Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
A semiofficial history of the Directorate for Radiological, Chemical, and
Biological Defense Forces states that the “start of work in the USA in the
area of offensive biological weapons strengthened the apprehension of
the Government of the USSR with regard to their possible employment.”
According to the history, the Scientific Research Institute of Sanitation of
the MOD was therefore established in Zagorsk, incorporating a previ-
ously existing institute belonging to the Ministry of Health. In the 1960s
and 1970s this facility developed mass vaccination techniques (appar-
ently an aerosol vaccine) against smallpox. In the 1970s the facility devel-
oped a live oral smallpox vaccine. The oral vaccine work was carried out
under the direction of A. A. Vorobyev and V. A. Lebedinsky. Vaccines in
tablet form were also developed against Venezuelan equine encephalitis
(VEE). In 1986 this facility was transferred to the virology section of the
MOD's Scientific Research Institute of Microbiology. The Zagorsk facility
was renamed the Virology Center in 1995.
55
Offensive Activities
Soviet scientists conducted BW-related research on a wide variety of anti-
personnel, antiplant, and antilivestock agents. They reportedly weapon-
ized and produced on a large scale a number of agents, including
Bacillus
anthracis,
Marburg virus,
Yersinia pestis,
and variola virus. According to
Alibek, the Soviet Union had four “major”
Bacillus anthracis
production
facilities, located at Kurgan, Penza, Sverdlovsk, and Stepnogorsk.
56
A significant amount of attention was devoted to manipulating the ge-
netic properties of bacteria and viruses, including the transfer or modi-
fication of peptides to destroy the immune system,
57
attempts to geneti-
cally modify pathogens to induce the production of endorphins, and the
transfer and modification of genes for lethal factors into other bacteria or
viruses as part of attempts to create genetically engineered pathogens.
Research was also carried out on the mechanisms by which autoim-
munity could be induced.
58
In the 1980s Obolensk scientists reportedly
genetically modified
Legionella
by inserting genes that triggered autoim-
mune responses against myelin.
59
When tested on laboratory animals,
the altered organism caused brain damage and paralysis and proved
nearly 100 percent lethal.
60
Biopreparat worked to develop pathogenic strains that were resistant
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