Bacteria as potential tools in bioterrorism, with an emphasis on bacterial toxins

Abstract

The threat of bioterrorism remains a reality worldwide and, although of low probability, an attack would be a high-consequence event. Microbes are available to individuals with appropriate contacts and even many low-grade bacterial pathogens can severely affect health. Toxins provide bacteria with a system of defence that is often detrimental to humans and their versatility makes them potential tools of bioterrorism. It should be remembered that the aim of terrorism is not always to kill but rather to strike fear into peoples lives. Therefore, agents such as botulinum and cholera toxin could be used, which may not cause significant mortality but would cause widespread panic and potentially high morbidity. Importantly, no state can ever be fully prepared for a response and it is probable that no state ever could be. It is for this reason that biological agents are so attractive as weapons.