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encephalitis, endocrine dysfunction and more. And despite the variety of pathogens and the range of body systems that are affected, in each case the beginning point of the illness is the individual cell. encephalitis, endocrine dysfunction and more. And despite the organisms, including humans. To help you appreciate the danger variety of pathogens and the range of body systems that are of bacterial toxins, we present a paragraph from David S. affected, in each case the beginning point of the illness is the Goodsell's wonderfully lucid book Our Molecular Nature individual cell. (Copernicus, New York, 1996): "A single molecule of the toxin made by diphtheria bacteria can The three pathogens that play a part in "influenza" kill an entire cell. Botulism and tetanus toxins are millions of At this point we want to elaborate upon the three pathogens times more toxic than chemical poisons like cyanide. These which contribute to the symptoms which collectively are labelled bacterial toxins are designed for deadliness—they are the most "influenza". toxic substances known. They combine a specific targeting mechanism, allowing the toxins to seek out and find susceptible - The bacterium cells with the toxicity only possible with an enzyme. Once inside We start with the bacterium, which is essentially a one-celled an unfortunate cell, the toxin jumps from molecule to molecule, animal. Technically, this pathogen is summarised as "any of a destroying one after the next until the cell is killed." (pp. 113-14) group of prokaryotic unicellu- Here, although we are not lar round, spiral, or rod-shape ROR concerned with diphtheria, we single-celled microorganisms Enea need to know that bacterial that are aggregated into infection often involves colonies or motile by means of bacterial pneumonia, and it is flagella, that live in soil, water, usually the latter, followed by organic matter, or the bodies other blood and nervous system of plants and animals, and that complications, which kills the are autotrophic, saprophytic, or oes influenza patient rather than the * etic Ace — parasitic in nutrition an wie dene ITA influenza virus itself. important because of their bio- Riosame PAaricers 20a Before we leave the chemical effects and patho- f bacterium, there is one more genicity". (Webster's New factor which we must mention Explorer Medical Dictionary, 1999, p. 60) As an animal, the bacterium has the capacity to ingest nutrients and process that intake to generate the energy necessary if it is to fulfil its inherent functions. However, it also is able to reproduce itself and hence has within itself the necessary DNA genetic code of nucleic acids. At this point, refer to figure 1 where we sketch in barest outline a rod-shaped bacterium and an influenza virus. Note that we have presented the bacterium and the virus as and indeed emphasise. Back in 1946 Dr George Merck, while still director of US biological warfare weapons research and development, reported to the secretary of defence that US researchers had learned how to isolate the bacterial toxins in crystalline form. This meant that it would no longer be necessary to transport live, toxin-carrying bacteria to an "enemy" in order to infect him. One need only take the disease- causing toxin in a crystalline form and convey it to the target by insect vector or by aerosol or by the food chain. Thus, one approximately the same size. HA GENE could spread a bacterial illness This is not the fact in reality. (VA PRovem without leaving any trace of a Bacteria range in size from . ‘i bacterium! several thousandths of an inch Here: COPLASMA RHACM OEMAL DMA It is at this point that the to several hundredths of an Canadian government, the BRfckewer ty, g: doen + sanaw inch in length. The average Canadian military and Queen's virus, on the other hand, is 10 University enter the picture. to 100 times smaller than the Figure 1: Sketch of a rod-shaped bacterium and an influenza virus When the US learned how to bacterium. isolate the bacterial toxin in a Although there are exceptions, the bacterium is generally bound crystalline form that could be carried by mosquitoes, it asked the by a non-living cell wall to protect itself and contain the fluid Canadian government to assist it. The Canadians agreed, and interior called the cytoplasm. Floating in the cytoplasm is the ill- started breeding 100 million mosquitoes a month at the Dominion defined blueprint for reproduction, called the DNA, and Parasite Laboratory in Belleville, Ontario. Then they shipped throughout the cytoplasm are ribosomal particles which are the these mosquitoes to Dr Reid of the Biology Department at Queen's working drawings, called the RNA, for the manufacture or University in Kingston, Ontario. There, Dr Reid contaminated the assembly of essential proteins and enzymes. mosquitoes with various disease toxins and handed them over to Although the vast majority of bacteria are either innocuous or the Canadian Army to share with the US military for testing upon even helpful in the metabolic processes of life, certain bacteria hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting citizens of the two contain toxins which do great damage to the living cells of other —_ countries. The three pathogens that play a part in "influenza" At this point we want to elaborate upon the three pathogens which contribute to the symptoms which collectively are labelled "influenza". the 30 + NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2006 -CW¥AaSM ote AL OANA BRfckewer ty, g: doen + sanaw Figure 1: Sketch of a rod-shaped bacterium and an influenza virus www.nexusmagazine.com