Biological Weapons Research Articles

Rethinking biosecurity in the 21st century: An enhanced role for civil society

In this paper, we briefly discuss the historical issues concerning the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and analyse the current situation after the COVID-19 pandemic with emphasis on the new developments at 9th Review Conference of the BTWC. In particular, we discuss the mission of the new working group agreed at the review conference to identify, examine, and develop specific and effective measures, including possible legally binding measures and to make recommendations to strengthen and institutionalise the Convention in all its aspects, and compare it with productive activities associated with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The enhanced role for civil society in support of the BTWC is then proposed with some solid examples from our own recent projects. We hope this analysis will help to facilitate new thinking about strengthening BTWC in coming years.

A Modular-Incremental Approach to Improving Compliance Verification With the Biological Weapons Convention.

A Modular-Incremental Approach to Improving Compliance Verification With the Biological Weapons Convention.

Recent Developments in the National Implementation of Biological Weapons Convention: What Happened Since Resolution 1540?

Abstract The national implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) has long been a point of discussion. One aspect of this national implementation concerns the enactment of penal legislation addressing the prohibitions of the BWC. There has been a clear increase in the past 18 years of penal legislation addressing biological weapons. This coincides with the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1540. Through a comprehensive assessment of the adopted national legislation it is possible to see trends and consider the extent to which such legislation seeks to address the BWC or Resolution 1540. The assessment clearly indicates that there is a divergence between the legislation addressing biological weapons in a general manner and legislation specifically seeking to address biological weapons in a terrorism context. This analysis will recognize potential avenues to increase national implementation of the BWC by looking at the progress made in the context of Resolution 1540.

Proof of principle for a sensitive, real time and label-free detection of poxviruses using optical fiber biosensors

Reliable, affordable, rapid and sensitive point-of-care testing is essential for preparedness towards pandemic viruses that could emerge from zoonoses, laboratory accidents or undercover spread of biological weapons. Although successfully eradicated, variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, is a category A agent stored in laboratories in USA and Russia, and a possible threat to humanity. Outbreaks of monkeypox worldwide emphasized the need for efficient detection of poxviruses in body fluids and the environment, also considering the fact that the human population is largely unprotected. We produced the ectodomains of vaccinia virus A27, A33 and L1 (highly homologous to smallpox and monkeypox proteins) and established their label-free detection by specific antibodies immobilized by silanization on the surface of optical fiber sensors. Each protein was detected using a fiber-optic sensor based on a ball-resonator assisted by a tilted fiber Bragg grating, which ensure sensitivity > 70 dB/RIU and real-time detection. Fabrication of the sensors was carried out through a CO2 laser splicer, inscribing a spherical tip with ∼500 µm size, and then splicing a previously inscribed tilted grating. The overall spectrum shows a quasi-random pattern due to the ball resonator, modulated by the cladding modes of the grating, in which the intensity of each mode depends on the analyte concentration. Each sensor shows detection limits of 1 fM – 20 pM in serum (<65 aM in phosphate-buffered saline), wide-range response up to 1 μM and a high specificity. This proof of principle for poxvirus detection conceptualizes a general real time pandemic virus preparedness.

A semi-stochastic algorithm approach to generating CBRNE terrorist attack plot scenarios

ABSTRACT There are many different types of terrorist attacks, but some types of terrorist attacks are infrequent. One example of an infrequent attack type is one that employs chemical, biological, and radiological weapons. There are also types of attacks that have never happened, such as a nuclear terrorist attack. Given the lack of historical incidents, how can counterterrorism researchers, policymakers, and practitioners utilise a data-driven approach to analyse these types of attacks? To address this question, we introduce the Automated Adversary Template Generation (AATG) process to generate synthetic terrorist incidents that are realistic. The AATG process uses semi-stochastic sampling to simulate terrorist adversary behaviours and activities and produce thousands of CBRNE terrorist attack scenarios. Using these scenarios, individuals researching and working in counterterrorism can analyse possible on-the-horizon Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terror (WMD/WMT) attacks and explore these threat spaces with greater fidelity. In particular, this novel methodology is very useful for red teaming purposes conducted by researchers or counterterrorism practitioners.

