El Arma Invisible

La Amenaza Perenne de la Guerra Biológica Viral

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Introduction: The Smallest Enemy

Imagine a weapon capable of reproducing, mutating and traveling silently in a breath. Viruses, entities on the edge of life, have been shaped by evolution to infiltrate cells and unleash chaos. Today, this same biological effectiveness makes them ideal candidates for biological warfare, a threat as old as the Plague of Justinian (6th century) and as current as gene editing laboratories 4 8 . In 2018, the WHO cataloged viruses such as Dengue and Rift Valley Fever as potential weapons, reminding us that the line between natural pathogen and weapon is dangerously thin 4 .

1. History: From Arrows to Genes

1.1 Lessons from the Past

Biological warfare is not a modern invention. From the use of smallpox-infected corpses by the British against Native Americans in the 18th century, to Japanese experiments with Yersinia pestis (cause of plague) in World War II, pathogens have been dark companions of human conflict 4 .

Historical Timeline of Biological Warfare

6th Century

Plague of Justinian - First recorded pandemic used in biological warfare context

18th Century

British forces use smallpox-infected blankets against Native Americans

World War II

Japanese Unit 731 conducts experiments with plague and other pathogens

1.2 The Viral "Race" of the 20th Century

During the Cold War, the US and USSR investigated viruses such as Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE), chosen for its high infectivity (only 10 viral particles can cause disease) and ability to incapacitate troops 8 . Others, such as the Yellow Fever virus, were modified to increase their environmental resistance 4 .

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis

Highly infectious virus studied during Cold War for its potential to incapacitate soldiers with minimal dose.

Yellow Fever Virus

Modified to increase environmental stability, making it more dangerous as a potential biological weapon.

2. Modern Threats: Genetic Engineering and Bioterrorism

2.1 CRISPR: The Double-Edged Scalpel

The CRISPR-Cas9 technology allows rewriting viral genomes with precision. In 2023, researchers demonstrated how to insert bacterial toxin genes into adenoviruses, creating lethal hybrids 4 . The risk: "custom" viruses with high mortality, contagiousness and vaccine resistance 8 .

The same technology that could cure genetic diseases could be weaponized to create super-pathogens with unprecedented lethality and transmission capabilities.

2.2 The Ghost of Bioterrorism

Terrorist groups have attempted to acquire strains of Ebola or Smallpox. A 2018 report warned that 60% of biological attacks between 1970-2019 used viral pathogens 4 . The reason: they are more difficult to detect than bacteria and their spread can be camouflaged as natural outbreaks 8 .

Most Dangerous Viral Threats
  • Smallpox High Risk
  • Ebola (Zaire strain) High Risk
  • Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Medium Risk

3. Key Experiment: Creating a Virus "Shield" (or Sword?)

Experiment: Development of a CRISPR-modified bacteriophage against superbugs 6 .

Step-by-Step Methodology:

  1. Phage isolation: Lytic bacteriophages active against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were collected from hospital wastewater.
  2. Genetic editing: Using CRISPR-Cas9, a gene expressing the enzyme lysostaphin, capable of degrading bacterial biofilms, was inserted into the phage genome.
  3. In vitro tests: The modified phage was applied to A. baumannii cultures and in mouse models with sepsis.
Table 1: Efficacy Results of the Modified Phage
Model Bacterial Reduction Mouse Survival (72h)
In vitro culture 99.8% Not applicable
Mouse sepsis 95% 100% (vs. 20% in controls)
Analysis

The study demonstrated that phage engineering can overcome bacterial resistance. But there is a risk: the same system could modify human pathogenic viruses to increase their virulence 6 .

4. Defenses: Are We Prepared?

4.1 Global Surveillance

After COVID-19, the WHO promoted the GISAID platform to share pathogen genomic sequences. However, a 2025 study revealed that up to 40% of SARS-CoV-2 sequences contained errors, which distorts mutation analysis 7 .

4.2 The Ethical Dilemma

The Biological Weapons Convention (1972) prohibits their development, but lacks robust verification mechanisms. In addition, legitimate research (such as gene therapies) could be diverted to warlike uses 4 8 .

Table 2: Viruses with Greatest Potential as Biological Weapons
Virus Mortality Transmissibility Environmental Stability
Smallpox 30% High Moderate
Ebola (Zaire strain) 90% Moderate Low
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever 40% Medium High

5. Scientist's Toolkit: Tools in the Antiviral Fight

Table 3: Key Reagents for Biodefense Research
Reagent/Tool Function Dual Risk
CRISPR-Cas9 Systems Precise editing of viral genomes. Creation of "enhanced" viruses.
Viral Pseudotyping Study of viral entry into cells. Design of contagion vectors.
3D Organoids Model infections in human tissues. Pathogenicity testing.
DNA Synthesis Platforms Produce genetic sequences quickly. Reconstruction of extinct viruses.

Conclusion: A Future Under the Microscope

Viral biological warfare is a shadow that lengthens with each scientific advance. Against genetically edited viruses, our defenses depend on:

  1. International scientific transparency to detect suspicious outbreaks 7 .
  2. Investment in defensive technologies, such as rapid-response mRNA vaccines 5 .
  3. Global ethics: The scientific community must self-regulate to prevent the cure from becoming a threat 8 .

The next pandemic could be released, not only by nature, but by a test tube. - UN Report 4

In this invisible war, knowledge is our first and last shield.

References