Download or read book Biodefense in the Age of Synthetic Biology written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-01-05 with total page 189 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scientific advances over the past several decades have accelerated the ability to engineer existing organisms and to potentially create novel ones not found in nature. Synthetic biology, which collectively refers to concepts, approaches, and tools that enable the modification or creation of biological organisms, is being pursued overwhelmingly for beneficial purposes ranging from reducing the burden of disease to improving agricultural yields to remediating pollution. Although the contributions synthetic biology can make in these and other areas hold great promise, it is also possible to imagine malicious uses that could threaten U.S. citizens and military personnel. Making informed decisions about how to address such concerns requires a realistic assessment of the capabilities that could be misused. Biodefense in the Age of Synthetic Biology explores and envisions potential misuses of synthetic biology. This report develops a framework to guide an assessment of the security concerns related to advances in synthetic biology, assesses the levels of concern warranted for such advances, and identifies options that could help mitigate those concerns.

Download or read book Breeding Bio Insecurity written by Lynn C. Klotz and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2009-10-15 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the years since the 9/11 attacks—and the subsequent lethal anthrax letters—the United States has spent billions of dollars on measures to defend the population against the threat of biological weapons. But as Lynn C. Klotz and Edward J. Sylvester argue forcefully in Breeding Bio Insecurity, all that money and effort hasn’t made us any safer—in fact, it has made us more vulnerable. Breeding Bio Insecurity reveals the mistakes made to this point and lays out the necessary steps to set us on the path toward true biosecurity. The fundamental problem with the current approach, according to the authors, is the danger caused by the sheer size and secrecy of our biodefense effort. Thousands of scientists spread throughout hundreds of locations are now working with lethal bioweapons agents—but their inability to make their work public causes suspicion among our enemies and allies alike, even as the enormous number of laboratories greatly multiplies the inherent risk of deadly accidents or theft. Meanwhile, vital public health needs go unmet because of this new biodefense focus. True biosecurity, the authors argue, will require a multipronged effort based in an understanding of the complexity of the issue, guided by scientific ethics, and watched over by a vigilant citizenry attentive to the difference between fear mongering and true analysis of risk. An impassioned warning that never loses sight of political and scientific reality, Breeding Bio Insecurity is a crucial first step toward meeting the evolving threats of the twenty-first century.

Download or read book American Biodefense written by Frank L. Smith III and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 2014-09-19 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biological weapons have threatened U.S. national security since at least World War II. Historically, however, the U.S. military has neglected research, development, acquisition, and doctrine for biodefense. Following September 11 and the anthrax letters of 2001, the United States started spending billions of dollars per year on medical countermeasures and biological detection systems. But most of this funding now comes from the Department of Health and Human Services rather than the Department of Defense. Why has the U.S. military neglected biodefense and allowed civilian organizations to take the lead in defending the country against biological attacks? In American Biodefense, Frank L. Smith III addresses this puzzling and largely untold story about science, technology, and national security.Smith argues that organizational frames and stereotypes have caused both military neglect and the rise of civilian biodefense. In the armed services, influential ideas about kinetic warfare have undermined defense against biological warfare. The influence of these ideas on science and technology challenges the conventional wisdom that national security policy is driven by threats or bureaucratic interests. Given the ideas at work inside the U.S. military, Smith explains how the lessons learned from biodefense can help solve other important problems that range from radiation weapons to cyber attacks.

Download or read book Applied Biosecurity Global Health Biodefense and Developing Technologies written by Ryan N. Burnette and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-05-31 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book describes an adaptable biothreat assessment process to complement overall biorisk management programs, incorporating threat management and the unique natures of biological assets. Further, this book examines the nexus between public health, international security, and developing technologies, building a case for augmenting biosecurity to levels beyond the laboratory constraints. With the face of biological and biomedical sciences changing, this book describes how with proper biosecurity development, these can become assets, rather than liabilities, to secure our world from natural and man-made biological disasters. The world is changing rapidly with respect to developing threats, such as terrorism, and dual-use technologies, such as synthetic biology, that are challenging how we think about biosafety and biosecurity. Further, the fields of public health and international security are colliding, as both of these share the common enemy: intentional or natural biological incidents. To date, biosecurity has been limited to laboratory-level application, and complicating efforts, and lacks credentialed biosecurity professionals skilled in both the biological sciences and threat management techniques. The result is a fragmented field of practice, with tremendous need, from the lab to the outbreak. Underpinning these principles is the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, providing a historic milestone to examine biosecurity through a global lens. This book describes biosecurity as a set of practices and principles to be augmented out of the constrained laboratory environment, and applied to larger efforts, such as international threat reduction and biological incident management.