Strengthening of solid beam with fiber reinforced polymers

Timber, concrete and steel are among the traditional building materials used in the construction of buildings. Since concrete is a durable material, it is a building material used in buildings, highways, dams, sidewalks and many other areas. Wood is one of the oldest building materials, and the use of wood and wood-based materials for structural purposes continues to increase. The deterioration of existing wooden structures may result from fatigue and biological attack over time. The cost of replacing the damaged wooden elements is very high, so it seems more appropriate to repair and strengthen the damaged elements. In this study, 20x20x360 mm solid wood beam is reinforced with fiber reinforced polymers and the effect of fiber reinforced polymers on the bending properties of the beam was investigated. In order to determine the bending properties, three-point bending test was applied to the wood beams. As a result of this study, it was determined that the bending properties of wood beam reinforced with fiber reinforced polymer composites were better than the reference samples.

Isolation of Bacteriophages and Their Potential as a new Biological Weapon for Controlling Bacterial Disease of Rice in Bangladesh

Rice bacterial diseases are one of the major hindrances to achieving crop production across the world, particularly in Asian countries. Bacterial brown stripe (BBS) caused by Acidovorax oryzae (Ao) is one the major diseases of rice responsible for high economic losses. To combat the diseases, this study aimed to isolate and characterize lytic phages infecting Ao, which would serve as potential biological agents for the management of BBS. In this regard, three lytic bacteriophages were isolated from diseased rice leaves in Bangladesh. In this study, the 10 bacterial strains of Ao were identified based on 16S gene sequence analyses, which were screened with their respective phages isolated in this study. Phage AP-1 infected 6 strains of Ao bacteria out of 10 with the most increased titer of plaque in AP-3. All phages showed different titer ranging from 1.19x1010-3.28x1010 for Ao phages. In the host exopolysaccharide production, the Ao phage AP-3 had the highest inhibition of biofilm formation of strains TNGAo-01 of Ao bacteria but the phage AP-2 inhibited significantly by 48.08% as compared to control. Interestingly, all the phages used behaved differently with regard to each of the experiments conducted. These results suggest that all the phages need to be combined in a cocktail to serve as efficient biological control agents in the control of bacterial brown stripe disease caused by A. oryzae in rice.&#x0D; J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 4(1): 173-182, 2022

The consequences of Sudan’s armed conflict on public health: a closer look at the devastating impact

The consequences of Sudan’s armed conflict on public health: a closer look at the devastating impact

Non-contact bacterial identification and decontamination based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

As a new kind of modern military biological weapon, bacterial agents pose a serious threat to the public health security of human beings. Existing bacterial identification requires manual sampling and testing, which is time-consuming, and may also introduce secondary contamination or radioactive hazards during decontamination. In this paper, a non-contact, nondestructive and "green" bacterial identification and decontamination technology based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is proposed. The principal component analysis (PCA) combined with support vector machine (SVM) based on radial basis kernel function is used to establish the classification model of bacteria, and the two-dimensional decontamination test of bacteria is carried out using laser-induced low-temperature plasma combined with a vibration mirror. The experimental results show that the average identification rate of the seven types of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus megatherium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus thuringiensis and Enterococcus faecalis reaches 98.93%, and the corresponding true positive rate, precision, recall and F1-score reaches 0.9714, 0.9718, 0.9714 and 0.9716, respectively. The optimal decontamination parameters are laser defocusing amount of -50mm, laser repetition rate of 15-20kHz, scanning speed of 150mm/s and number of scans of 10. In this way, the decontamination speed can reach 25.6mm2/min, and the inactivation rates for both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis are higher than 98%. In addition, it is confirmed that the inactivation rate of plasma is 4 times higher than that of thermal ablation, meaning that the decontamination ability of LIBS mainly relies on the plasma rather than the thermal ablation effect. The new non-contact bacterial identification and decontamination technology does not require sample pretreatment, and can quickly identify bacteria in situ and decontaminate the surfaces of precision instruments, sensitive materials, etc., which has potential application value in modern military, medical and public health fields.

