Agents of biological weapons are microorganisms or pathogens that usually cause diseases and various medical conditions in humans, plants, or animals upon being deliberately dispersed in a given location. Essentially, the use of biological agents as weapons of mass destruction before the twentieth century occurred in three forms. One of them involved deliberate contamination of water and food using contagious or poisonous materials. The second form involved using weapons systems that contained plants, animals, biological toxins, and microbes. The third form comprised of using persons and fabrics that were regarded as being biologically inoculated (Ippolito et al., 2016). As an agent of the biological weapon of mass destruction, bacillus anthracis bacterium can cause loss of human life and livestock, destruction to the environment, as well as a loss of property.
Agent and Description of Historical Development
A bacillus anthracis bacterium is a biological agent that is responsible for causing or transmitting anthrax. Presently, Bacillus anthracis is among the most dangerous and deadly agents that can be used in the form of biological weapons. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the classification of this agent falls under Category A, which implies that it is capable of posing a considerable level of risk to national security ( Easterday et al., 2020) .
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The discovery of bacillus anthracis bacterium was made in 1850 by Robert Koch, who was a German physician. During this discovery, the bacillus anthracis bacterium was grown in culture plates before being injected into animals, where it was found that it was responsible for causing the anthrax disease. Military interest in using this particular agent as a form of biological weapon started during the First World War. At that time, bacillus anthracis bacterium was used by Germans as a contaminant for livestock and animal feed. The initial mass use of this agent to cause anthrax as bioweapon a weapon happened between 1932 and 1945 when in Manchuria when there was an alleged deliberate infection of about 10,000 prisoners by the Japanese (Ippolito et al., 2016).
During the Second World War, various allied forces led by the Germans were involved in the experimentation of the possibilities and probability of using anthrax as an effective biological weapon. Research concerning the adoption and application of this particular agent as weapons in wars was continued by the United States after the Second World War. In this respect, the research was confined to the establishment and development of ways of having a more robust defense against any biological attack launched through this agent. During the 1990s, this agent was used in the form of anthrax powder were there were trials by terrorists to release it in Tokyo with the hope of achieving fatal outcomes (Willingham, 2018) . However, these attempts were unsuccessful owing to the expensive and complicated process required in the production and use of large volumes of powdered anthrax.
A case where the agent has been Used
A case where bacillus anthracis bacterium agent has been used involved the occupation of China by the Japanese between 1932 and 1945 in Manchuria. In this particular case, the Japanese reportedly experimented utilization of anthrax spores as a form of biological weapon (Richardt, 2018). During this time, there was a deliberate infection of about 10,000 prisoners through bacillus anthracis bacterium agent, which is believed to have led to their deaths.
Description of the Physical/Chemical/Biological Properties of the Agent
As an agent of a biological weapon of mass destruction, bacillus anthracis bacterium is characterized by several physical, chemical, and biological properties. Such properties include intrinsic features that are capable of influencing their potential for consideration during wars (Ippolito et al., 2016) . As such, these properties include stability, lethality, and period of incubation, transmissibility, virulence, pathogenicity, toxicity, and infectivity, among others. The uniqueness of this particular agent is its ability to multiply and increase in the victim's body.
Stability
This property represents the viability of the agent to survive and remain active despite being influenced by different factors in the environment, such as sunlight, temperature, atmospheric pollution, and relative humidity, among others (Bilkiss et al., 2019) . The measurement of this property may be quantified and represented as the agent’s rate of decay.
Lethality
This property indicates the relative ease or convenience with which this agent is capable of resulting in death whenever it is used in attacking a given susceptible population.
Period of Incubation
This property represents the quantity of toxin or amount of microorganisms that would be expected to penetrate the victim's body before initiating infection or causing intoxication. After the period of incubation, the agent multiplies and replicates during the period between initial exposure and symptoms being seen (Ippolito et al., 2016) .
Transmissibility
In some cases, the biological agent may be transmitted either directly or indirectly from one person to another. Indirect transmission occurs through arthropod vectors that are also responsible for the increased spreading of the diseases being caused (Willingham, 2018). This propriety comprises the relative ease through which the passing of agent happens from one person to another.
Virulence
This property is a reflection of the level of severity associated with the disease caused by the agent. Various strains and microorganisms are likely to have different levels of severity.
Pathogenicity
This property is a reflection and indication of the ability of the agent to pass diseases through a susceptible host.
Toxicity
This property is a reflection of the extent of severity associated with the incapacitation or disease resulting from the agent.
