Lessons learned from 2001-2021 - from the bioterrorism to the pandemic era.

Introduction And Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze available literature on the development of biological warfare and combating the SARS CoV-2 pandemic. Against the background of contemporary threats from biological factors, the strengths and weaknesses of response in the event of a bioterrorist attack during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have been identified. The scope and importance of international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic is assessed.

Review of studies on SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibitors.

Introduction And Objective: COVID-19 is a human infectious disease manifested by acute respiratory syndrome. On 30 January, 2020, the Word Heath Organization (WHO) declared a COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this article is to review publications on the search for substances that show inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, paying particular attention to the effect on different stages of the life cycle of the virus.

Utilisation of peptides against microbial infections - a review.

The emergence of resistance in microorganisms on a global scale has made it necessary to search for new antimicrobial factors. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) seem to meet these expectations. AMPs are produced by bacteria, viruses, plants, and animals, and may be considered as a new class of drugs intended for the prophylaxis and treatment of both systemic and topical infections.

Microbiological analysis of bioaerosols collected from Hospital Emergency Departments and ambulances.

Introduction And Objective: The goal of the study was a microbiological, qualitative and quantitative analysis of bioaerosol at the workplace of medical personnel (Health Emergency Departments (HEDs), ambulances), and comparative administration offices with an expected neutral occupational exposure to biological agents measured with individual Button Sampler.

Material And Methods: Personal sampling was performed with Button Sampler instrument loaded with gelatine filters in 10 HEDs, in 9 ambulances and in 9 offices to assess the occupational biological agents' exposure in air. Sampling was conducted from March until April 2016.

Microarrays--new possibilities for detecting biological factors hazardous for humans and animals, and for use in environmental protection.

Both the known biological agents that cause infectious diseases, as well as modified (ABF-Advanced Biological Factors) or new, emerging agents pose a significant diagnostic problem using previously applied methods, both classical, as well as based on molecular biology methods. The latter, such as PCR and real-time PCR, have significant limitations, both quantitative (low capacity), and qualitative (limited number of targets). The article discusses the results of studies on using the microarray method for the identification of viruses (e.

Bacillus anthracis infections--new possibilities of treatment.

Introduction And Objective: Bacillus anthracis is one of biological agents which may be used in bioterrorism attacks. The aim of this study a review of the new treatment possibilities of anthrax, with particular emphasis on the treatment of pulmonary anthrax. Abbreviated description of the state of knowledge.

Tertiary amides of Salinomycin: A new group of antibacterial agents against Bacillus anthracis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis.

For the first time, a series of tertiary amides of polyether antibiotic-Salinomycin have been obtained and screened for their antibacterial activity against different strains of bacteria, including Bacillus anthracis and clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE). Moreover, biofilm inhibition of MRSE and genotoxicity tests against Bacillus subtilis have been performed. Our studies show that Salinomycin and its some derivatives are active against tested bacteria and exhibited definitely bacteriostatic, not bactericidal activity.

Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in environmental samples collected from cattle farms in Eastern and Central Poland (2011-2012).

Coxiella burnetii is the etiologic agent of Q fever. It may occur as two different morphological forms, a large cell variant (LCV) and a small cell variant (SCV). The SCV is characterized by unique resistance to physical and chemical factors and may survive in the environment for many months.

Antiviral activity of novel oseltamivir derivatives against some influenza virus strains.

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity of oseltamivir derivatives and determine their activity against A/H1N1/PR/8/34 and A/H3N2/HongKong/8/68 - strains of influenza virus. Antiviral activity of these compounds was determined by using two methods. MTT staining was used to assess the viability of MDCK cells infected with influenza viruses and treated with various concentrations of drugs.

Review of methods used for identification of biothreat agents in environmental protection and human health aspects.

Modern threats of bioterrorism force the need to develop methods for rapid and accurate identification of dangerous biological agents. Currently, there are many types of methods used in this field of studies that are based on immunological or genetic techniques, or constitute a combination of both methods (immuno-genetic). There are also methods that have been developed on the basis of physical and chemical properties of the analytes.

Retrospective review of the case of cutaneous anthrax-malignant pustule from 1995 in 15-year old girl.

A 15-year-old girl was admitted to our Department with cutaneous lesion resembling black eschar. Anamnesis revealed that before getting ill she was wearing pullover made of rough sheep's wool and ornaments made of leather like straps. Cutaneous anthrax was confirmed by identification of B.

Q fever--selected issues.

