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Studies of Variola Virus Replication
in Cell Cultures and Chick Embryo Chorion-allantois Membrane
Elena Ryabchikova, Elena Sokunova, Julia Kononova,
Alexandr Guskov
State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector",
Russian Ministry of Public Health,
Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, 633559. RUSSIA
INTRODUCTION
Variola
virus is the causative agent of smallpox, one of the most severe
human diseases. Variola virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus
together with cowpox, mouse pox, vaccinia and monkey pox viruses.
Experimental studies with living variola virus were stopped after
the global eradication of smallpox, and knowledge about the variola
virus biology was "frozen". However the global eradication of
smallpox announced by WHO at the end of the 1970s, failed to eliminate
the overall problem of orthopoxvirus infections.
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The CBMTS IV
Spiez Laboratory Switzerland 28 April - 3 May
2002
Symposium Chair Dr. Barbara Price's concluding
remarks: Thank all of you for attending the CBMTS IV. We have
had 28 countries represented here discussing chemical and
biological medical treatment. In the first CBMTS in 1994 we
were still listening to papers addressing measurements of
LD50 for CW agents and summaries of how antidotes
and oxime treatments worked and characterizing viruses and
looking at general response type biodetectors. Eight years
later, we really have come a long way. We are addressing much
more complicated medical treatments, refining these treatments,
using much more sophisticated instrumentation and really examining
the effects of different cell infections on the viruses and
the proteins they express. And we, the 140 CBMTS IV professionals,
have had many discussions on bioterrorism.
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An Evaluation of Bioregulators
as Terrorism and Warfare Agents
*Slavko Bokan, **John G. Breen, *Zvonko Orehovec
*MOD, Croatian Military Academy,
Laboratory for NBC Protection, Ilica 256 b,
HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia ** Geneva, Switzerland
INTRODUCTION
Within
neuroscience over the last twenty years there has been an explosion
of knowledge about the receptor systems on nerve cells that are
of critical importance in receiving the chemical transmitter substances
released by other nerve cells. Bioregulators or modulators are
biochemical compounds, such as peptides, that occur naturally
in organisms. They are a potential new class of weapons that can
damage the nervous system, alter moods, trigger psychological
changes and even kill. These compounds can act as neurotransmitters
and modify neural response. Bioregulators are closely related
to substances normally found in the body that regulate normal
biological processes. Their potential military or terrorism use
is similar to that of toxins. Some examples of potential application
of bioregulators are to cause pain, as an anesthetic and to influence
blood pressure.
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Managing the Threat of Anthrax
in the Mail: Occupational Health Principles
Claus-Peter Polster
Health and Safety Branch
The OPCW
The Hague, The Netherlands
Recent attacks within the United States of America resulted
in 12 cases of anthrax infection. In addition, thousands of
subsequent hoaxes and false alarms have caused severe disruptions
throughout the US and in other nations. This paper describes
how application of the standard principles of risk management
and occupational health can be applied to address the issue
of potential biohazards in the mail. These principles were successfully
implemented by the Health and Safety, Security, and Mailroom
staff of the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons) in The Hague, and were able to prevent disruption from
a number of false alarm incidents, that might otherwise have
caused significant impact.
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