• Objectives:
    The main objective of the Action is to increase knowledge on BSL3 and BSL4 agents in order to support the development of more accurate diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics, and to better understand epidemiology of these highly pathogenic micro-organisms that potentially can be used as biological weapons. In the United States, several research laboratories are dealing with fast identification and characterization of micro-organisms that can be used as biological weapons.
    They receive massive support from their government to develop tests that will aid politicians in decision-making in the event that the organisms, described in this project, would be misused. They are also heavily involved in development of further treatments and vaccines for these microorganisms. The outcome of all this research is, however, mainly covered by secrecy and is of little help to the European Community. This means that when something happens with these microorganisms, Europe would completely depend on the good will of the United States. Moreover, some live microorganisms are only available outside of the EU (smallpox). Therefore we will also collaborate with these institutes, to obtain the necessary information on these organisms, enabling the network to also have an output on these.

    An investment into this subject of this magnitude would be very ineffective if the individual members of the EU had to do this individually. Moreover, not all technical and equipment possibilities are covered by the individual states, especially for the smaller member states and the newcomers into the EU, such an investment would be financially very difficult to cope with. However, in Europe, there are several laboratories capable of giving a major contribution into developing such research, though they are scattered over the different member states. These factors point to the need for a strategic collaboration of groups throughout Europe as proposed in this COST Action in order to cover the possibilities of studying these human pathogens.

    Several culture collections and laboratory facilities are also scattered over Europe, so it is absolutely necessary to unite the different laboratories to ensure that all means for success are brought together. The existing research capacities of the different laboratories, active in the field of human, animal medicine and defence, who are dealing with the same microorganisms will be united in this COST Action. Also a firm connection with a group of technologists will be established. This together with additional help of people specialised in certain research items like genomics, proteomics, glycomics and antigenicity will make this COST Action unique in its capabilities. Moreover additional expertise of the several researchers in this COST Action in the field of antibiotic resistance, vaccine development and immunology will make this project unique in its kind and enabling the through study of these rare but highly pathogenic and emerging microorganisms.

    Several European-laboratories that have dealt with the “anthrax threat” that started in 2001 were not sufficiently prepared to handle the demand. Several laboratories also had different backgrounds, ranging from veterinary institutions through human medical institutions to defence institutions. Not all laboratories were able to perform fast and accurate detection/diagnosis of the agent. This COST Action is already supported by several of these laboratories and by networking them we would gather the experience of the past and offer them, in collaboration with other partners, several new means to enable fast diagnosis and intervention. Many of these laboratories also have other experiences than working on the biological weapons aspect. Experience concerning taxonomy, antibiotic resistance, vaccine development and virulence is also present, enlarging the possibilities behind the detection and diagnosis of these agents. Therefore the tools developed in COST Action will also allow their use in this diverse range of research applications. This Action will create an overall comprehensive and applicable knowledge base concerning these particular microorganisms. It is also important that this network, once created can easily extend to other microorganisms specified; this is already present for some of the partners, who are dealing with several organisms important for public health.