Agents of Bioterrorism: Pathogens and Their Weaponization

by Geoffrey Zubay

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231133463
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	10/26/2005
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Geoffrey Zubay is professor of biology at Columbia University. He has published more than 150 research papers and several books, including Biochemistry; Genetics; and Origins of Life on the Earth and in the Cosmos.

Read an Excerpt

We might ask whether bioterrorism is something new or something recently conceived. The answer is that it is as old as recorded history... What distinguishes contemporary bioterrorism are the scientific advances that have been made in our understanding of how pathogens produce their toxins and how we can protect ourselves against them. On the one hand, this has also resulted in the discovery of a wide range of new bioweapons. On the other hand, this has resulted in the discovery of procedures for protecting against serious pathogens.

Table of Contents

Preface
List of Contributors1. Terrorism and Fear: How to Cope
Geoffrey Zubay2. Viral Encephalitis (Flaviviruses
Salwa Touma3.Votulism (Clostridium botulinum)
Rian Balfour4. Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)
James Hudspeth5. Ebola Viruses
Rohit Puskoor and Geoffrey Zubay6. Influenza Virus
Rian Balfour7. Hantavirus
Payal Shah8. Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
Anuj Mehta9. Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Joseph Patrick Ward and Maria E. Garrido10. Plague (Yersinia pestis)
Barbara Chubak11. Smallpox (Variola Virus)
Rohit Puskoor and Geoffrey Zubay12. Cholera (Vibrio cholerae)
Rohit Puskoor13. Salmonella
Kira Morser, Rohit Puskoor and Geoffrey ZubayAppendix 1. Drug Discovery and Biodefense
William Edstrom and Geoffrey ZubayAppendix 2. The Search for Vaccines
William EdstromAppendix 3. Personal Biodefenses
Geoffrey ZubayAppendix 4. Information Resources on Bioterrorism
Kathleen KehoeGlossary
Index

What People are Saying About This

Larry L. Barton

In this highly readable and impressive work, Geoffrey Zubay presents an up-to-date analysis of the use, history, weaponization, and molecular biology of potential agents of bioterrorism. I know of no book that is similar to Agents of Bioterrorism in terms of making this information available to students, policymakers, scientists, and the general public.

— Larry L. Barton, professor of microbiology, University of New Mexico

Editorial Reviews

Careful editing gives it uniformity and reflects an insightful approach to the subject matter... Highly recommended.

Choice

An important, scholarly study.

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