BIO 118: anthrax

anthrax scientific name

Bacillus anthracis

how many cases in us

1-2

when was it found

1875

prominent ppl

KOCH and Pasteur

when did it increase in transmission

ww1

transmitted via

animal to animal

enzootonic

epidemic for animals,

where in US

minnesot and texas

when does the bacteria become a spore

food runs out, and environment is tough

what is a spore

- mother cell, bacteria
- forespore produces dormant structure protects DNA
- resistant
- shell w little water
- do not take up dye

kill a spore

temp and pressure

plasmids

2 extra chromosomoes

chromosome 1

slime capsule of mucus, phagocyte cannot eat

chromosome 2

creates toxins
lethal
adema
protective antigen

lethal factor

interrupts metabolism

edema factor

swell up and burst

control toxin

antibiotics

infect?

spore explodes and infects

protective antigen

binds the toxins to target cells, permitting their entry
deliver toxins to cell surface or to a phagocyte

cutaneous route

- scratch or wound in contact w sproes or bact
- grow in region and phagocytosis

ingestion

contaminated meant
- stomach acid and phagocytosis normally kills
- fatal

inhalation

VERY dangerous
- bact in blood via lump, small lung sacs

woolsters disease

shaving sheep wool, spres

ideal bio weapon

inhalation anthrax

rotting flesh

spores into air and inhalation

ruminant animals

graze where there are spores in soil
- chew the cud

danger of ruminant animals

upper stomach ferments, and spores can germinate here bc no acid or enzymes

dying cattle

vegetatitive cells eat, spores form, contaminate, flies can bite and carry

First bacterium identified

Koch 1875, bacillus anthrasis

how did koch identitify

187, big and easy to see, culture and grow, one disease on germ, dilute and smear, agar + potatoes

how found vax

Pasteur 1881, Toussaint comeptitor started, not a DR

Attenuation

Pasteur, grow in test tube and adapt to tube not humans

father of microbology

Koch

Koch Postulates

Germ present in all with disease and one without disease
Germ grown in culture infects
Germ isolated, inoculated, and cause disease w same symptom

koch v pasteur

koch = identitfy + culture
Pasteur = vax + prevention

Japan

1930 manchuria

Brits WW1

1940 losing, naval blockade to starve
- Gruinard Island

Gruinard Island

scotland, anthrax, sheep all died, Churchill 500k bombs ordered!

Decontamination of Gruinard Island

1981 decontaminate w envelope threats!
1986 300 tons formaldehyde
1990 safe

Unit 371

Jap test on Chinese porcelain

weaponized anthrax

easy to grow reg, refine w machines to create good kind OR clump and lung filtration

stockpiles?

Nixon 1960s, then abondoned
Soviet

russia anthrax outbreak

sveerdlovsk 1979

who was sent the 9/11 envelopes

journalists and senators

how many cases in the 9/11 envelopes

23, 12 cut, 11 inhale, 5 dead

asymmetric terrorism

wages fear

how do we make ppl scared

- probability of it happening
- probability of death

good thing abt bio terrorism

do not have to kill a lot to scare

good bio weapon?

- infectious
- cause death or smilar
- easy disperse
- easy to grow
- store
- resistant in environment
- resistant ot fast treatment

What is the weapon

vaccine --> USSR stockpiles and factories

before 2002

90% skin, 10% inhalation
100% skin, 50% inhale