Anti-adhesion methods WORLD OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY22•
ment. The more highly trained the terrorist, the more effective
weapons could be expected to be produced.
Even though Bacillus anthraciscould be grown in such
a makeshift laboratory, the preparation of the spores and the
drying of the spores into a powder is not a trivial task. As an
example, even after a decade of dedicated effort, United
Nations inspectors who toured Iraq bioweapons facilities after
the Gulf War found that Iraq had only managed to develop
crude anthrax preparations. Still, the Iraq bioweapons program
managed to produce 8,500 liters of concentrated anthrax.
Regardless, despite the technical challenges, the pro-
duction of anthrax spores in quantities great enough to cause a
huge loss of life is not beyond the capability of a small group
of equipped and funded terrorists. This small size and nonde-
script nature of a bioweapons facility could make detection of
such a lab very difficult. Accordingly, the terrorist potential of
anthrax will remain a threat for the foreseeable future.See alsoBacteria and bacterial infection; Biological warfare;
Bioterrorism, protective measures; Bioterrorism; Epidemics
and pandemics; VaccineAAnti-adhesion methodsNTI-ADHESION METHODS
The adhesion of bacteriaand other microorganismsto non-
living and living surfaces is a crucial part of the contamination
and infection processes. In fact, the growth of microorganisms
on surfaces is the preferred mode of existence. The ability to
block adhesion would prevent surface growth.
There are numerous examples of surface growth of
microorganisms. Adherence and growth of bacteria such as
Escherichia colion urinary catheters (synthetic tubes that are
inserted into the bladder to assist hospitalized patients in
removing urine from the body) is a large problem in hospitals.
The chance of a urinary tract infection increases by up to10%
for each day of catheterization. Neiserria meningitidis, the
agent that causes meningitis, relies upon adhesion with host
cells. The adhesion of this and many other bacteria, including
disease causing Escherichia coli, is mediated by a surface
tube-like protein appendage called a pilus.
Other bacterial proteins are involved in adhesion, typi-
cally by recognizing and biding to another protein on the sur-
face of the host cell. Microorganism proteins that function in
adhesion are generically known as adhesins.Workers in biohazard protective suits respond to an anthrax incident in Florida.womi_A 5/6/03 1:06 PM Page 22