DNA -based Screening for Smallpox

Smallpox is caused by variola virus Once it was the most common disease for thousands of years. Mortality rate of 20 to 50% Those survived became disfigured by scars and/or disabled by blindness

Transmitted by direct contact, body fluids, contaminated bedding and clothing Spread through the air in enclosed buildings buses, trains Stable in aerosol, saliva Gets into the system through the respiratory tract 10 to 15 days for the symptom to show up.

Headache, back pain, delirium – first symptoms Into the bloodstream and infects the skin 3 days after the initial symptoms, skin infection results Rash starts as a small red dot and that become fluid filled pustule. Patient survives scabs are formed, which fall off, leaving pitted scars

Diagnosed based on the rash Conclusively diagnose small pox amplify DNA using PCR and Gel electrophoresis A strain of variola causes monkeypox native Africa. Transmitted by primate blood, bite. Can also be transmitted from human to human Cowpox transmitted by direct contact with infected udder

Virus has DNA and replicates in the host cell 190,000 base pairs and 200 genes

If the patient recovers, the patient becomes immune to the infection. 1790s Edward Jenner took pus from pustules of milkmaid with cowpox and injected into a healthy young boy. He infected the boy with scabs from smallpox. He did not get smallpox which confirmed the immunity. Was the birth of vaccination

World Health Organization started worldwide vaccination program to eradicate smallpox in the 1950s. In 1980 WHO declared that smallpox has been eradicated

Official fear the virus can be reintroduced by terrorists Most people would be susceptible since it is believed the vaccine wears off in ten years Sprayed into airports crowded buildings One case spread the disease worldwide

Possible bioterrorism scenario FBI issues terrorist alert Tighten security at sports event, concerts Health officials are asked to keep and eye out unusual medical cases 26 year old man, who attended a ball game, comes to the emergency room with high fever pustules Another family member had a similar problem

Serological test to diagnose smallpox was negative One of the physicians diagnosed the condition as mokeypox Smallpox or monkeypox (milder disease) Fluid from the pustule sent to CDC for PCR testing Our experiment is the simulation of the molecular biology test