DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

File: 123096_sep96_decls1_0091.txt
Page: 0091
Total Pages: 109

Subject: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS       

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003203

Folder Title: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS                                       

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         21













                   POSSIBLE PPACTICAL SOLUTIONS

                   703.    Concepts for waging biological warfare (aW) that were developed prior
                   co the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972, pointed out and emphasized the
                   complexity of generating effective defensive countermeasures.       A large number
                   of conventional agents (bacteria, rickettsia, viruses) and toxins were
                   demonstrated to possess the necessary propereies that warranted their
                   classification as serious BW threats against military and civilian
                   populations.   The emergence of new biotechnologies has made possible the
                   development of multiple biOLhreaLs by an adversary.      Fortunately, the same
                   technologies that may be adding LO the threat can also be used to improve both
                   physical and medical defensive countermeasures. Agent detection and
                   diagnostic measures are moving into a new era of sensitivity and precision.
                   Some technologies that have potential application for the detection of Agents
                   of Biological Origin will be described below.

                           a.  Physical Methods - Physical methods include mass spectrometry, UV
                           fluorescence and circular inteiiiiity- differencial 'scattering.   The
                           physical methods have the potential   for rapid response Limes, if
                           extensive sample preparation can be   avoided. To minimize preparation,
                           pattern recognition algorithms will   have to bedeveloped.      Although
                           these methods have the potential to   detect many different classes of
                           compounds, certain requirements must be Met.     For optical methods, the
                           lack of certain spectral features may require additional chemical
              procedures.  Most of the physical methods have evolved from bulkier
                           research laboratory versions and consequencly have the power and sample
                           volume requirements of these instruments. While these methods have
                           also retained the flexibility of detecting a broad range of molecular
                           species, they are not easily adapted for the detection of different
                           pachogenic species.   While these methods have applicability for point
                           detection, only the optical techniques have the potential for detection
                           of aerosol clouds at a distance, or standoff detection.

                           b.  Biotechnical Methods - Biotechnical methods include immunoassay,
                           use of receptor sites, and nucleic acid probes.     Biotechnical methods
                           take advantage of the high degree of recognizability inherent in
                           enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acid sequences, receptors, lectins, and
                           other biological molecules. In addition to selectivity, the
                           recognition aspect can be coupled to enzymes, thus providing
                           amplification and better sensitivity.    The separation of recognition
                           from the subsequent detector functions allows new analytes to be
                           deleted by just changing the biorecognition molecule.     Disadvantages of
                           the biotechnical approach for field use relate to questions of
                           stability of the biological molecules, response time and, particularly
                           with regard to the nucleic acid probes, sample preparation.

                           c. Biomicrosensors - Bionicrosensors include optical waveguides and
 to advances in
                           microelectronics and microscale engineering, the development of
                           microsensors offers many advantages and capabilities for toxin and
                           pathogen detection in a device that could be used in the field.
                           Several types of microsensors, including electrochemical devices,
                           chemically sensitive semiconductor devices, and optical waveguides,


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Document 109 f:/Week-36/BX003203/DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS/detection of medical defense against biological :1217960927452
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
Folder Seq # = 21
Subject = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 17-DEC-1996