Browse Items · Collection of Biothreat Risk Assessments (COBRA)

Genome Editing and Biological Weapons

Assesses the risk of recent advances in genome editing technologies to enabling development of biological weapons.

Tags: Availability, Controllability, Countermeasures, Detection, Dissemination, Economic Consequences, Environmental Persistence, Genetic Modification, Historical Weaponization Interest, Infectivity, Military Use, Morbidity, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Risk Assessment, Stability, Terrorist Use, Transmissibility

Defense Against Biological Attacks Vol I

Volume I discusses genetic modification technologies and their risk for dual use. Chapters 10, 11, and 12 are covered.

Tags: Countermeasures, Detection, Genetic Modification, Historical Weaponization Interest, Morbidity, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Production

Handbook on Biological Warfare Preparedness

Introduces the basics of biological warfare agent history, biology, and preparedness. Places particular focus on detection technologies.

The De Novo Synthesis of Horsepox Virus: Implications for Biosecurity and Recommendations for Preventing the Reemergence of Smallpox

Discusses the potential dual-use threat arising from the synthesis of the first ever orthopox virus.

Tags: Availability, Countermeasures, Detection, Genetic Modification, Military Use, Population Susceptibility, Production, Public Health, Terrorist Use, Transmissibility

The Soviet Biological Weapons Program

This book thoroughlydescribes the Soviet biological weapons problem and assesses potential lingering risks in its wake.

Tags: Controllability, Countermeasures, Detection, Dissemination, Economic Consequences, Environmental Persistence, Genetic Modification, Incubation, Infectivity, Military Use, Morbidity, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Production, Stability, Terrorist Use, Transmissibility

Development of Methodology to Prioritise Wildlife Pathogens for Surveillance

Considered impact of disease outbreaks with a focus on wildlife populations (as well as human and livestock). Implemented metrics for estimating the likelihood and consequences of spread of the pathogens.

Tags: Availability, Controllability, Infectivity, Morbidity, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Transmissibility

The Weapon Potential of a Microbe

Relationship between virulence and weapon potential, with consideration of a variety of quantitative parameters.

Tags: Civil Disruption, Countermeasures, Dissemination, Incubation, Infectivity, Morbidity, Population Susceptibility, Stability, Transmissibility

Microbial Threats to Health

This book describes all microbial threats to human health, especially considering the intentional use of microbes as weapons and the consequences of scientific advancement.

Tags: Civil Disruption, Controllability, Detection, Dissemination, Economic Consequences, Environmental Persistence, Genetic Modification, Genetic Variation, Historical Weaponization Interest, Infectivity, Morbidity, Mortality, Novelty, Population Susceptibility, Production, Public Health, Stability, Terrorist Use, Transmissibility

Biological Threats and Terrorism

This report summarizes a workshop of the Forum on Emerging Infectious Diseases in which members explored the current scientific understanding of threatening pathogens and what measures have been put in place to better monitor, prevent, and respond to…

Tags: Civil Disruption, Detection, Dissemination, Economic Consequences, Genetic Modification, Genetic Variation, Historical Weaponization Interest, Infectivity, Morbidity, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Production, Public Health, Terrorist Use, Transmissibility

Bioterrorism: A Clear and Present Danger

This article discusses the shift after the anthrax attacks of 2001 and what it bodes for the future of bioterrorism.

Tags: Civil Disruption, Countermeasures, Population Susceptibility, Public Health, Terrorist Use

If Biological Warfare Comes

The author provides an example scenario of a biological attack and discusses what makes various agents potentially effective candidates for biological warfare.

Tags: Civil Disruption, Coagents, Controllability, Countermeasures, Detection, Dissemination, Economic Consequences, Environmental Persistence, Infectivity, Novelty, Population Susceptibility, Production, Stability, Transmissibility

Bacterial Warfare: A Critical Analysis of the Available Agents, Their Possible Military Applications, and the Means for Protection Against Them

Description of transmission routes/pathways for grouping infectious diseases broadly (food- and water-borne, contact, air-borne, vector-borne, endogenous). Criteria for selection of infective agents that pose biological warfare risk. Rules out a list…

Tags: Availability, Controllability, Countermeasures, Decontamination, Detection, Infectivity, Military Use, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Transmissibility

Bacterial Warfare: The Use of Biologic Agents in Warfare

Evaluates possibility of BW in response to public interest/concern. Reviews practical limitations to development and use of biological weapons. Covers Intestinal Disease, Respiratory Disease, Insect-Transmitted Disease, Infective (Non-Communicable)…

Tags: Availability, Controllability, Countermeasures, Dissemination, Economic Consequences, Incubation, Infectivity, Military Use, Morbidity, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Production, Stability, Transmissibility

Application of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Techniques and Decision Support Framework for Informing Select Agent Designation for Agricultural Animal Pathogens

2023 Application of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Techniques and Decision Support Framework for Informing Select Agent Designation for Agricultural Animal Pathogens.pdf

This report assesses the utility of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and decision support framework (DSF) in assisting the US Department of Agriculture in its reviews of select agents. It uses the method to assess 41 pathogens against 21…

Tags: Availability, Controllability, Countermeasures, Decontamination, Economic Consequences, Environmental Persistence, Genetic Modification, Historical Weaponization Interest, Incubation, Infectivity, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Production, Public Health, Stability, Terrorist Use, Transmissibility

Proposed Biosecurity Oversight Framework for the Future of Science

US government charged NSABB with "evaluating and providing recommendations on the effectiveness of two major US biosecurity policy frameworks governing" research with enhanced potential pandemic pathogens (ePPP) and dual use research of concern.

Tags: Controllability, Countermeasures, Dissemination, Infectivity, Morbidity, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Stability

Application of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Techniques for Informing Select Agent Designation and Decision Making

Gives information on updates regarding the Division of Select Agents and Toxins' select agent scoring and ranking system. The review is contextualized by abundant criticism of the 2008 Bioterrorism Risk Assessment for overly complex modeling, lack of…

Tags: Controllability, Countermeasures, Decontamination, Dissemination, Genetic Modification, Infectivity, Morbidity, Mortality, Population Susceptibility, Production, Public Health, Stability, Transmissibility

The Biennial Review of the HHS and Overlap Select Agent List