Download or read book Defense Against Biological Attacks written by Sunit K. Singh and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-03-30 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This first volume of a two-volume set describes general aspects, such as the historical view on the topic, the role of information distribution and preparedness of health-care systems and preparedness in emergency cases. Part two describes and discusseses in detail the pathogens and toxins that are potentially used for biological attacks. As such, the book is a valuable resource for faculties engaged in molecular biology, genetic engineering, neurology, biodefense, biosafety & biosecurity, virology, and infectious disease programs, as well as professional medical research organizations.

Download or read book Biosecurity and Bioterrorism written by Jeffrey Ryan and published by Butterworth-Heinemann. This book was released on 2016-02-18 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, Second Edition, takes a holistic approach to biosecurity, with coverage of pathogens, prevention, and response methodology. It addresses these hazards in the context of vulnerability assessments and the planning strategies government and industry can use to prepare for and respond to such events. The book is organized into four thematic sections: Part I provides a conceptual understanding of biowarfare, bioterrorism and the laws we have to counteract this; Part II investigates known bioagents and the threat from emerging diseases; Part III focuses on agricultural terrorism and food security; and Part IV outlines international, US, and local initiatives for biodefense and biosecurity. Case studies illustrate biodefense against both intentional terrorism and natural outbreaks. - Covers emerging threats of pandemic influenza, antibiotic resistant strains of bacterial pathogens, and severe respiratory diseases caused by novel viruses - Offers increased international coverage, including initiatives to counter biological weapons and threats, and food security - Updated throughout with latest protocols for dealing with biological threats and new case studies - Includes online instructor ancillaries - PowerPoint lecture slides, test questions, and an instructor manual, for increased classroom functionality

Download or read book Brain and Biodefence written by Yutaka Ōmura and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since neural-immune interaction was recognized as a discipline in the late 1970s, there has been mushrooming growth in this field of research. This book covers the major areas of interest and current research in the biology of neuroimmunomodulation: The brain and the immune system communicate with each other by sharing signal molecules and receptor mechanisms. The topics of research devoted to the interaction between the two systems can essentially be itemized as follows: 1. How the brain modulates the immunity by controlling the endocrine system and the innervations on the immunological organs. 2. How the immune system signals the brain and thereby modulates the activities of the neural and endocrine systems. 3. How and to what extent these bidirectional interactions contribute to the physiology and pathology of the organisms. In this book these interactions are analyzed at all levels. Consequently, research in this field incorporates a variety of disciplines including neurophysiology, endocrinology, immunology, anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology and clinical medicine. The rate of advancement has also been greatly accelerated by newly refined modern substances working in neural, endocrine and immune tissues.

Download or read book Biodefense Research Supporting the DoD written by Coleen K. Martinez and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Biodefense written by Michael S. Bronze and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2005 with total page 838 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The anthrax attacks by bioterrorists in the USA in October 2001 served to highlight our vulnerability to biological warfare and to act as an impetus for a massive increase in funding for biodefense research. In this timely book, top biodefense experts critically review every aspect of this complex issue. The microbiology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, epidemiology, infection control and novel therapeutics for all the key pathogens involved are comprehensively covered. Biodefense is currently focused on anthrax, smallpox, plague, tularemia, botulism and viral hemorrhagic fevers and entire chapters are devoted to each of these topics. Further chapters cover the bioterrorism threat from other diseases including brucellosis, glanders, melioidosis, psittacosis, Q fever, typhoid, gastroenteritis and cryptosporidiosis. Biological toxins derived from living organisms, such as the epsilon toxin derived from Clostridium perfringens, mycotoxins and plant-derived toxins such as ricin are also reviewed in detail. Two fascinating chapters are devoted to agroterrorism, the use of infectious agents that target animals and plants to decimate the food supply. Additional chapters cover emerging pathogens and novel bio-engineered agents that could be used in bioterrorism. The book also covers hospital preparedness, infection control, psychosocial issues, and the evolving methods for surveillance and detection in biodefence.

