See what we’re reading this week at Global Biodefense on topics like the politics of bioterrorism, laboratory biosafety standards, tuberculosis detection, and more…
Lab Security Standards Raise Chances of Mutant-Bird Flu Catastrophe
Fears that bioterrorists could learn from controversial experiments that make H5N1 avian influenza more virulent have overshadowed a more pressing danger: accidental releases, laboratory infections and disgruntled workers. Dozens of all-too-human mistakes have occurred in just the last decade inside high-security laboratories, and many experts say new H5N1 flu strains engineered to infect mammals have not been handled with the care required to minimize chances of unintentional catastrophe. Wired
How Does the CDC Respond to Anthrax?
This week, CDC’s Division of Strategic National Stockpile is practicing how it would respond to the release of anthrax in multiple locations across the nation. Four states – North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky – also are participating in this exercise so they, too, can test their abilities to respond. CDC stores large quantities of antibiotics, which if taken before symptoms appear, can prevent inhalation anthrax. In an emergency response, CDC is prepared to provide these antibiotics to counteract anthrax exposure and protect the health of the American people. CDC Public Health Matters Blog
Controversy Continues After Engineered Bird Flu Study Published
According to the study’s authors and many flu experts, the findings are important in several ways: They prove that it’s indeed possible for H5N1 to evolve to infect humans, they flag several genetic mutations to watch for in naturally evolving strains, and they underscore the need for continued research. The potential hybridization of H5N1 with the H1N1 swine flu of 2009 is especially troubling. “These findings do not only provide further indication that such a virus may arise naturally; they also pave the way for improved influenza surveillance and pandemic preparedness,” wrote University of Hong Kong virologists Hui-Ling Yen and Malik Peiris, the scientist who first identified SARS, in a commentary accompanying the study. Wired
Tiny Tool Can Play Big Role Against Tuberculosis
A tiny filter could have a big impact around the world in the fight against tuberculosis. Using the traditional microscope-based diagnosis method as a starting point, a University of Florida lung disease specialist and colleagues in Brazil have devised a way to detect more cases of the bacterial infection. The new technique, which involves vacuum filtering a sputum sample treated with household bleach and other simple chemicals through a small filter, could dramatically improve TB diagnoses globally, particularly in settings where the disease is common and resources are limited. UF Health
Federal Plan Emphasizes Resilience in National Preparedness
The federal agency tasked with shoring up the nation’s preparedness against a host of public health emergencies released a plan yesterday to help it and other partners focus and coordinate steps to meet national preparedness objectives. The plan, authored by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), is a detailed roadmap for implementing the National Health Security Strategy (NHSS), which was released in December 2009 and required in the 2006 Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act. CIDRAP
Congress, Bioterrorism and Asia
“The Commission believes that much more can be done to prevent biological weapons proliferation and terrorism – even as we recognize it is unrealistic to think that we can completely eliminate the possibility of misuse,” the report noted. “To date, the U.S. government has invested most of its nonproliferation efforts and diplomatic capital in preventing nuclear terrorism. The Commission believes that it should make the more likely threat – bioterrorism – a higher priority.” The Diplomat
New Biosensor Checks for Toxicity in Real Time
Researchers have married biology and engineering to develop a biosensor – called Dip Chip – that can warn of toxicity in real time; one of the chip’s advantages is its ability to identify toxicity as a biological quality instead of specific toxic chemicals; because the chip measures general toxicity, it will pick up on any and all toxic materials — even those that have not been discovered or invented yet. Homeland Security News Wire
Research Opens Doors to UV Disinfection Using LED Technology
Research from North Carolina State University will allow the development of energy-efficient LED devices that use ultraviolet (UV) light to kill pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. The technology has a wide array of applications ranging from drinking-water treatment to sterilizing surgical tools. NC State
New Approach to ‘Spell Check’ Gene Sequences
Lauren Bragg, a PhD student from CSIRO and the University of Queensland, has found a better way to ‘spell check’ gene sequences and help biologists better understand the natural world. CSIRO
DHS Testimony on First Responder Technology
Transitioning technology for regular use by first responders remains a critical challenge for S&T. To help mitigate this challenge, the First Responder Group (FRG) leverages the Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology (CCAT) process, in coordination with San Diego State University, to solicit proposals from the vendor community for technologies that address gaps identified by first responders. The goal of this process is to develop technologies in 12 to 18 months that meet 80 percent or more of the requirement identified by the first responder community, with transition occurring 6 to 12 months after project completion. Department of Homeland Security