Applied Biosecurity: Global Health, Biodefense, and Developing Technologies


Book Description

This book describes an adaptable biothreat assessment process to complement overall biorisk management programs, incorporating threat management and the unique natures of biological assets. Further, this book examines the nexus between public health, international security, and developing technologies, building a case for augmenting biosecurity to levels beyond the laboratory constraints. With the face of biological and biomedical sciences changing, this book describes how with proper biosecurity development, these can become assets, rather than liabilities, to secure our world from natural and man-made biological disasters. The world is changing rapidly with respect to developing threats, such as terrorism, and dual-use technologies, such as synthetic biology, that are challenging how we think about biosafety and biosecurity. Further, the fields of public health and international security are colliding, as both of these share the common enemy: intentional or natural biological incidents. To date, biosecurity has been limited to laboratory-level application, and complicating efforts, and lacks credentialed biosecurity professionals skilled in both the biological sciences and threat management techniques. The result is a fragmented field of practice, with tremendous need, from the lab to the outbreak. Underpinning these principles is the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, providing a historic milestone to examine biosecurity through a global lens. This book describes biosecurity as a set of practices and principles to be augmented out of the constrained laboratory environment, and applied to larger efforts, such as international threat reduction and biological incident management.




Aeromicrobiology


Book Description

Aeromicrobiology provides a detailed and systematic analysis of the microbial communities and toxins collectively called bioaerosols that can be found in air. It provides information on the basics of Aeromicrobiology, the fate and transport of microorganisms in air, and the fundamental differences between intramural and extramural Aeromicrobiology. Leaning heavily on the current state of science, detailed information on the sampling and analysis of bioaerosol samples is provided. Subsequent chapters comprehensively discuss various airborne microbial groups and toxins, while the final chapter is dedicated to bioaerosol control strategies, biosafety, and biosecurity. There are limited resources on Aeromicrobiology. In rare instances where there are resources on Aeromicrobiology, they are often restricted to chapters in books or even supplementary materials. The emergence of new airborne pathogens, the aerosolization of microorganisms hitherto believed not to be airborne, and the proliferation of technologies for sampling, analysis, and control of bioaerosols makes it imperative for this title, which streamlines and succinctly presents the new body of knowledge in the field. - Leans heavily on current state-of-the-art technologies used in sampling and analysis of bioaerosol samples such as metagenomics and sensor-based, hybrid technologies, among others - Dedicates considerable attention to airborne and droplet-borne viruses, against the background of SARS-CoV-2 and related pathogens - Comprehensively attends to regulatory aspects of bioaerosol control, highlighting various policies and regulations aimed at achieving biosecurity and curbing bioterrorism - Helps researchers and policy makers in various fields who are often confronted with the need for basic information delivered in seamless style without loss of essential content




Managing Biosecurity Across Borders


Book Description

Managing biosecurity is everybody’s business. The book’s multi-site, multi-sectoral research contributes to an holistic, evidence-based strategy for managing plant biosecurity in complex contexts. The intent is to provide a starting point for all stakeholders in the biosecurity endeavor – policy personnel at all levels of governance, planners and regional developers, non-government organizations, community groups and individuals – to plan localized strategies that ‘fit’ national needs and constraints and the way people live their lives. In putting forward a ‘strategy’, we draw on many disciplines and cultural perspectives on a problem that is fundamentally a multidisciplinary and global issue. At the same time, the contributing researchers remain aware that such a strategy is always subject to local contextual factors and influences, indigenous and local knowledge and culture, and is regarded as a tool for planning, always subject to change.




