News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense
This week’s selections include countering bioweapons disinformation; strategic national stockpile management; chemical weapons pediatric injury models; and DARPA’s new Hermes program.
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
Pentagon’s Shaky Efforts to Combat Disinformation About Ukraine Biolabs
FOIA documents released from DTRA reveal how the US struggled to fend off Russian disinformation about US support for Ukraine weapons labs. The records reveal how the US government struggled to combat the disinformation campaign, especially once it was amplified by China (and amplified by Fox News and some House Republicans). Bloomberg
How Should Resources From National Stockpiles Be Managed?
Two things are simultaneously true about the SNS: it is a key piece of US emergency preparedness, and it may never be able to adequately respond to all emergencies. Illuminating examples of the SNS difficulties are responses to Hurricane Katrina (lack of jurisdictional clarity), the COVID-19 pandemic (PPE and ventilators), and the 2022 outbreak of mpox (medical countermeasures). AMA Journal of Ethics
Senate Homeland Security Committee to Examine Private Equity’s Growing Role in ER Care
The Senate committee is examining whether expanding private equity control over hospital emergency departments is compromising patient care and potentially putting emergency preparedness at risk. Private equity-owned physician staffing groups are believed to operate nearly one-third of all emergency departments. Axios
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
Streamlining Delivery Modalities for Biologic Therapeutics to Improve Patient Outcomes
Next generation, flexible delivery platforms developed during DARPA’s new Hermes program should offer unprecedented efficiency with minimal toxicity and immunogenicity. Developing new delivery technologies that expand access to multiple cell and tissue types concurrently, along with accommodating the increasing complexity of therapeutic cargo, is critical to strengthen and augment biosecurity preparedness. DARPA
Opportunity to Develop Pediatric Research Models for Chemical Injury
There is currently an unmet need in understanding the natural history, pathophysiology, and treatment of critical illness in infants, children, adolescents, and young adults after exposure to highly toxic, Department of Homeland Security-designated chemicals of concern. NIH
Q&A: BARDA Wants to Back Tech That Can Combat Multiple Infections
Robert Johnson, PhD, director of BARDA’s medical countermeasures programs talks about how an investment into platform technologies helped the agency to rapidly advance measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also outlines the future of Project NextGen, funding for other infectious diseases, and diagnostic technologies. Pharmaceutical Technology
Bavarian Nordic Begins Commercial Launch of Mpox Vaccine Jynneos in US
After years relying on the U.S. government to stockpile and distribute Jynneos, Bavarian Nordic is launching the mpox vaccine into the commercial market. The launch builds on Jynneos’ availability through public health channels since an mpox—then known as monkeypox—outbreak in 2022. It also follows a unanimous decision in October from the U.S. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to recommend Jynneos as a routine vaccination in adults at risk of mpox infection, backing the shot’s use beyond an outbreak. Fierce Pharma
Chitosan-Based Chelating Polymer is Versatile Radioprotective Agent for Interventions Against Radionuclide Contamination
Currently, most orally administered chelation therapy products are quickly absorbed into the blood circulation, where chelation of the radioactive isotope is a race against time due to the short circulation half-life of the therapeutic. This report presents an alternative therapeutic approach by using a functionalized chitosan with chelating properties that remains within the gastrointestinal tract and is eliminated in feces, that can protect against ingested radioactive isotopes. An in vivo proof of concept is presented on a rodent model of uranium contamination. PLOS One
Cross-Reactive mAB Targeting Fusion Glycoprotein of Nipah Virus Protects Nonhuman Primates
The mortality rate of NiV infection in humans ranges from 40% to more than 90%, making it a substantial public health concern. Two potent neutralizing mAbs against NiV F protein, hu1F5 and hu12B2, were compared in a hamster model. Hu1F5 provided superior protection to hu12B2 and was selected for comparison with m102.4 for the ability to protect NHP from a stringent NiV challenge. Science Translational Medicine
Decrypting the Multi-Genome Data for Chimeric Vaccine Designing Against Yersinia pestis
Complete genome sequence of 59 strains of Yersinia pestis were retrieved from GenBank. Prioritizing proteins as potential targets for drugs and vaccines was made possible by the abundance of data on the genomes and proteomes of the available complete genomes of Y. pestis. Identification of druggable, essential, virulent, and non-homologous resistance proteins that are necessary for pathogen survival was aided by the subtractive genomic techniques. International Immunopharmacology
Development, Strategies, and Challenges for Tularemia Vaccine
