Scientists and the history of biological weapons

Guillemin, Jeanne

doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400689

Cited by 28 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Almost all countries are menaced by it (Budowle et al 2007), both great world powers and less significant countries. The dual use of biological studies and known biological factors as a biological weapon is highly probable (Budowle et al 2007;Davidson et al 2007;Fox 2004;Friedman et al 2008;Kant and Nagar 2006;Sandhu et al 2003;Guillemin 2006). The possibility of using online pharmacies as a "weapons carrier" is a problem which may appear at some time, as many others which could have been foreseen and effectively prevented much earlier.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…During World War I, Germany used cholera and plague against humans and anthrax and glanders against livestock (Klietman and Ruoff 2001;Lathrop and Mann 2001;Christopher et al 1997;Guillemin 2006). This led to the formulation of the Geneva Protocol (Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare) (Klietman and Ruoff 2001;Christopher et al 1997;Guillemin 2006;Beck 2003). Between the World Wars, many countries e.g.…”

Section: Terrorism and Bioterrorismmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In 1969, President Nixon declared a biological weapons disarmament. This was followed by the 1972 Biological and Toxic Weapon Convention, after which Western governments stopped the development of biological weapons (Guillemin 2006;Beck 2003).…”

Section: Terrorism and Bioterrorismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Potential Dual Use of Online Pharmacies

Letkiewicz

Górski

2009

Sci Eng Ethics

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The technological advances of the 20th century resulted in the creation of the Internet and its introduction into everyday life on a global scale. The Internet provides access to information and the sale and purchase of goods. Medications are also subject to trade. Their sale is conducted by online pharmacies and their global turnover amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars. Medications ordered over the Internet are sent by mail all over the world. Considering the events of recent years, we cannot exclude the risk of a terrorist attack through online pharmacies. Terrorists can establish such companies, legally or illegally, or acquire ones already existing. Parcels, which are highly trusted by the customers of online pharmacies, can, for example, be contaminated with dangerous materials. The sale of online medications in the international system is potentially dangerous and requires international regulation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Terrorism and Bioterrorismmentioning

confidence: 98%

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The Potential Dual Use of Online Pharmacies

Letkiewicz

Górski

2009

Sci Eng Ethics

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“…Yet, if the past is prologue to the future, it is notable that scientists have been the instigators of bioweapons programmes. 101 Interviews with former bioweapons scientists also indicate that they often reconcile the obvious contradiction existing between their past bioweapons work and the Hippocratic Oath that many of them took by emphasizing the security dilemmas that their respective countries faced. 102 American and Soviet scientists equally believed that since the enemy was producing biological weapons, it made sense to develop the means to retaliate in kind.…”

Section: Preventing Access To Existing Tacit Skillsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Dissuading Biological Weapons Proliferation

Ouagrham-Gormley¹

2013

Contemporary Security Policy

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“…The tactics used in WWI led to the inclusion of biological weapons in the 1925 Geneva Protocol [1,2]. Both Axis and Allied nations conducted bioweapons research leading up to and during WWII and research on biological weapons was conducted by both East and West during the cold war [1,2]. The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention came into force in 1975 with 22 ratifying countries.…”

Section: 0 Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

14C Analysis of protein extracts from Bacillus spores

Cappuccio

Falso

Kashgarian

et al. 2014

Forensic Science International

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Investigators of bioagent incidents or interdicted materials need validated, independent analytical methods that will allow them to distinguish between recently made bioagent samples versus material drawn from the archives of a historical program. Heterotrophic bacteria convert the carbon in their food sources, growth substrate or culture media, into the biomolecules they need. The F14C (fraction modern radiocarbon) of a variety of media, Bacillus spores, and separated proteins from Bacillus spores was measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). AMS precisely measures F14C values of biological materials and has been used to date the synthesis of biomaterials over the bomb pulse era (1955 to present). The F14C of Bacillus spores reflects the radiocarbon content of the media in which they were grown. In a survey of commercial media we found that the F14C value indicated that carbon sources for the media were alive within about a year of the date of manufacture and generally of terrestrial origin. Hence, bacteria and their products can be dated using their 14C signature. Bacillus spore samples were generated onsite with defined media and carbon free purification and also obtained from archived material. Using mechanical lysis and a variety of washes with carbon free acids and bases, contaminant carbon was removed from soluble proteins to enable accurate 14C bomb-pulse dating. Since media is contemporary, 14C bomb-pulse dating of isolated soluble proteins can be used to distinguish between historical archives of bioagents and those produced from recent media.

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Scientists and the history of biological weapons

Cited by 28 publications

References 2 publications

The Potential Dual Use of Online Pharmacies

The Potential Dual Use of Online Pharmacies

Dissuading Biological Weapons Proliferation

14C Analysis of protein extracts from Bacillus spores

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