Download or read book Handbook on Biological Warfare Preparedness written by S.J.S. Flora and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2019-10-05 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Handbook on Biological Warfare Preparedness provides detailed information on biological warfare agents and their mode of transmission and spread. In addition, it explains methods of detection and medical countermeasures, including vaccine and post-exposure therapeutics, with specific sections detailing diseases, their transmission, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, vaccines, prevention and management. This book is useful reading for researchers and advanced students in toxicology, but it will also prove helpful for medical students, civil administration, medical doctors, first responders and security forces. As the highly unpredictable nature of any event involving biological warfare agents has given rise to the need for the rapid development of accurate detection systems, this book is a timely resource on the topic. - Introduces different bacterial and viral agents, including Ebola and other emerging threats and toxins - Discusses medical countermeasures, including vaccines and post-exposure therapeutics - Includes a comprehensive review of current methods of detection

Download or read book Biodefence written by Sergey Mikhalovsky and published by Springer. This book was released on 2011-01-15 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book focuses on defence against biological warfare with an emphasis on applications of modern technologies and advanced materials in detection, health protection and medical treatment of the population. Specific topics include high-throughput sensitive detection methods, advanced nanostructured materials and techniques for external and internal protection of human health, as well as extracorporeal methods, adsorptive materials and bacteriophages decontaminating the human organism, and neutralising incorporated CBRN agents. The contributions describe recent developments in the field of biodefence aimed at protecting population against terrorism and terror related events. Broader approaches to reducing the impact of environmental pollution on human health and improving efficiency of medical treatment of patients with viral infections, poisoning and organ failure are also discussed.

Download or read book Biodefense Research Methodology and Animal Models Second Edition written by James R. Swearengen and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2012-02-16 with total page 427 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Significant advances have been made in animal model development for biological research since the publication of the first edition of this volume, and the ramifications of the FDA’s Animal Efficacy Rule have become better understood in the scientific community. With each chapter completely updated with the latest research findings, Biodefense Research Methodology and Animal Models, Second Edition spans the spectrum of coverage from basic research to advanced development of medical countermeasures. Topics discussed in this volume include: A history of biological agents as weapons, from the use of corpses to contaminate water supplies to modern day anthrax attacks Concepts and strategies involved in biowarfare and bioterrorism The development, validation, and importance of animal models in biodefense research Infectious disease aerobiology Studies involving anthrax, glanders, plague, tularemia, Q fever, alphaviruses, orthopoxviruses, and a new chapter on brucellosis Animal models for viral hemorrhagic fevers Botulinum and Ricin toxins Staphylococcal and streptococcal superantigens As the scientific community works diligently to protect the world’s population from the misuse of infectious organisms and toxins, it is imperative that researchers stay abreast of the latest techniques for biodefense research. Exploring in vivo and in vitro assays, this volume brings researchers up to date on the latest information on bacterial and viral infectious agents and biological toxins considered to pose the greatest threats to public safety. In addition, the contributors take a step toward minimizing the use of animals in further experiments by presenting documented findings that can be built upon.

Download or read book Bio Imperialism written by Gwen Shuni D'Arcangelis and published by Rutgers University Press. This book was released on 2020-12-18 with total page 117 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bio-Imperialism focuses on an understudied dimension of the war on terror: the fight against bioterrorism. This component of the war enlisted the biosciences and public health fields to build up the U.S. biodefense industry and U.S. global disease control. The book argues that U.S. imperial ambitions drove these shifts in focus, aided by gendered and racialized discourses on terrorism, disease, and science. These narratives helped rationalize American research expansion into dangerous germs and bioweapons in the name of biodefense and bolstered the U.S. rationale for increased interference in the disease control decisions of Global South nations. Bio-Imperialism is a sobering look at how the war on terror impacted the world in ways that we are only just starting to grapple with.

