Global Biodefense August 17, 2023 The U.S. Department of Defense today released the Biodefense Posture Review outlining reforms aimed to posture the DOD in the face of future biothreats through 2035. It outlines significant reforms and lays the foundation for a resilient total force that deters the use of bioweapons, rapidly responds to natural outbreaks, and minimizes the global risk of laboratory accidents. It addresses Naturally Occurring Biological Threats, Accidental Biological Threats, Deliberate Biological Threats, Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, and Risks from Bioincidents. Lines of Effort to Drive Biodefense Actions include, Enhance early warning and understanding to counter biothreats Coordinate […]
Tag Archives: Biodefense
Killing Anthrax More Quickly with Hot Air Decontamination
Global Biodefence January 4, 2023 Although the hot air decontamination process is within materials specifications for aircraft, extended hot air exposure may affect sensitive systems. Germination occurs when a bacterial spore develops into a growing, vegetative bacterial cell. While spores are resistant to environmental extremes such as heat, most vegetative bacterial cells are susceptible to higher temperatures, so causing germination and raising ambient temperature is one way kill bacterial spores. Researchers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWC-DD) field tested the bacterial spore germination process by spreading over 100 million human-safe bacterial surrogate for Bacillus anthracis bacterial spores […]
Biointelligence and National Security in the 21st Century
AFCEA October 11, 2022 Globally, governments and industry are recognizing the promise that the biological sciences can offer, but it is also critical to recognize the evolving perils such innovation can entail. Looking toward this future, over the past five years, IARPA has launched 10 new bio-focused programs including the Finding Engineering Linked Indicators (FELIX) program, which contributed to the first IC public statement that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was not genetically engineered as well as the Molecular Information Storage (MIST) program, which is pursuing new ways of using biology for scalable data storage. IARPA is situated to empower the entire […]
Biodefense Headlines – 12 July 2022
Global Biodefense July 12,022 This week’s selections include reforming international legal frameworks for outbreak reporting; LRN monkeypox testing in the US; ISIS chemical weapons ambitions; and Chikungunya VLP vaccine development….read more.
Rapid Identification of Ricin in Serum Samples Using LC–MS/MS
Global Biodefense January 23, 2021 Researchers in Israel have developed a sensitive, rapid, antibody-independent assay for the identification of ricin in body fluids using mass spectrometry. The assay involves lectin affinity capturing of ricin by easy-to-use commercial lactose–agarose beads, followed by tryptic digestion and selected marker identification using targeted Multiple Reaction Monitoring analysis. This enables ricin identification down to 5 ng/mL in serum samples in 2.5 hours. They demonstrated the technology in a clinical scenario where the toxin was identified in an abdominal fluid sample taken 72 h post self-injection of castor beans extraction. This method has the potential application […]
An Ambitious Goal: Reducing Biothreats and Making Bioweapons Obsolete
Global Biodefense March 9, 2020 A workshop brought together government, national laboratories, academia, industry, policy and entrepreneur communities to address the challenges of mitigating and eliminating the risks bioweapons present. The report highlights a wide range of considerations that must be addressed. It provides insights on Key technological trends; Raises questions of the data and information access required for rapidly characterizing and responding to biological attacks and outbreaks; Explores market and supply chain dynamics in depth; Points to significant U.S. government capacities that can be used and expanded, including its vast testing and evaluation infrastructure; Highlights the need for coordinated […]
Gene Editors Could Find New Use as Rapid Detectors of Pathogenic Threats
DARPA News November 15, 2019 The overarching goal of Detect It with Gene Editing Technologies (DIGET) is to provide comprehensive, specific, and trusted information about health threats to medical decision-makers within minutes, even in far-flung regions of the globe, to prevent the spread of disease, enable timely deployment of countermeasures, and improve the standard of care after diagnosis. The DIGET vision incorporates two devices: a handheld, disposable point-of-need device that screens samples for at least 10 pathogens or host biomarkers at once, combined with a massively multiplexed detection platform capable of screening clinical and environmental samples for more than 1,000 […]
How Does USAMRIID Shut Down Impact Nation’s Bioterrorism Laboratory Response Network?
Global Biodefense August 13, 2019 The U.S. Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) Special Pathogens Laboratory at Fort Detrick is one of only three National Laboratories at the top of the protective umbrella of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) structure, along with those operated by the CDC and the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), responsible for specialized characterization of organisms, bioforensics, select agent activity, and handling highly infectious biological agents. What happens when an important component of the nation’s biopreparedness infrastructure fails to meet CDC biosafety requirements and has its Federal Select Agent certification pulled? Global Biodefense submitted requests […]
Darknet Biological and Chemical Terrorism Activities: Guide for Law Enforcement
Global Biodefense July 26, 2019 With the increasing use of the Darknet for criminal activities, the danger of acquiring, transferring, or smuggling biological or chemical material, weapons and chem/bio terrorism-related information while remaining undetected becomes ever more pressing. The ‘INTERPOL Operational Manual on Investigating Biological and Chemical Terrorism on the Darknet’ was developed by a team of experts within the CBRNE and cyber communities. Officers working in the fields of intelligence, counter-terrorism investigation and cybercrime are able to use this manual as a reference document that outlines the basic concepts, best international practices, as well as techniques and procedures useful […]
The Nation Faces Long-Standing Challenges Related to Defending Against Biological Threats
GAO June 26, 2019 GAO reviewed biodefense reports, relevant presidential directives, laws, regulations, policies, strategic plans; surveyed states; and interviewed federal, state, and industry officials, among others. GAO’s past work has identified a number of challenges related to the nation’s ability to detect and respond to biological events that transcend what any one federal department or agency can address on its own. In September 2018, the White House issued the National Biodefense Strategy and associated plans, which could help to address some of the ongoing challenges GAO has previously identified. However, because implementation of the strategy is in early stages, […]