Download Implications for the BWC from Microbial Forensic

Implications for the BWC from Microbial
Forensics
Professor Alemka Markotić, MD, PhD
University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb
Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka
Croatian Academy for Sciences and Arts
CROATIA
• There is a strong need for the development of high confidence
methodologies to distinguish among natural, accidental, and deliberate
outbreaks of infectious disease.
MICROBIAL FORENSICS…
…relatively new scientific discipline used to
analyze possible bioterrorism attacks, or inadvertent
microorganisms or toxins release.
”fingerprinting” of a pathogenic agent –
unique identification of microorganisms
MICROBIAL FORENSICS…
Identification of persons who commited the
bioterrorist act or biocrime, intentionally or
inadvertently
HOW TO BRING MICROBES IN COURT ?
…Combination of different disciplines like
microbiology, infectious diseases medicine in
general, population genetics, chemistry, physics,
statistics, bioinformatics and computer sciences are
important to get more evidence from biological
materials used in bioterrorist attacks.
Preparedness
In 1345-6, while laying siege to the
city of Kaffa (now Feodosija, Ukraine),
the Mongol army catapulted dead
bodies with plague over the city walls.
Black Death is widely believed to
have reached Europe from the
Crimea as the result of a
biological warfare attack.
THE AMERITHRAX CASE
•
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) was responsible for the the
investigation, given the major case
title of “Amerithrax”, lasted nearly
nine years and
•
involved almost 600,000
investigator work hours
10,000 witness interviews
80 searches
and 26,000 email reviews including
analysis of four million megabytes
of computer memory in six
continents
in addition, 29 government,
university and commercial
laboratories were involved in
scientific analyses, and close
collaboration with other federal
agencies was established.
•
•
•
•
Mostly desperate people
The risk of some hidden (bio)terrorists?
Incubation Period
(Duration: 7 to 17
days)
Not contagious
Initial Symptoms(Prodrome)
(Duration: 2 to 4 days)
Sometimes contagious
Rash
(about 20 days)
Contagious
Smallpox spreading
New focuses
Secundary infection
“Contaminated” zone
“Infective” zone
Zone of initial exposure
Geographical distribution of rodents infected with
different zoonotic pathogens in Croatia
Ivanić-Grad
Draganić
16 rodents
Bartonella
F. tularensis
Babesia
Leptospira
Mikanovci
39 rodents
Bartonella
Babesia
Ehrlicha
Borrelia RF
Leptospira
4 (25,0%)
2 (12,5%)
7 (43,8%)
1 (6,3%)
4 (10,3%)
1 (2,6%)
1 (2,6%)
2 (5,1%)
4 (10,3%)
IVANIĆGRAD
Sušica
14 rodents
Borrelia RF
Babesia
Leptospira
DRAGANIĆ
1 (7,1%)
2 (14,3%)
1 (7,1%)
ILOK
CERNA
2 (2,3%)
10 (11,4%)
2 (2,3%)
1 (1,1%)
37 (42,0%)
24 (27,3%)
Ilok
MIKANOVCI
Papuk
88 rodents
Borrelia
Bartonella
Borrelia RF
Anaplasma
Babesia
Leptospira
1 (3,6%)
1 (3,6%)
5 (17,9%)
4 (14,3%)
11 (39,3%)
PAPUK
ŽUTICA
SUŠICA
Žutica
28 rodents
Bartonella
Ehlichia
Borrelia RF
Babesia
Leptospira
18 rodents
Bartonella
Anaplasma
Babesia
Leptospira
2 (11,1%)
3 (16,7%)
5 (27,8%)
1 (5,6%)
30 glodavaca
Bartonella
Borrelia RF
Babesia
Leptospira
8 (26,7%)
1 (3,3%)
12 (40%)
9 (30%)
Cerna
9 rodents
Borrelia RF
Babesia
Leptospira
2 (22,2%)
1 (11,1%)
1 (11,1%)
Multiple infections with several
dangerous pathogens!
Tadin A, Tokarz R, Markotić A et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Dec 28. pii: 15-0517.
Who has the advantage?
Microbial forensic
expert?
Mother Nature and her tricks?
Bioterrorist?
What do we need for better
Forensic Approaches to
Microbial Identification?
Interdisciplinary approach, high multiplex
diagnostic technology and bioinformatics tools
– Molecular epidemiology data and field research
– Comprehensive clinical databases: description of
„usual” and „unusual” cases and outbreaks
– Basic and applied research linked to clinical data
and diagnostic tools development (translational
medicine approach)
– One Health Medicine approach
– Robust, powerful multiplex molecular diagnostic
tools and bioinformatics analysis tools
– Development of rapid and cheap diagnostic tests
– Powerful immune response measurement
Smart people, communication, collaboration
– Smart people who are able to
understand and synthetize
hughe amount of data and
promptly and properly react.
– Fast communication with
world experts experienced in
dangerous pathogens clinical
manifestation and detection
(Telemedicine approach).
– Close collaboration between
public health and clinical
laboratories with specialized
army/police microbial forensic
laboratories.
Zagreb, Croatia, 2013
Warsaw, Poland, 2015
To stop me and my
bugs Microbial
Forensic needs also
support from
Thank you for your attention and your future support!
