In this 624-page, hardcover text edited by Luther E. Lindler, Frank J. Lebeda, and George W. Korch, biodefense research experts authoritatively explain the universe of scientific, medical, and legal issues facing the biodefense research community. They describe the origin, effects and treatment of established pathogens that cause diseases such as anthrax, plague, smallpox, brucellosis, glanders, and Q fever, and discuss what is known about the aerosol route of infection and the process of decontamination.
Contained in the 25 chapters is an extensive discussion of preparation and military support for possible acts of bioterrorism, medical countermeasures, emerging threats and future preparation, and development of diagnostic tests for identifying biological warfare pathogens.
Intended for researchers, physicians, and policy makers, Biological Weapons Defense: Infectious Disease and Counterbioterrorism offers a detailed look at the ongoing efforts to detect and identify these disease-causing agents, including proteomic and genomic analysis as a gateway to better diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccinations, genotyping, and forensics.
USAMRIID, located at Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the lead medical research laboratory for the U.S. Biological Defense Research Program, and plays a key role in national defense and in infectious disease research. The Institute's mission is to conduct basic and applied research on biological threats resulting in medical solutions (such as vaccines, drugs and diagnostics) to protect the warfighter. USAMRIID is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.