monkeys immunized with 2 doses of the AVA vaccine were challenged with lethal doses of aerosolized B anthracis spores.

All monkeys in the control group died 3 to 5 days after exposure, while the vaccinated monkeys were protected up to 2 years after immunization. In addition, a highly purified, minimally reactogenic, recombinant protective antigen vaccine has been investigated, using aluminum as well as other adjuvants.

Other approaches include cloning the protective antigen gene into a variety of bacteria and viruses, and the development of mutant, avirulent strains of B anthracis. Recent incidents, such as the use of sarin in the Tokyo subway system and the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Oklahoma City Federal Building, as well as concerns over the potential use of biological and chemical weapons during the Persian Gulf War, underscore the threat of biological warfare either on the battlefield or by terrorists.

Anthrax has been the focus of much attention as a potential biological warfare agent for at least 6 decades. Modeling studies have shown the potential for use in an offensive capacity. Dispersal experiments with the simulant Bacillus globigii in the New York subway system in the s suggested that release of a similar amount of B anthracis during rush hour would result in deaths.

Given these findings, efforts to prevent disease are of obvious importance. Assuming a correct fit, these masks would be highly effective if in use at the time of exposure. Some protection might also be afforded by various forms of shelter. Results of primate studies also support the concept of postexposure antibiotic prophylaxis. Work by Friedlander et al 66 showed that 7 of 10 monkeys given penicillin, 8 of 9 given ciprofloxacin, 9 of 10 treated with doxycycline, and all 9 receiving doxycycline plus postexposure vaccination survived a lethal aerosol challenge, with all animals receiving antibiotics for 30 days following exposure.

Earlier research suggested that short courses of prophylactic antibiotics delayed but did not prevent clinical disease. In the biological warfare setting, the differential diagnosis of inhalational anthrax would include plague and tularemia. Fluoroquinolones also have activity against these diseases, supporting the use of ciprofloxacin and perhaps other drugs of this class as either a preexposure or postexposure measure. The inhalational form of anthrax remains a legitimate and perhaps growing military and terrorist threat in the current world situation.

Knowledge of inhalational anthrax is necessary for public health officials, as well as the health care providers who would be called on to care for casualties. All these measures would be expected to provide a substantial degree of protection against aerosolized B anthracis ; not all, however, are easily applicable to a civilian setting.

Consequently, the morbidity and mortality of an attack might still be high. Reprints: James C. Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience.

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