Biological Agent Detection Technology

Abstract

Nature, for a variety of evolutionarily-driven reasons, has produced a wide variety of remarkably dangerous organisms and toxins which are lethal to humans and for which we have few early warning sentinels. Biological agents derived from these have been developed as weapons of mass destruction and represent the primary strategic threat to the United States. Unlike conventional or chemical munitions, pathogenic agents such as bacteria and viruses are self-replicating (although viruses must use their host’s genetic machinery), hence very small initial quantities could be used in an attack and the effect amplified by secondary infection. They are easy to produce with commercially available cell culture and fermentation equipment and can be manufactured by countries and groups with relatively unsophisticated scientific capabilities. The ubiquity and small size of biomanufacturing equipment makes verification the technical and operational equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. Recent technical advances have compounded these issues.