Q fever is an infectious disease of humans and animals caused by Gram-negative coccobacillus Coxiella burnetii, belonging to the Legionellales order, Coxiellaceae family. The presented study compares selected features of the bacteria genome, including chromosome and plasmids QpH1, QpRS, QpDG and QpDV. The pathomechanism of infection--starting from internalization of the bacteria to its release from infected cell are thoroughly described.

Research on substances with activity against orthopoxviruses.

Although smallpox was eradicated over 30 years ago, the disease remains a major threat. High mortality, high infectivity and low resistance of the contemporary population make the smallpox virus very attractive to terrorists. The possible presence of illegal stocks of the virus or risk of deliberate genetic modifications cause serious concerns among experts.

New aspects of the infection mechanisms of Bacillus anthracis.

Articles concerning new aspects of B. anthracis mechanisms of infection were reviewed. It was found, that the hair follicle plays an important role in the spore germination process.

Research on prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic fevers.

Viral hemorrhagic fevers are severe zoonotic diseases caused by RNA-viruses classified into 4 families: Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Filoviridae, and Flaviviridae. They are present on all continents except Antarctica, their person-to-person spread is easy, and there is a high risk of them being used as weapon by bioterrorists. So far, efforts to develop effective drugs against these viruses have failed, and typical therapy usually relies on symptomatic treatment.

Isolation and characterization of a novel bacteriophage φ4D lytic against Enterococcus faecalis strains.

In recent years, Enterococcus faecalis has emerged as an important opportunistic nosocomial pathogen capable of causing dangerous infections. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel antibacterial agents to control this pathogen. Bacteriophages have very effective bactericidal activity and several advantages over other antimicrobial agents and so far, no serious or irreversible side effects of phage therapy have been described.

[Peptides--a new strategy for combating viral infections].

The efficiency of peptides against many species of bacteria, fungi and parasites has been widely described. Recent studies on peptides have also demonstrated their antiviral activity. Some peptides exhibit direct virucidal activity, others disturb attachment of virus particles to the cell membrane surface or interfere with intracellular replication of virus.

Characterization of a bacteriophage, isolated from a cow with mastitis, that is lytic against Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are now the most commonly reported antibiotic-resistant bacterium in clinical settings. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel antibacterial agents to control this pathogen. Bacteriophage therapy is a potential alternative treatment for MRSA infections.

[Globalization and infectious diseases].

Globalization is a phenomenon characteristic of present times. It can be considered in various aspects: economic, environmental changes, demographic changes, as well as the development of new technologies. All these aspects of globalization have a definite influence on the emergence and spread of infectious diseases.

[Selected research problems of anthrax vaccine development].

The threat of bioterrorism with B. anthracis against civilian population is one of major concern. After successful bioterroristic attack in 2001 in US renewed research interest has prompted in the development of new and more effective vaccine against anthrax.

[The substances active against influenza virus. Possibilities and prospects of application].

Influenza, especially pandemic influenza, poses great threat to health and humans life of. Due to the antigenic drift and shift of the influenza virus, there is a constant requirement to accurately adjust contents of the vaccine to current subtype of the virus. As there is always a long period of time between the moment of detection of a new kind of influenza virus till a new vaccine is produced, the only protection for the people are antiviral drugs.

[Real time PCR hybridization for the rapid and specific identification of Francisella tularensis].

Tularemia is highly infectious and fatal zoonotic disease caused by Gram negative bacteria Francisella tularensis. The necessity to undergo medical treatment in early phase of illness in humans and possibility of making use of bacterial aerosol by terrorists in an attack create an urgent need to implement a rapid and effective method which enables to identify the agent. In our study two primers FopA F/R and hybridization probes FopA S1/S2 designed from fopA gene sequence, were tested for their potential applicability to identify F.

Development of a PCR assay for identification of the Bacillus cereus group species.

Aims: A PCR technique was developed as a reliable and rapid identification method for the Bacillus cereus group species, based on a unique conserved sequence of the motB gene (encoding flagellar motor protein) from B. cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus anthracis.

Methods And Results: Primer locations were identified against eight strains of the B.

[Phage lytic enzymes--new hope in battle against bacterial infections].

Bacteriophage lytic enzymes are produced during phage replication cycle in bacterial cells. Lysis of bacterial cell wall enables release of virus particles. Bakteriophage enzymes activity are highly specific, therefore they are able to destroy selected bacterial species, also resistant to antibiotics.

[The structure and mechanism of action of clostridial neurotoxins].

Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani produce highly potent neurotoxins, called botulinum toxins and tetanus toxin, respectively. The clostridial neurotoxins specifically bind to neuronal cells and disrupt neurotransmisser release by cleaving proteins involved in specific vesicle membrane fusion. Each toxin is synthesized as an inactive approximately 150 kDa single-chain protein.