Strengthening the United Nations Secretary-General's Mechanism to an alleged use of bioweapons through a quality-assured laboratory response

Sandra Appelt; Anna-Maria Rohleder; Cédric Invernizzi; Robert Mikulak; Annika Brinkmann; Andreas Nitsche; Maren Krüger; Martin B Dorner; Brigitte G Dorner; Holger C Scholz; Roland Grunow

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23296-5

Strengthening the United Nations Secretary-General's Mechanism to an alleged use of bioweapons through a quality-assured laboratory response

Nat Commun. 2021 May 25;12(1):3078. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23296-5.

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 1, ZBS 2 and ZBS 3), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
² Spiez Laboratory, Spiez, Switzerland.
³ Biological Policy Staff, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, U.S. Department of State, Washington, USA.
⁴ Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 1, ZBS 2 and ZBS 3), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany. ScholzH@rki.de.
⁵ Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 1, ZBS 2 and ZBS 3), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany. GrunowRo@rki.de.

Abstract

The cascade of innovations in biotechnology opens new pathways for biological warfare. The international laboratory network being developed under the UN Secretary-General’s Mechanism could provide vital evidence in case of an alleged biological attack.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biological Warfare / prevention & control
Biological Warfare Agents / legislation & jurisprudence*
Bioterrorism / prevention & control*
Guidelines as Topic / standards
Humans
International Cooperation
Laboratories / legislation & jurisprudence*
Laboratories / organization & administration
Laboratories / standards
Public Policy / legislation & jurisprudence*
United Nations / legislation & jurisprudence*
United Nations / organization & administration

Substances

Biological Warfare Agents