BioterrorismDetecting use of abnormal organisms as bioterror weapons
Organisms have the potential to cause disease, but they can be altered to cause an unrecognized diseases or a process a process that doctors have not associated with that organism; this makes altered forms of bacteria like salmonella or E. coli the potential “bombs” in a bio-terrorist attack, but scientists at Purdue University developed a new way to look at those bacteria; now, West Virginia University is testing its potential
The bombs sent from Yemen to the United States are a reminder that terrorist attacks are ongoing in many different forms.
West Virginia University is testing a new device to fight bio-terrorism. Their scientists are looking at bacteria in a whole new way so they can prepare for a whole new kind of threat.
“Unfortunately organisms have the potential to cause disease, but they can be altered to cause an unrecognized diseases or a process a process that we haven’t associated with that organism,” said John Thomas, Ph.D., professor of pathology and microbiology at WVU.
WBOY reports that this makes altered forms of bacteria like salmonella or E. coli the potential “bombs” in a bio-terrorist attack, but scientists at Purdue University developed a new way to look at those bacteria. Now, West Virginia University is testing its potential.
“If you illuminate each colony, there is a diffraction from that colony,” Thomas said, shining a laser pointer at a bacteria colony.
The pattern of light bouncing off of the bacteria can then be compared to data from across the United States. “Organisms found in New York, organisms found in California, could all be identified simultaneously,” Thomas said.
That would buy valuable time in battling a bio-terrorist attack. The team at WVU is even testing the equipment for use in all sizes of hospital and outpatient clinics.
Thomas said this is just the first step in a new scientific direction. “We hope we can identify and use it in methods that we haven’t even thought about,” he said. “One of the great things about science is that you don’t know what it’s going to show you, and this is a chance to look at something unusual.”
