William R. Clark
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195336634
- eISBN:
- 9780199868568
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195336634.003.0014
- Subject:
- Biology, Disease Ecology / Epidemiology
During the first 48–72 hours of a bioterrorist attack using pathogenic microbes, the immune system will be our primary means of defense against potentially fatal disease. This chapter looks at the ...
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During the first 48–72 hours of a bioterrorist attack using pathogenic microbes, the immune system will be our primary means of defense against potentially fatal disease. This chapter looks at the pathogens identified by the CDC as most likely to be used as bioweapons — anthrax, plague, smallpox, botulin toxin, tularemia, and Ebola-like viruses — and what is known of the human immune response to them. Progress in enhancing our ability to deal with these pathogens is also discussed, in particular strategies that go beyond standard vaccines.Less
During the first 48–72 hours of a bioterrorist attack using pathogenic microbes, the immune system will be our primary means of defense against potentially fatal disease. This chapter looks at the pathogens identified by the CDC as most likely to be used as bioweapons — anthrax, plague, smallpox, botulin toxin, tularemia, and Ebola-like viruses — and what is known of the human immune response to them. Progress in enhancing our ability to deal with these pathogens is also discussed, in particular strategies that go beyond standard vaccines.
