Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

About: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is a government organization based out in Salisbury, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Burkholderia pseudomallei & Francisella tularensis. The organization has 926 authors who have published 1242 publications receiving 30091 citations. The organization is also known as: Dstl & [dstl].

The impact of canister geometry on chemical biological radiological and nuclear filter performance: A computational fluid dynamics analysis

Abstract: Steady-state axisymmetric simulations using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations have been carried out in order to optimize the performance of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuc...

Is there a role for green and sustainable chemistry in chemical disarmament and nonproliferation

Abstract: Strategic goals of green and sustainable chemistry in the context of chemical disarmament and nonproliferation are discussed, especially, goals relevant to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Concepts of importance in green chemistry appear throughout four core areas of chemical disarmament and nonproliferation: destruction of chemical weapons, nonproliferation and prevention of re-emergence of chemical weapons, assistance and protection and promoting international cooperation through peaceful uses of chemistry. Synergies between principles of green chemistry and those underpinning work in the aforementioned operational areas of the Chemical Weapons Convention are highlighted. It is concluded that while operationalisation of an international treaty and scientific research in green and sustainable chemistry appear quite different, aspirations of both activities are complementary. Both seek to realise and maintain a safer and more secure world, free of chemicals that can harm humans and the environment.

Virulence plasmid stability in environmentally occurring Bacillus anthracis from North East Turkey.

Abstract: The Bacillus anthracis virulence plasmid pXO2, which encodes for a polypeptide capsule, can be lost during long term laboratory storage. To determine if pXO2 is lost in nature we screened B. anthracis isolates obtained from B. anthracis spores from contaminated animal burial sites in Turkey for their ability to express a capsule upon primary culture. A total of 672 B. anthracis colonies were examined of which ten produced a mixed mucoid (capsule +ve)/non-mucoid (capsule -ve) phenotype and a further one colony yielded non-mucoid colonies upon repeated culture. Screening by PCR using pXO2 specific primers revealed that seven of these isolates had eliminated the plasmid. Of the four colonies which were positive by PCR, one regained the ability to express a capsule upon repeated culture suggesting that the defect was reversible. This is an important observation as capsule expression is a principal marker of virulence and in the absence of PCR serves as a key diagnostic marker. The results of this preliminary study suggest that pXO2 is lost in nature and that further studies are need to determine the mechanisms by which this occurs.

Extreme-ultraviolet observations of global coronal wave rotation

Abstract: We present evidence of global coronal wave rotation in EUV data from SOHO/EIT, STEREO/EUVI, and SDO/AIA. The sense of rotation is found to be consistent with the helicity of the source region (clockwise for positive helicity, anticlockwise for negative helicity), with the source regions hosting sigmoidal structures. We also study two coronal wave events observed by SDO/AIA where no clear rotation (or sigmoid) is observed. The selected events show supporting evidence that they all originate with flux rope eruptions. We make comparisons across this set of observations (both with and without clear sigmoidal structures). On examining the magnetic configuration of the source regions, we find that the nonrotation events possess a quadrupolar magnetic configuration. The coronal waves that do show a rotation originate from bipolar source regions.

The lymphatic system as a potential mechanism of spread of melioidosis following ingestion of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Abstract: Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, which is a Gram negative, facultative intracellular bacterium. Disease is prevalent in SE Asia and in northern Australia, as well as in other tropical and subtropical regions. Recently, there is an increasing awareness of the importance of bacterial ingestion as a potential route of infection, particularly in cases of unexplained origin of the disease. The marmoset is a New World Monkey (NWM) species that is being developed as an alternative NHP model to complement the more traditionally used Old World Monkeys (OWM). Models have been developed for the traditional routes of disease acquisition, subcutaneous and inhalational. This manuscript details the development and characterisation of an ingestion model of melioidosis. Dose-ranging study assessed the lethality of B. pseudomallei and disease progression was assessed by euthanizing animals at predetermined time points, 12, 36, 48 and 54 hours post-challenge. Challenge doses of greater than 6.2 x 106 cfu resulted in an acute, lethal, febrile disease. Following challenge the lung was the first organ, outside of the gastrointestinal tract, to become colonised. Enteritis (duodenitis, ileitis and/or jejunitis) was observed in sections of the small intestine from animals that succumbed to disease. However, the most severe pathological features were observed in the mesenteric lymph nodes from these animals. These findings are consistent with lymphatic draining as route of dissemination.