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Ch. 24 - Pathogenic DNA Viruses
Bauman - Microbiology with Diseases by Taxonomy 6th Edition
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBauman 6th EditionCh. 24 - Pathogenic DNA VirusesProblem 2
Chapter 24, Problem 2

You have been given a large grant to do postgraduate research on live smallpox viruses. Where in the world would you find samples?

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1
Understand that smallpox virus (Variola virus) was declared eradicated worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980 after a successful global vaccination campaign.
Recognize that due to its eradication and potential use as a bioterrorism agent, live smallpox virus samples are not available for general research and are strictly controlled.
Identify that the only officially recognized repositories for live smallpox virus samples are two high-security laboratories: one in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, in Atlanta) and one in Russia (State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology, VECTOR Institute).
Note that access to these samples is highly restricted and regulated by international agreements and national laws, requiring special permissions and security clearances.
Conclude that if you were to conduct legitimate postgraduate research involving live smallpox virus, you would need to collaborate with or gain access through one of these two authorized facilities under strict biosafety and biosecurity protocols.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Smallpox Virus Eradication and Current Status

Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 after a successful global vaccination campaign. Since then, naturally occurring smallpox virus samples no longer exist in the environment, making live virus samples extremely rare and controlled.
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Official Smallpox Virus Repositories

Live smallpox virus samples are officially stored only in two high-security laboratories: the CDC in Atlanta, USA, and the VECTOR Institute in Russia. These repositories are strictly regulated to prevent any unauthorized access or release.
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Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulations

Handling live smallpox virus requires adherence to stringent biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) protocols due to its high lethality and contagiousness. International laws and agreements govern research on such pathogens to ensure global safety.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Which of the following statements is true concerning variola major?

a. It carries a mortality rate of less than 1%.

b. It affects internal organs before appearing on the skin.

c. The causative virus has been totally eradicated from Earth.

d. The skin lesions it causes are smooth, waxy, tumorlike nodules on the face.

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Textbook Question

Name the disease shown in each photo.


a. <IMAGE>

b. <IMAGE>

c. <IMAGE>

d. <IMAGE>

e. <IMAGE>

f. <IMAGE>

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Textbook Question

The Smith family seems to get fever blisters regularly. Suggest an explanation for this observation.

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Textbook Question

What was the difference in the effects of variola major and variola minor?

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Textbook Question

For which of the following reasons are most animal poxviruses unable to infect humans?

a. Affected animals are not in frequent contact with humans.

b. The human immune system makes it impossible for the foreign viral particles to

reproduce effectively.

c. Attachment to human cells is unlikely.

d. Human cells lack the necessary enzymes for infection.

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Textbook Question

The initial flat, red skin lesions of poxviruses are called____.

a. macules

b. papules

c. pustules

d. pocks

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