Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2009 Oct;65(4):359-62.
doi: 10.1016/S0377-1237(09)80100-7. Epub 2011 Jul 21.

Bioshock: Biotechnology and Bioterrorism

N Moorchung  1 , A K Sharma  2 , S R Mehta  3
Affiliations
Review

Bioshock: Biotechnology and Bioterrorism

N Moorchung et al. Med J Armed Forces India. 2009 Oct.

Abstract

In the recent past, the threat of a global bioterrorist attack has increased dramatically. In addition to the already existing microorganisms and techniques, the recent explosion in biotechnology has considerably added to the arsenal of the bioterrorist. Molecular technologies are now available which can be used by committed bioterrorist groups to manipulate and modify microorganisms so as to make them increasingly infectious, virulent or treatment resistant for causing maximum casualties. Infectious diseases which are likely to be used as bioweapons are Anthrax, Botulism, Plague, Smallpox and Brucella. Molecular techniques like immunoassays and nucleic acid amplification are now available to detect bioattacks. This article discusses the threat of bioterrorism. It also evaluates the molecular diagnostic methods and the future of early containment of a bioterrorist attack using molecular techniques.

Keywords: Bioterrorism; Molecular techniques.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Noah DL, Huebner KD, Darling RG, Waeckerle JF. The history and threat of biological warfare and terrorism. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2002;20:255–271. - PubMed
    1. Tucker JB. Historical trends related to bioterrorism: an empirical analysis. Emerg Infect Dis. 1999;5:498–504. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Turnbull W, Abhayaratne P. 2002 WMD terrorism chronology: incidents involving sub-national actors and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials. Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Washington, DC. 2003
    1. Zilinskas RA. Recombinant DNA Research and Biological Warfare. In: Zilinskas RA, Zimmerman BK, editors. The Gene Splicing Wars. Reflections on the Recombinant DNA Controversy. Macmilian Publishers; New York: 1986. pp. 167–203.
    1. Zilinskasra R A. Conference on Biosecurity and Bioterrorism Istituto Diplomatico “Mario Toscano” Villa Madama, Rome 200; 1–14.

LinkOut - more resources