International norms in the face of technological change: challenges for constructivist theory of arms control

The emergence, diffusion and internalization of international norms face underestimated challenges in the sphere of arms control, which attempts to regulate and restrict the development and use of weapons. We explore the concept of uncertainty and reveal how it sets arms control apart from some other spheres that have experienced a rapid development and consolidation of international norms. The dynamic nature of technological change creates expectations of revolutionary novelty and perceptions of radical uncertainty, which run against some of the main mechanisms supporting international norms including grafting, strategic bargaining and moral consciousness raising. An original qualitative case study on norms related to the prohibition of biological weapons confirms that overcoming uncertainty is particularly difficult in arms control and that norms regulating weapons remain fragile after their institutionalization, due to ever-evolving technological change.

Early detection and warning of standoff bio-threats using ultraviolet laser wavelengths

The paper presents the results of detection experiments conducted to detect bio-aerosol from a standoff distance of nearly 2 km using laser scattering and ultraviolet laser induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) LiDAR in the presence of potential interfering molecules (molecules having spectrum overlapping with the biological warfare agents). The presence of interfering molecules can make the detection of bio-aerosol difficult. Therefore, conduction of detection experiments in the presence of interfering molecules is a must to develop a system such as to keep the false signal at bay. The software for synchronized spectrum acquisition (gated mode) of UV-LIF signatures of bio-aerosol has been developed and integrated into the system. The detection algorithm on data discrimination has been implemented. Standoff experiments using the developed software have been carried out with the samples consisting of bio-aerosols and interfering molecules. The wavelengths used in the experiments are 266 and 355 nm as the fluorescence quantum yield of two prominent bio-markers is high at these excitation wavelengths. Spectra were acquired with the developed system and analyzed by the developed software. The bio-agents were detected and discriminated from the interfering molecules successfully. In addition to this, the scattering method is also utilized to make distinction between bio and non-bio-molecules using two identical photomultiplier tube detectors based on the depolarization method.

Ч. АЙТМАТОВДУН ЧЫГАРМАЛАРЫНДАГЫ ЖАЛПЫ АДАМЗАТТЫК БААЛУУЛУКТАР АРКЫЛУУ БОЛОЧОК МУГАЛИМДЕРДИ КАЛЫПТАНДЫРУУ ПРОЦЕССИ

The article is devoted to one of the issues of searching the right approach to educating the younger generation in the educational process under the influence of the globalization process. As a result of globalization, the development and instilment of spiritual values is becoming a very acute issue today. The formation of the views of future teachers on universal human values is the core of modern education in the context of such phenomena that threaten the safety of human life, such as the emergence of nuclear and biological weapons, environmental problems, the growth of religious extremism, etc. The article raises the question of the significance of values in the work of Ch. Aitmatov and their place in the formation of young generations. In connection with changes in society in the process of globalization, there are changes in the degree of importance of universal human values. Taking into account the achievements of modern scientific pedagogy, it has also become necessary to look at works of art created by great writers from a pedagogical point of view, in the process of educating the younger generation.

Actual Problems of Domestic Legal Regulation of the Collection, Storage and Transmission of Genomic Information in the Context of Modern Challenges

Relevance. The implementation of the international project "Human Genome" made it possible to decipher it, however, the volume of this information and possibilities of its application both for universal (pandemic control) and terrorist purposes (development of biological weapons, targeted at a particular nation), especially in conditions of political tension and competition for leadership, determine the need to forecast potential risks and develop an adequate legal regulation.The purpose of this study is to assess the current state of security of genomic information obtained in the framework of biomedical research, as well as within the framework of implementation of public policy in the sphere of public security. It is also necessary to study the experience of foreign countries in this field with a view to its further use in Russian legal practice.Objectives. Comprehensive study of legal regulation of the collection, storage, use and destruction of genomic information allowed to identify gaps in legal regulation. Finding ways to solve them is the objective of this study.Methodology. To achieve the set objective were applied methods of scientific knowledge: analysis, synthesis, system-analytical, formal-logical, system-legal methods by means of which the authors carried out an analytical review of domestic and foreign legislation, identified the specifics of legal relations under study and proposed solutions to the identified legal problems.Results of the study are formulated suggestions for changes in legal acts of domestic legislation relating to the collection, storage and control of access to genomic information, taking into account the studied foreign experience. Conclusion. The existing regulations on genomic information do not provide protection from processing and transfer to third parties. For this reason human genomic data should be designated as "sui generis", and legal regulation should be expanded, including formation of federal agencies responsible for regulation of ethical and legal aspects of genetic and genomic research.