Infectivity
The infectivity property of the agent indicates the possibility and ease with which the establishment of microorganisms occurs in host species (Bilkiss et al., 2019) . Agents with higher levels of infectivity are capable of causing diseases with fewer organisms. Besides, a higher level of infectivity does not often imply that signs and symptoms of diseases appear quickly.
The Harmful Impact of the Agent
Bacillus anthracis bacteria are the most common agents of bioweapons in the sense that they are capable of moving across long distances through the air before infecting humans, livestock, and several other natural resources. This agent of a biological weapon is capable of adversely impacting the health of its victims in several ways that range from allergic and mild reactions to extremely serious health conditions or death. Biological weapons are also capable of causing harmful impact or destroying the various components of the environment, such as soil, air, and water among others. Contamination of food is part of powerful techniques that can be used by attackers to propagate bioweapons. Besides, water can be used in spreading several lethal and infectious diseases (Bilkiss et al., 2019).
Livestock can also be targeted and adversely impacted by this agent of biological weapons. According to the insights provided by Easterday et al. (2020) , agents of b iological weapons are regarded as being among the most dangerous of the weapons that are associated with mass destruction. Essentially, the impact of the bacillus anthracis bacterium agent of biological weapons comprises catastrophic effects on the environment and biodiversity. Agents of bioweapons are capable of spreading germs and pathogens that responsible for causing epidemiological illnesses for various living organisms.
Mechanism of Action and how the agent does Damage
The mechanism of action for this agent of bioweapon involves direct or indirect infection through mycotoxins. The agent causes damage by targeting humans or livestock. Animals and humans encounter this agent through contact with mucous membranes and skin, as well as through ingestion and inhalation. Effective agents for bioweapons can cause severe damage to targeted farms or populations. The bacillus anthracis bacteria acting as agents of bioweapon can be easily obtained from the environment owing to their highly dispersible nature. Attacks on humans enhance the necessity for the consideration of the role played by bacillus anthracis bacterium as agents of a bioweapon that can be used for mass destruction (Willingham, 2018) . The implication for the mechanism of action displayed by this particular agent involves the deliberate cause of suffering, destruction, and loss of lives. This agent may cause damage by being from one person to another as well as through arthropod vectors that are largely responsible for the increased spreading of the diseases that target certain populations or livestock.
Protective Equipment that should be Employed by First Responders
The protective equipment that should be employed by first responders while contending with this particular agent of biological weapons includes Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR). Besides, it is critical for the first responders to fully comply with all elements stipulated in the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard if they decide to use Full Face Air-Purifying Respirators (APR). All first responders should have undergone training on OSHA air, and bloodborne pathogen as well as considers taking required universal precautions while contending with this bioweapon agent. Commercially available detection devices for this particular agent include immune and optoelectric biosensors. These two devices are crucial for the identification and effective management of the bacillus anthracis bacterium bioweapon agents by Consequence Management responding agencies (Bilkiss et al., 2019).
Current use or Development of the Agent
According to Easterday et al. (2020), the current development and use of bacillus anthracis bacterium to its maximum potential is linked to the introduction of highly efficient and effective techniques of genome engineering. Through gene-editing tools and systems such as CRISPR/Cas9, researchers and scientists in Russia have managed to accurately, flexible, and efficiently modify DNAs of organisms to create biological weapons. In this regard, the development of this agent was utilized to its maximum potential by taking advantage of its ease of manufacture, stability, and ease of spread and dissemination using the aerosol form. Moreover, it is worth noting that there is a considerable level of difficulties is associated with the prediction of a full range of potential attainment, but CRISPR is more convenient and makes it easy for scientists who are determined to changes the functionality and operation of organisms.
Treaty/Policies Covering the Agent’s Prohibition or Controlling and Availability or Use
The 1899 Hague Convention with concerning Laws and Customs of War
The 1925 Convention meant for the Supervising International Trade of Arms
The Geneva Protocol involving the Prevention of the Use of Anthrax, Bacteriological Methods, Asphyxiating, or other Gases in Warfare ( Moore, 2016)
The 2001 (OPBW) Organization for the Prohibition of Biological Weapons
The 2016 Geneva BWC Review Conference
Conclusion
In summing up, bacillus anthracis bacterium is capable of causing loss of human life and livestock, destruction to the environment, as well as the loss of property as an agent of the biological weapon of mass destruction. The implication for the mechanism of action displayed by this particular agent involves the deliberate attack during incidences of war, as has been demonstrated through its historical development.
References
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