Download or read book Microbial Forensics written by Bruce Budowle and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2010-10-27 with total page 753 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Microbial Forensics is a rapidly evolving scientific discipline. In the last decade, and particularly due to the anthrax letter attacks in the United States, microbial forensics has become more formalized and has played an increasingly greater role in crime investigations. This has brought renewed interest, development and application of new technologies, and new rules of forensic and policy engagement. It has many applications ranging from biodefense, criminal investigations, providing intelligence information, making society more secure, and helping protect precious resources, particularly human life. A combination of diverse areas is investigated, including the major disciplines of biology, microbiology, medicine, chemistry, physics, statistics, population genetics, and computer science. Microbial Forensics, Second Edition is fully revised and updated and serves as a complete reference of the discipline. It describes the advances, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead, and will be integral in applying science to help solve future biocrimes. - A collection of microbiology, virology, toxicology and mycology as it relates to forensics, in one reference - New and expanded content to include statistical analysis of forensic data and legal admissibility and the standards of evidence, to name a few - Includes research information and application of that research to crime scene analysis, which will allow practitioners to understand and apply the knowledge to their practice with ease

Download or read book Pathogens for War written by Donald H. Avery and published by University of Toronto Press. This book was released on 2013-04-28 with total page 379 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pathogens for War explores how Canada and its allies have attempted to deal with the threat of germ warfare, one of the most fearful weapons of mass destruction, since the Second World War. In addressing this subject, distinguished historian Donald Avery investigates the relationship between bioweapons, poison gas, and nuclear devices, as well as the connection between bioattacks and natural disease pandemics. Avery emphasizes the crucially important activities of Canadian biodefence scientists – beginning with Nobel Laureate Frederick Banting – at both the national level and through cooperative projects within the framework of an elaborate alliance system. Delving into history through a rich collection of declassified documents, Pathogens for War also devotes several chapters to the contemporary challenges of bioterrorism and disease pandemics from both national and international perspectives. As such, readers will not only learn about Canada’s secret involvement with biological warfare, but will also gain new insights into current debates about the peril of bioweapons – one of today’s greatest threats to world peace.

Download or read book Living Weapons written by Gregory D. Koblentz and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 2011-05-16 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Biological weapons are widely feared, yet rarely used. Biological weapons were the first weapon prohibited by an international treaty, yet the proliferation of these weapons increased after they were banned in 1972. Biological weapons are frequently called 'the poor man's atomic bomb,' yet they cannot provide the same deterrent capability as nuclear weapons. One of my goals in this book is to explain the underlying principles of these apparent paradoxes."—from Living Weapons Biological weapons are the least well understood of the so-called weapons of mass destruction. Unlike nuclear and chemical weapons, biological weapons are composed of, or derived from, living organisms. In Living Weapons, Gregory D. Koblentz provides a comprehensive analysis of the unique challenges that biological weapons pose for international security. At a time when the United States enjoys overwhelming conventional military superiority, biological weapons have emerged as an attractive means for less powerful states and terrorist groups to wage asymmetric warfare. Koblentz also warns that advances in the life sciences have the potential to heighten the lethality and variety of biological weapons. The considerable overlap between the equipment, materials and knowledge required to develop biological weapons, conduct civilian biomedical research, and develop biological defenses creates a multiuse dilemma that limits the effectiveness of verification, hinders civilian oversight, and complicates threat assessments. Living Weapons draws on the American, Soviet, Russian, South African, and Iraqi biological weapons programs to enhance our understanding of the special challenges posed by these weapons for arms control, deterrence, civilian-military relations, and intelligence. Koblentz also examines the aspirations of terrorist groups to develop these weapons and the obstacles they have faced. Biological weapons, Koblentz argues, will continue to threaten international security until defenses against such weapons are improved, governments can reliably detect biological weapon activities, the proliferation of materials and expertise is limited, and international norms against the possession and use of biological weapons are strengthened.

Download or read book Community at Risk written by Thomas D. Beamish and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 2015-05-06 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2001, following the events of September 11 and the Anthrax attacks, the United States government began an aggressive campaign to secure the nation against biological catastrophe. Its agenda included building National Biocontainment Laboratories (NBLs), secure facilities intended for research on biodefense applications, at participating universities around the country. In Community at Risk, Thomas D. Beamish examines the civic response to local universities' plans to develop NBLs in three communities: Roxbury, MA; Davis, CA; and Galveston, TX. At a time when the country's anxiety over its security had peaked, reactions to the biolabs ranged from vocal public opposition to acceptance and embrace. He argues that these divergent responses can be accounted for by the civic conventions, relations, and virtues specific to each locale. Together, these elements clustered, providing a foundation for public dialogue. In contrast to conventional micro- and macro-level accounts of how risk is perceived and managed, Beamish's analysis of each case reveals the pivotal role played by meso-level contexts and political dynamics. Community at Risk provides a new framework for understanding risk disputes and their prevalence in American civic life.