The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Biodefense Category A, B, & C Priority Pathogens

           The NIAID funds many hundreds of millions in dollars for research each year and the following listing of priority pathogens is provided for your information. The NIAID is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The NIAID is also the lead Institute for Project BioShield implementation at the NIH. DHHS, via the NIAID, will launch a multi-year initiative for Project BioShield treatments for biological agents emphasizing accelerated product development. This initiative will be focused on the most dangerous biological pathogens and the toxins they produce.

Category A:

• Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)
• Clostridium botulinum
• Yersinia pestis
• Variola major (smallpox) and other pox viruses
• Francisella tularensis
• Viral hemorrhagic fevers
•• Arenaviruses including: LCM, Junin; virus, Machupo; virus, Guanarito virus; Lassa Fever.
•• Bunyaviruses including: Hantaviruses; Rift valley Fever.
•• Flaviruses including: Dengue
•• Filoviruses including Ebola; Marburg

Category B:

• Burkholderia pseudomallei
• Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
• Brucella species (brucellosis)
• Burkholderia mallei (glanders)
• Ricin toxin (from Ricinus communis)
• Epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens
• Staphylococcus enterotoxin B
• Typhus fever (Rickettsia prowazekii)
• Food and Waterborne Pathogens
•• Bacteria including: Diarrheagenic E.coli; Pathogenic Vibrios; Shigella species; Salmonella; Listeria monocytogenes; Campylobacter jejuni; Yersinia enterocolitca
•• Viruses (Caliciviruses, Hepatitis A)
•• Protozoa including: Cryptosporidium parvum; Cyclospora cayatanensis; Giardia lambia; Entamoeba histolytica; Toxoplasma; Microsporidia
•• Added viral encephalitides including: West Nile Virus; LaCrosse; California encephalitis; VEE; EEE; WEE; Japanese Encephalitis Virus; Kyasanur Forest Virus

Category C:

           Emerging infectious disease threats such as Nipah virus and additional hantaviruses
NIAID priority areas:

• Tickborne hemorrhagic fever viruses including: Crimea-Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus
• Tickborne encephalitis viruses
• Yello fever
• Multi-drug resistant TB
• Influenza
• Other Rickettsias
• Rabies