A live-attenuated vaccine that was designed over 50 years ago using the less virulent F. tularensis subspecies holarctica is the only prophylactic currently available, but it has not been approved for use in humans or animals. Other promising live, killed, and subunit vaccine candidates have recently been developed and tested in animal models. This study will investigate some possible vaccines and the challenges they face during development. Current Microbiology
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
FSIS Directive: Products Intentionally Adulterated with Threat Agents
The Food Safety Inspection Service updated a Directive which addresses oversight of situations involving product that has been intentionally adulterated with threat agents, such as biological, chemical, or radiological materials. This directive also provides FSIS personnel with the verification activities that they will perform during the incident investigation. USDA
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
Regulation of Toxins and Bioregulators Under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
This paper highlights how the apparent double coverage of toxins and bioregulators by both the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in fact masks a regulatory gap that has left such potentially dangerous agents neglected by both the control regimes during a period of rapid advances in relevant chemical, life and associated sciences and technologies. Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity
Molecular Mechanism of Plasmid Copy Number Control in Yersinia
The studies presented in this thesis show that plasmid copy number is a highly dynamic, tightly regulated mechanism, important for Yersinia pathogenesis. Uppsala University
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Diversity and Reassortment, Pakistan, 2017–2020
Study identified CCHFV sequences with verifiable genomic reassortments and highlights the importance of sequencing all 3 virus segments. Results suggest diversification of circulating strains of CCHFV in Pakistan and warrant rigorous surveillance and follow-up of CCHF cases, particularly in disease-endemic regions of the country. Emerging Infectious Diseases
AVIAN INFLUENZA
CBER’s Marks Points to Stockpiles of H5N1 Vaccine as Officials Monitor Reported Human Case
The US has some stockpiles of vaccines for avian flu, FDA’s biologics head Peter Marks said Monday as public health officials raise the alarm over a reported case of avian flu in a human in Texas over the weekend. Marks said it’s not unheard of for occasional virus transfers from animals to humans that don’t spread further, and was optimistic at how capable the US could be at responding to a larger event. Endpoints News
CHEMICAL + RADIOLOGICAL THREATS
IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine
Drone strikes hit the site of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) today, in a serious incident that endangered nuclear safety and security, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. For the first time since November 2022, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was directly targeted in military action. On 4 March, the IAEA reported that ZNPP lost the connection to its only remaining back-up power line amid renewed military activity in the area. IAEA
WHO Pilots a New Tool for Hospital Response to Radiation Emergencies
With the war in Ukraine entering its third year, the country continues to face risks related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) hazards. To bolster the preparedness of the national health systems for such risks, WHO piloted a new Hospital preparedness checklist for radiation emergency response. The checklist is comprised of 5 comprehensive modules: incident management, triage and decontamination procedures, equipment and supply availability, clinical management protocols, and detailed operational procedure. World Health Organization
Visual Detection and Discrimination of Nerve and Blood Agents Using a Dual-Site Fluorescent Probe
Among all types of CWAs, nerve and blood agents can cause massive mortality at low concentrations. To better detect and discriminate these threats quickly, researchers here developed a series of fluorescent probes. Among these probes, SR-Pip could detect nerve and blood agents with a quick response (within 10 seconds for nerve agents and 1 min for blood agents). SSRN
Accurate Detection of G-Series Agent Simulants
With the development of ambient ionization and linear ion trap technology, the rapid and accurate quantitative determination method of CWAs based on direct ionization and multistage mass spectrometry has attracted widespread attention. The results of this study showed that the accurate pseudo-MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) detection method based on miniature linear ion trap mass spectrometry for CWAs detection was feasible. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
Implications of Adding Measles to Syndromic PCR Diagnostic Panels
