BACKGROUND |
The availability of medical countermeasures against biological agents (B-agents) or related highly contagious infectious diseases are a key issue in medical readiness and countering that threat. Prophylaxis in the form of vaccination, when available, is clearly preferable but may be impracticable for a broad spectrum of B-agents. Immunization presumes the availability of an approved vaccine that can be administered to healthy individuals in anticipation of a known biological threat; with the appropriate number of doses required for the vaccination regimen. The incubation time required for onset of disease following a B-agent exposure (if detected in a timely manner) offers the possibility for therapeutic intervention. Many therapeutic countermeasures have not been specifically tested and/or approved for use following B-agent exposure. Likewise, in the case of new or emerging diseases (e.g. SARS, avian influenza, etc.), the effectiveness of these countermeasures is likely unknown. A broad study of the mechanisms of B-agent related infectious disease, prophylaxis and therapy will provide a concise overview of the present state-of-the-art in medical countermeasures against B-agents, with a focus on their use in CBRN defense. In addition to the broad underlying discussion of medical countermeasures (MCM) to emerging and evolving infectious diseases in general, HFM-RTG-186 identified fifteen B-agents of primary interest. Specifically, these were (1) variola major (smallpox), (2) Bacillus anthracis (including MDR) (anthrax), (3) Yersinia pestis (plague), anthrax), (3) Yersinia pestis (plague), (4) Francisella tularensi (tularemia), (5) filovirus Ebola and (6) filovirus Marburg (viral hemorrhagic fevers), (7) Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism), (8) alphaviruses (VEE, EEE, WEE) (viral encephalitis), (9) Brucella species (brucellosis), (10) Burkholderia mallei (glanders), (11) Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis), (12) Coxiella burnetii (Q-fever), (13) Staphylococcal enterotoxins, (14) Rickettsia prowazekii (typhus fever), and (15) ricin toxin. The TG’s Final Report will include Chapters for the each of these agents or agent classes including description of pathogenicity, host response and current (approved / published) MCM (prophylaxis and treatment) for each.
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OBJECTIVES |
This Symposium will enable the exchange of current scientific data and practical issues associated with the state-of-the-art in research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) on Medical Countermeasures against Biological Agents and emerging/evolving infectious diseases of military significance.
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