Biological Agents

Table of Contents

• What are Biological Agents?
• How do Biological Agents Affect Us?
• List of Biological Agents
• Bacterial Biological Agents
• Chlamydial Biological Agents
• Rickettsial Biological Agents
• Viral Agents
• Mycotic Biological Agents
• Biological Toxins
• Biological Vectors

A biological agent is a term used to describe microorganisms as well as toxins derived from biological sources which can be used purposefully as weapons in biological warfare or bioterrorism. Most of these agents are found in the natural environment while some are specially engineered in laboratories.

Read More: Microbes

Biological agents have the potential to be detrimental to human health. Effects range from mild allergic reactions to debilitation, disability and even death. Moreover, most biological agents are rather imperceptible and their effects are realized much too late. Biological agents can also affect plants and animals as most are susceptible to the effects. Historically, biowarfare has employed the use of fungal toxins, plants, human cadavers, animal carcasses, faecal matter and even disease-contaminated clothing.

Biological agents can be classified into the following:

• Bacterial Biological Agents
• Chlamydial Biological Agents
• Rickettsial Biological Agents
• Viral Agents
• Mycotic Biological Agents
• Biological Toxins
• Biological Vectors

As the name suggests, these bio-agents are bacteria. A few of the most well-known bacterial bioagents are:

• Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
• Vibrio cholerae (Cholera)
• Corynebacterium diphtheriae (Diphtheria)

Among the most potent chlamydial biological agents is Chlamydophila psittaci. This organism causes a disease called Psittacosis, a zoonotic infectious disease. It is also known as parrot fever or ornithosis as it is contracted from infected parrots such as macaws and cockatiels.

Rickettsial biological agents includes:

• Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever)
• Rickettsia prowazekii (Typhus)

Well-known viral agents includes:

• Japanese encephalitis virus (Japanese B encephalitis)
• Rift Valley fever virus (Rift Valley fever)
• Variola virus (Smallpox)

Coccidioides immitis is a mycotic bio-agent. It causes a disease known as Coccidiomycosis (also known as desert rheumatism and Valley fever).

Biological toxins, as the name suggests, are derived from living organisms. Some of the most potent are as follows:

• Ricin (from castor bean – Ricinus communis)
• Tetrodotoxin (from various marine bacteria)
• Botulinum toxin (from bacteria – Clostridium botulinum)

Biological vectors carry causative organisms of disease. The most well-known are:

• Mosquito (Yellow fever, Malaria, Dengue)
• Rat Flea (Plague)

FAQs on Biological Agents

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