A high throughput antiviral screening platform for alphaviruses based on Semliki Forest virus expressing eGFP reporter gene

Alphaviruses, which contain a variety of mosquito-borne pathogens, are important pathogens of emerging/re-emerging infectious diseases and potential biological weapons. Currently, no specific antiviral drugs are available for the treatment of alphaviruses infection. For most highly pathogenic alphaviruses are classified as risk group-3 agents, the requirement of biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) facilities limits the live virus-based antiviral study. To facilitate the antiviral development of alphaviruses, we developed a high throughput screening (HTS) platform based on a recombinant Semliki Forest virus (SFV) which can be manipulated in BSL-2 laboratory. Using the reverse genetics approach, the recombinant SFV and SFV reporter virus expressing eGFP (SFV-eGFP) were successfully rescued. The SFV-eGFP reporter virus exhibited robust eGFP expression and remained relatively stable after four passages in BHK-21 ​cells. Using a broad-spectrum alphavirus inhibitor ribavirin, we demonstrated that the SFV-eGFP can be used as an effective tool for antiviral study. The SFV-eGFP reporter virus-based HTS assay in a 96-well format was then established and optimized with a robust Z′ score. A section of reference compounds that inhibit highly pathogenic alphaviruses were used to validate that the SFV-eGFP reporter virus-based HTS assay enables rapid screening of potent broad-spectrum inhibitors of alphaviruses. This assay provides a safe and convenient platform for antiviral study of alphaviruses.

Clinically Evaluated COVID-19 Drugs with Therapeutic Potential for Biological Warfare Agents.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak resulted in hundreds of millions of coronavirus cases, as well as millions of deaths worldwide. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the disease resulting from exposure to this pathogen, is characterized, among other features, by a pulmonary pathology, which can progress to "cytokine storm", acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), respiratory failure and death. Vaccines are the unsurpassed strategy for prevention and protection against the SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, there is still an extremely high number of severely ill people from at-risk populations. This may be attributed to waning immune response, variant-induced breakthrough infections, unvaccinated population, etc. It is therefore of high importance to utilize pharmacological-based treatments, despite the progression of the global vaccination campaign. Until the approval of Paxlovid, an efficient and highly selective anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug, and the broad-spectrum antiviral agent Lagevrio, many pharmacological-based countermeasures were, and still are, being evaluated in clinical trials. Some of these are host-directed therapies (HDTs), which modulate the endogenic response against the virus, and therefore may confer efficient protection against a wide array of pathogens. These could potentially include Biological Warfare Agents (BWAs), exposure to which may lead to mass casualties due to disease severity and a possible lack of efficient treatment. In this review, we assessed the recent literature on drugs under advanced clinical evaluation for COVID-19 with broad spectrum activity, including antiviral agents and HDTs, which may be relevant for future coping with BWAs, as well as with other agents, in particular respiratory infections.

The Prevention Review of Chemicals The Misuse as Chemical Weapons in The Act of Attack In Indonesia

In numerous regions of the globe, armed conflicts occur, causing not a few casualties in addition to physical destruction. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) or commonly referred to as weapons of mass destruction have become one of the most dreaded weapons with the emergence of chemical, nuclear, radiological, biological, and explosive weapons. In fact, the use of weapons of mass destruction has been outlawed, but production remains unsupervised, allowing a number of so-called terrorists to use readily available chemical weapons raw materials, such as Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), to manufacture bombs and the like. In addition, chemical weapons whose circulation in liquid and gas forms is not monitored by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) pose a risk of long-term damage such as permanent burns or diseases that continue to plague victims long after the war has ended. The following events are certainly a threat to national security that can be caused by irresponsible individuals with access to chemicals. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent similar occurrences in order to minimize the damage they cause. Through in-depth interviews and secondary data analysis, this study aims to establish the truth. Consequently, participation from relevant stakeholders is required. Where the threat is an effort, work, activity, or action that is deemed a threat to the security, safety, and resilience of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and various national interests. The authorities supervise the licensing, purchase, and use of these precursors as detailed below. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new and unique regulation for precursors circulating in Indonesia.

