Question

Most widely used bioweapon is

• A. Bacillus subtilis
• B. Pseudomonas putida
• C. Bacillus anthracis
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Bacillus anthracis

There are five different categories of biological agents that could be weaponized and used in warfare or terrorism. These include:

Bacteria- single-cell organisms that cause diseases such as anthrax, brucellosis, tularemia, and plague.

Rickettsiae- microorganisms that resemble bacteria but differ in that they are intracellular parasites that reproduce inside cells.

Typhus and Q fever are examples of diseases caused by rickettsia organisms.

Viruses- intracellular parasites that can be weaponized to cause diseases such as Venezuelan equine encephalitis.

Fungi pathogens that can be weaponized for use against crops to cause such diseases as rice blast, cereal rust, wheat smut, and potato blight.

Toxins- poisons that can be weaponized after extraction from snakes, insects, spiders, marine organisms, plants, bacteria, fungi, and animals.

An example of a toxin is ricin, which is derived from the seed of the castor bean.