Bacteria as potential tools in bioterrorism, with an emphasis on bacterial toxins
Bacteria as potential tools in bioterrorism, with an emphasis on bacterial toxins
The threat of bioterrorism remains a reality worldwide and, although of low probability, an attack would be a high-consequence event. Microbes are available to individuals with appropriate contacts and even many low-grade bacterial pathogens can severely affect health. Toxins provide bacteria with a system of defence that is often detrimental to humans and their versatility makes them potential tools of bioterrorism. It should be remembered that the aim of terrorism is not always to kill but rather to strike fear into peoples lives. Therefore, agents such as botulinum and cholera toxin could be used, which may not cause significant mortality but would cause widespread panic and potentially high morbidity. Importantly, no state can ever be fully prepared for a response and it is probable that no state ever could be. It is for this reason that biological agents are so attractive as weapons.
Antigens, Bacterial/poisoning, Bacteria, Bacterial Toxins/poisoning, Bioterrorism/economics, Botulinum Toxins/poisoning, Clostridium perfringens, Enterotoxins/poisoning, Humans
40-6
Clarke, S C
f7d7f7a2-4b1f-4b36-883a-0f967e73fb17
2005
Clarke, S C
f7d7f7a2-4b1f-4b36-883a-0f967e73fb17
Clarke, S C
(2005)
Bacteria as potential tools in bioterrorism, with an emphasis on bacterial toxins.
British Journal of Biomedical Science, 62 (1), .
(doi:10.1080/09674845.2005.11732685).
Abstract
The threat of bioterrorism remains a reality worldwide and, although of low probability, an attack would be a high-consequence event. Microbes are available to individuals with appropriate contacts and even many low-grade bacterial pathogens can severely affect health. Toxins provide bacteria with a system of defence that is often detrimental to humans and their versatility makes them potential tools of bioterrorism. It should be remembered that the aim of terrorism is not always to kill but rather to strike fear into peoples lives. Therefore, agents such as botulinum and cholera toxin could be used, which may not cause significant mortality but would cause widespread panic and potentially high morbidity. Importantly, no state can ever be fully prepared for a response and it is probable that no state ever could be. It is for this reason that biological agents are so attractive as weapons.
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Published date: 2005
Keywords:
Antigens, Bacterial/poisoning, Bacteria, Bacterial Toxins/poisoning, Bioterrorism/economics, Botulinum Toxins/poisoning, Clostridium perfringens, Enterotoxins/poisoning, Humans
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 455319
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/455319
ISSN: 0967-4845
PURE UUID: ad850ff5-7b75-443d-9c04-b5b769f4ee82
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Date deposited: 16 Mar 2022 18:07
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:07
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