World Health Organization launched the most ambitious and expensive international programme in history to eradicate smallpox once and for all. After many vicissitudes and no little heroism on the part of the workers sent into remote and hostile territories, the objective was accomplished amidst much jubilation. September of 1977 saw the last recorded case of naturally transmitted smallpox on th...

Advances in biological research likely will permit development of a new class of advanced biological warfare (ABW) agents engineered to elicit novel effects. In addition, biotechnology will have applications supporting ABW weaponization, dissemination, and delivery. Such new agents and delivery systems would provide a variety of new use options, expanding the BW paradigm. Although ABW agents wi...

Variola virus (VaV) is the causative agent of smallpox, one of the most devastating diseases encountered by man, that was eradicated in 1980. The deliberate release of VaV would have catastrophic consequences on global public health. However, the mechanisms that contribute to smallpox pathogenesis are poorly understood at the molecular level. The ability of viruses to evade the host defense mec...

Smallpox has been a major epidemic disease since the dawn of history. Caused by the variola virus – a large DNA virus, which is a strict human pathogen with no carrier state. The virus belongs to a related group of viruses causing pox-like infections in other mammals. The milder infections caused by these animal viruses in humans generate excellent immunity against smallpox, as does natural or ...