Effect of Paraffin Impregnation Modification on Bamboo Properties and Microstructure

Phase-change energy-storage paraffin regulates the thermal management of buildings, and the material can regulate room temperature as it absorbs and discharges heat. As a porous adsorbent material, bamboo has high permeability. The aim of this study was to increase the amount of paraffin inside bamboo and the latent heat of the phase change. It was performed using vacuum pressurization (VP) and ultra-high-pressure (UHP) impregnation treatments. The effect of UHP impregnation and properties of bamboo were studied. The weight gain, paraffin loss and dimensional changes were measured and compared. The morphology of UHP-impregnated bamboo were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The main conclusions are as follows: After UHP impregnation, the highest weight gain was 42%. The loss of paraffin was low, and a high weight percentage gain was maintained. The crystallinity of cellulose decreased to 24% at 100 MPa. The latent heat of the bamboo slices was up to 25.66 J/g at 50 MPa, and the phase change temperature was close to room temperature. At 150 MPa, the hydroxyl content was reduced, and the hydrophilicity decreased. In addition, the content of substances such as hemicellulose in the amorphous zone was reduced under UHP, no new characteristic peaks appeared, and no chemical modifications occurred. The vascular bundles were compressed and dense, and the pores and cell gaps decreased. The thin-walled cells were deformed, and the original cell structure was completely destroyed. The surface of the cells was wrapped or covered with paraffin, confirming that the paraffin could impregnate the bamboo cells under UHP. Therefore, bamboo impregnated with paraffin can regulate temperature and save energy in buildings. It is resistant to biological attacks, and UHP improves the impregnation efficiency.

Strategic Intelligence Analysis of the Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation: Potential Vulnerability of Indonesia’s National Security

This study addresses the issue of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which includes the possession of chemical weapons, biological weapons, and nuclear weapons. The international community endeavors to mitigate the dangers posed by the trade in weapons of mass destruction. Changes in technology have contributed to a shift in the sources of funding for weapons of mass destruction. Financial institutions are susceptible to being utilized as a conduit for money laundering and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. There are a variety of transactional options available for money laundering and the financing of weapons of mass destruction by criminals. Financial institutions must therefore adhere to international protocols to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Interviews and documentation studies are used to collect qualitative data for this study.

Using SWMM for emergency response planning: A case study evaluating biological agent transport under various rainfall scenarios and urban surfaces

To assist in emergency preparedness for a biological agent terrorist attack or accidental pathogen release, potential contaminant levels and migration pathways of spores spread by urban stormwater were evaluated using a Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) of U.S. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The high temporal-spatial resolution SWMM model was built using spore concentrations in stormwater runoff from asphalt, grass, and concrete collected from a point-scale field study. The subsequent modeled contamination scenarios included a notional plume release and point releases mimicking the field study under three rainfall conditions. The rainfall scenarios included a 6-hour natural rainfall event on Dec. 8, 2021 and two design storms (2-year and 100-year events). The observed spore concentrations from asphalt and concrete from the actual field experiment were applied to calibrate the washoff parameters in the SWMM model, using an exponential washoff function. The calibrated washoff coefficient (c1) and exponent (c2) were 0.01 and 1.00 for asphalt, 0.05 and 1.45 for grass, and 2.45 and 1.00 for concrete, respectively. The calibrated SWMM model simulated spore concentrations in runoff at times and magnitudes similar to the field study data. In the point release modeled scenario, the concrete surface generated 55.6% higher average spore concentrations than asphalt. Similarly, in the field experiment, a 175% (p < 0.05) higher average spore concentration in surface runoff was observed from concrete than from asphalt. This study demonstrates how SWMM may be used to evaluate spore washoff from urban surfaces under different precipitation amounts, intensities, and durations, and how visualized spatial migration pathways in stormwater runoff may be used for emergency planning and remediation.

EVALUATION OF HEALTH INTELLIGENCE STUDIES IN TURKEY

The last major epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, has revealed that there are many deficiencies in the health field. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as far as the media followed, many countries had difficulties accessing medical supplies, vaccines, and drugs and did not allow some medical products to leave the country. It has been observed that the necessary materials have disappeared with the work of the intelligence agencies of some countries. Politicians and scientists from many countries have put forth conspiracy theories about the source of the pandemic and the country of origin, and accusations have included claims about the use of biological weapons. This study aims to reveal what health intelligence is and what kinds of studies are done in Turkey and around the world. For this, the in-depth literature study of the case pattern study, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. In the analysis of the study, a descriptive analysis was made and the results were discussed.