Biodefense: Principles and Pathogens

The anthrax attacks by bioterrorists in the USA in October 2001 served to highlight our vulnerability to biological warfare and to act as an impetus for a massive increase in funding for biodefense research.

In this timely book, top biodefense experts critically review every aspect of this complex issue. The microbiology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, epidemiology, infection control and novel therapeutics for all the key pathogens involved are comprehensively covered. Biodefense is currently focused on anthrax, smallpox, plague, tularemia, botulism and viral hemorrhagic fevers and entire chapters are devoted to each of these topics. Further chapters cover the bioterrorism threat from other diseases including brucellosis, glanders, melioidosis, psittacosis, Q fever, typhoid, gastroenteritis and cryptosporidiosis. Biological toxins derived from living organisms, such as the epsilon toxin derived from Clostridium perfringens, mycotoxins and plant-derived toxins such as ricin are also reviewed in detail. Two fascinating chapters are devoted to agroterrorism, the use of infectious agents that target animals and plants to decimate the food supply. Additional chapters cover emerging pathogens and novel bio-engineered agents that could be used in bioterrorism. The book also covers hospital preparedness, infection control, psychosocial issues, and the evolving methods for surveillance and detection in biodefence.

Biodefense: Principles and Pathogens is a good primer on current issues on biodefense...It will be a nice addition to any biodefense, infectious disease, or biological library - Journal of the American Biological Safety Association (Vol 10, No. 4, 2005)

This book is an encyclopaedic source of valid data that should not be lacking from the book collections of hospitals, general practitioners and all other with a professional (or national defence) interest in infectious diseases and their complications - FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology (Vol 45, 2005)

The book serves as an invaluable planning tool for public health initiatives in major incident management. The sections on public health preparedness, hospital preparedness and surveillance and detection and psychosocial issues in bioterrorism will be of interest to anyone working in emergency and disaster planning - Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal

[This book] adds a unique state and local perspective on planning that must be accomplished by public health agencies and community medical responders to prepare for a biological attack or other public health emergency - Doody Publishing Services

This compilation of topics is the greatest strength of this book, because all of this information is provided in a single-source volume instead of being scattered among many websites, journal articles, and texts - Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2006:42 (1 March)