Food Safety and Preservation


Book Description

Food Safety and Preservation: Modern Biological Approaches to Improving Consumer Health explores the most recent and investigated hot topics in food safety, microbial contamination, food-borne diseases and advanced preservation methods. It brings together the significant, evidence-based scientific progress of various approaches to improve the safety and quality of foods, also offering solutions to help address food industry challenges. Recent studies and technological advancements in biological control are presented to control foodborne pathogens. In addition, analytical methods for reducing potential biological hazards make this book essential to researchers, scientists, technologists and grad students. - Covers all aspects of food contamination, from food degradation, to food-borne diseases - Examines validated, biological control approaches to reduce microbial and chemical contamination - Includes detailed discussions of risk and safety assessments in food preservation




Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High-Containment Biological Laboratories


Book Description

During July 10-13, 2011, 68 participants from 32 countries gathered in Istanbul, Turkey for a workshop organized by the United States National Research Council on Anticipating Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High-containment Biological Laboratories. The United States Department of State's Biosecurity Engagement Program sponsored the workshop, which was held in partnership with the Turkish Academy of Sciences. The international workshop examined biosafety and biosecurity issues related to the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of high-containment biological laboratories- equivalent to United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention biological safety level 3 or 4 labs. Although these laboratories are needed to characterize highly dangerous human and animal pathogens, assist in disease surveillance, and produce vaccines, they are complex systems with inherent risks. Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High-Containment Biological Laboratories summarizes the workshop discussion, which included the following topics: Technological options to meet diagnostic, research, and other goals; Laboratory construction and commissioning; Operational maintenance to provide sustainable capabilities, safety, and security; and Measures for encouraging a culture of responsible conduct. Workshop attendees described the history and current challenges they face in their individual laboratories. Speakers recounted steps they were taking to improve safety and security, from running training programs to implementing a variety of personnel reliability measures. Many also spoke about physical security, access controls, and monitoring pathogen inventories. Workshop participants also identified tensions in the field and suggested possible areas for action.




SIPRI Yearbook 2011


Book Description

The 'SIPRI Yearbook 2011' analyses developments in security and conflicts, military spending, non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament worldwide over the past year.




21st Century Global Health Diplomacy


Book Description

Global health diplomacy begins with a recognition that the most effective international health interventions are carried out with sensitivity to historical, political, social, economic, and cultural differences. It focuses on the interplay of globalization, economic interdependence, social justice, and the enlightened self-interests of nations. Global health diplomacy can help sustain peace and economic stability in a globalized world, but the skills necessary for this endeavour are not taught in standard health sciences curricula or in Foreign Service academies. However, they bear directly on the success of international health cooperation, be it from the global north to the global south or south-to-south cooperation. Global health diplomacy can be a critical pathway to assure good global governance and improved international relations among the great powers and between these powers and the developing world. It can be a mechanism to avert conflict and to augment health, peace, solidarity, economic progress, and multinational cooperation.




Tactical Sciences for Biosecurity in Animal and Plant Systems


Book Description

Agriculture is often under the threat of invasive species of animal pests and pathogens that do harm to crops. It is essential to have the best methods and tools available to prevent this harm. Biosecurity is a mixture of institutions, policies, and science applications that attempts to prevent the spread of unhealthy pests. Tactical Sciences for Biosecurity in Animal and Plant Systems focuses on the tactical sciences needed to succeed in the biosecurity objectives of preventing plant and animal pathogens from entering or leaving the United States. This book explores a divergence of tactics between plant and animal exotic disease response. Covering topics such as animal pests and pathogens, tactical management, and early detection, this book is an essential resource for researchers, academicians, university faculty, government biosecurity practitioners, customs officers, clinical scientists, and students.




Laboratory Biosecurity Handbook


Book Description

In recognition of the vital need to protect legitimate facilities from the theft and misuse of dangerous pathogens and toxins, the Laboratory Biosecurity Handbook serves as a guide to the implementation of pathogen protection programs. The first sections of the book offer an historical overview of biological weapons activity, key principles of biosecurity and its integration into existing frameworks, as well as a discussion of biosecurity risk. Later sections discuss biosecurity risk assessments, describe detailed components of a biosecurity program, and offer a graded approach to biosecurity through multiple risk levels. The work also covers risk prioritization of biological assets and biosecurity training.