Biomaterial Database

[Should the human smallpox virus (variola) be destroyed?]. 2004

Morten Tryland

Seksjon for arktisk veterinaermedisin, Institutt for mattrygghet og infeksjonsbiologi, Norges veterinaerhøgskole, Postboks 6204, 9292 Tromsø. morten.tryland@veths.no

Smallpox, caused by variola virus, was a terror for civilizations around the world for more than 3000 years. Although the disease is eradicated, hundreds of variola virus isolates are kept in two WHO-collaborating facilities, one in USA and one in Russia. In spite of several agreements on destruction, it is now doubtful that these virus isolates will be destroyed. Variola virus may exist in other places and may be used as a biological weapon in war or for terror. Further research on variola virus is thus essential in order to achieve a better understanding of the pathogenicity of the virus and to develop new anti-variola virus vaccines and antiviral drugs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012899	Smallpox	An acute, highly contagious, often fatal infectious disease caused by an orthopoxvirus characterized by a biphasic febrile course and distinctive progressive skin eruptions. Vaccination has succeeded in eradicating smallpox worldwide. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Alastrim,Variola,Variola Minor,Minor, Variola,Minors, Variola,Variola Minors,Variolas
D012900	Smallpox Vaccine	A VACCINIA VIRUS vaccine used for immunization against SMALLPOX. It is now recommended only for laboratory workers exposed to SMALLPOX VIRUS. Certain countries continue to vaccinate those in the military service. Rare complications most often associated with older generation smallpox vaccines include VACCINIA, secondary bacterial infections, and ENCEPHALOMYELITIS. Because MONKEYPOX VIRUS and SMALLPOX VIRUS are both ORTHOPOXVIRUS and are closely related smallpox vaccines provide effective CROSS-PROTECTION against MPOX (MONKEYPOX) (https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/smallpox-vaccine.html).	Monkey Pox Vaccine,Monkeypox Vaccine,Monkeypox and Smallpox Vaccine,Mpox Vaccine,Mpox and Smallpox Vaccine,Small Pox Vaccine,Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine,Smallpox and Mpox Vaccine,Vaccinia Vaccine,Vaccine, Monkey Pox,Vaccine, Monkeypox,Vaccine, Mpox,Vaccine, Small Pox,Vaccine, Smallpox,Vaccine, Vaccinia
D014944	World Health Organization	A specialized agency of the United Nations designed as a coordinating authority on international health work; its aim is to promote the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all peoples.	Organization, World Health,WHO
D049673	History, 20th Century	Time period from 1901 through 2000 of the common era.	20th Century History,20th Cent. History (Medicine),20th Cent. History of Medicine,20th Cent. Medicine,Historical Events, 20th Century,History of Medicine, 20th Cent.,History, Twentieth Century,Medical History, 20th Cent.,Medicine, 20th Cent.,20th Cent. Histories (Medicine),20th Century Histories,Cent. Histories, 20th (Medicine),Cent. History, 20th (Medicine),Century Histories, 20th,Century Histories, Twentieth,Century History, 20th,Century History, Twentieth,Histories, 20th Cent. (Medicine),Histories, 20th Century,Histories, Twentieth Century,History, 20th Cent. (Medicine),Twentieth Century Histories,Twentieth Century History
D023482	Bioterrorism	The use of biological agents in TERRORISM. This includes the malevolent use of BACTERIA; VIRUSES; or other BIOLOGICAL TOXINS against people, ANIMALS; or PLANTS.	Biocrime,Biological Terrorism,Biocrimes,Terrorism, Biological
D035843	Biomedical Research	Research that involves the application of the natural sciences, especially biology and physiology, to medicine.	Medical Research,Experimental Medicine,Investigational Medicine,Investigative Medicine,Research, Biomedical,Research, Medical,Medicine, Experimental,Medicine, Investigational,Medicine, Investigative