Agents of Bioterrorism
Pathogens and Their Weaponization

Of late, bioterrorism has been a subject of great concern and some misunderstanding. This work offers an account of the threats posed by bioterrorism and how to prepare for and respond to an attack. It considers thirteen disease-causing agents, including those responsible for anthrax, encephalitis, botulism, ebola, tularemia, and salmonella.

This new work offers a clear and thorough account of the threats posed by bioterrorism from the perspective of biologists. The authors examine thirteen disease-causing agents, including those responsible for anthrax, the plague, smallpox, influenza, and SARS. Each chapter considers a particular pathogen from the standpoint of its history, molecular biology, pathology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, weaponization, and defenses. The book also examines strategies for making vaccines and protecting the population in a bioterror attack.

PrefaceList of Contributors
1. Terrorism and Fear: How to CopeGeoffrey Zubay
2. Viral Encephalitis (FlavivirusesSalwa Touma
3.Votulism (Clostridium botulinum)Rian Balfour
4. Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)James Hudspeth
5. Ebola VirusesRohit Puskoor and Geoffrey Zubay
6. Influenza VirusRian Balfour
7. HantavirusPayal Shah
8. Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)Anuj Mehta
9. Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)Joseph Patrick Ward and Maria E. Garrido
10. Plague (Yersinia pestis)Barbara Chubak
11. Smallpox (Variola Virus)Rohit Puskoor and Geoffrey Zubay
12. Cholera (Vibrio cholerae)Rohit Puskoor
13. SalmonellaKira Morser, Rohit Puskoor and Geoffrey Zubay
Appendix 1. Drug Discovery and Biodefense William Edstrom and Geoffrey Zubay
Appendix 2. The Search for VaccinesWilliam Edstrom
Appendix 3. Personal BiodefensesGeoffrey Zubay
Appendix 4. Information Resources on BioterrorismKathleen Kehoe
GlossaryIndex