A one year study of 6 participating state health departments assessing measles inclusion in commercial syndromic multiplex PCR panels. Approximately 1% of tests reported a positive measles test result after recent routine childhood MMR vaccination. To facilitate appropriate public health response, clinicians should notify public health officials immediately if they are concerned about possible measles infection or patients receive positive measles test results. When measles infection is not clinically suspected but detected by syndromic PCR testing, public health agencies should consider the likelihood of incidental measles vaccine virus detection by assessing measles vaccination history and risk factors. MMWR
MERS-CoV ELISA for Serological Testing of Camels and Alpacas
This study describes the development and validation of a new serological assay using MERS-CoV S1 protein in an indirect ELISA format, allowing samples to be tested quickly (~5 hours), without the need for high-level biocontainment. Journal of Virological Methods
Streptavidin-Biotin-Based Double Antibody Sandwich ELISA for Ricin Diagnosis
Ricin is a phytotoxin isolated from castor seeds and a potential biowarfare agent. At present there is no antidote available for ricin poisoning, only supportive care. Ricin toxicity varies depending on the exposure method (inhalation, ingestion, or injection) and the dosage absorbed. This study aimed to develop a highly sensitive and specific sandwich ELISA for the detection of ricin. International Immunopharmacology
Portable Swept-Source Raman Spectrometer for Chemical and Biomedical Applications
Most handheld Raman spectrometers have been developed only for chemical analysis. In a study published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics, researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and MIT have developed a compact swept-source Raman (SS-Raman) spectroscopy system. This system is comparable to conventional dispersive Raman spectroscopy in its ability to identify both chemical and biological materials. The portable system addresses the limitations of current handheld spectrometers and opens doors for sample identification in biomedicine. SPIE
Global Deployment of Rapid Diagnostic Tests to Boost Fight Against Cholera
More than 1.2 million cholera rapid diagnostic tests will be shipped to 14 countries in largest-ever global deployment, with the first shipment landing today in Malawi. This first official deployment of tests through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, will improve timely detection and monitoring of outbreaks, effectiveness of vaccination campaigns in response to current outbreaks, and targeting of future preventive vaccination efforts. World Health Organization
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
FDA Addresses Misuse of Ivermectin for COVID-19
“The FDA has not authorized or approved ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals. The FDA has determined that currently available clinical trial data do not demonstrate that ivermectin is effective against COVID 19 in humans…Taking large doses of ivermectin can be dangerous…The FDA has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention, including hospitalization, after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for animals.” FDA
Concerted Efforts Toward Genomic Surveillance of Viral Pathogens in Immunocompromised Individuals
The identification of specific conditions, such as HIV and B-cell malignancies, which increase the risk for prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection, provides key information for public health policy makers and underscores the crucial need to closely monitor immunocompromised individuals with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infections for emerging variants and investigate their phenotypic implications. The Lancet Microbe
Federal Retail Pharmacy Program Contributions to Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 Vaccinations Across Sociodemographic Characteristics
Among 59.8 million COVID-19 bivalent vaccine doses administered in the United States during September 1, 2022–September 30, 2023, 40.5 million (67.7%) were administered by FRPP partners. In urban and rural areas, FRPP partners administered 81.6% and 60.0% of bivalent vaccine doses, respectively. MMWR
HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS
Alfred Whitmore and the Discovery of Melioidosis
The disease discovered by Whitmore and his assistant, C.S. Krishnaswami, is now known as melioidosis but is still often referred to as Whitmore’s disease. He did this without specialist training and while working in relative isolation in his role as pathologist in Rangoon General Hospital (RGH), Burma (now Myanmar), in 1911. Emerging Infectious Diseases
SPECIAL INTEREST
Join a Preparedness Workgroup
Through April 30, NACCHO’s preparedness workgroups are accepting applicatons for 2024-2025 with terms beginning July 1. Workgroup members serve an advisory role in developing programs and policy that are representative of the needs of local health departments. NACCHO
ALSO READING
Experimental Ebola vaccines found safe and capable of producing immune responses in healthy adults. NIH
How well-funded is biosecurity philanthropy? Effective Altruism Forum
The risk associated with organophosphorus nerve agents. Chemico-Biological Interactions
How climate change increases pandemic risk. Gavi
Immune system deficiencies do not alter SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary rate but favor the emergence of mutations by extending viral persistence. Viruses