Weaponization process biological

We need to have drugs, antidotes, and cures for the weapons of mass destruction that terrorists are likely to use. To develop medicinal countermeasures, the basic science involved must first be understood. For both chemical and biological weapons, the process of molecular recognition by elements of the human body is of utmost importance. However, we do not have a clear understanding of protein surface interactions, the relationship of genes to protein function, and how viruses infect and replicate. All of these processes are chemical in nature and caimot be solved without knowledge of the chemical sciences. 

Deuterium or "Heavy Hydrogen . E>2 gas, mw 4.03 ft p 13.95° K, bp 20.57°K, d of liq 169g/liter was first isolated in concns sufficient for positive identification by Urey et al at Columbia Univ in 1931. Deuterium is a stable isotope and occurs in natural hydrogen, water and other H-bearing compds in an av abundance of 0.015 mole %. It is of interest to research workers as a tracer in biological processes in chem reactions. There is now commercial production of Deuterium Heavy Water (Ref 2). It has found use in military weapons as a constituent of thermonuclear bombs Refs 1) Partington (1950), 176 2) Kirk ... 

Once a robust test assay has been set up, the choice of suitable compound libraries is the next key step. An excellent source of selective small molecule probes is the natural product pool. In an evolutionary process of millions of years, nature has come up with molecular structures that offer an evolutionary advantage to the species that makes the effort to synthesize these molecules. In most cases, these molecules are used to defend against enemies or to paralyze or kill preys. It is in the nature of these processes that such molecular weapons act most efficiently if they interfere with important biological processes of the target species, meaning that biologically relevant protein targets are addressed. 

Cholera organism can be a potential bio-weapon. Contamination of public water systems can spread the disease rapidly. However, simple processes such as chlorination or disinfection of water or just boiling the water should serve as a preventive measure against cholera. There is no record of use of cholera organism in the war, although this agent was considered in the past as a biological weapon. Cholera bacteria can be a potential bio-weapon in terrorism. 

On the other hand, the equipment and technology used for offensive biological weapons research is no different from that used in legitimate biomedical research anywhere in the world. Equipment for processing and production of such agents is found in such diverse industries as wine and beer manufacture, pharmaceutical research and development, and the food and agriculture industries.17 Few items need to be purchased from the outside, and simple fermentation media are easy to make.20... 

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