culture of Bacillus anthracis, the causative<unk>  of anthrax A<unk>  (also called bio-agent,<unk>  threat<unk> ,<unk>  warfare<unk> ,<unk>  weapon, or bioweapon) is a bacterium, virus, protozoan, parasite, fungus, chemical, or toxin that can be used purposefully as a weapon in bioterrorism or<unk>  warfare (BW). In addition to these living or replicating pathogens, toxins and biotoxins are also included among the bio-agents. More than 1,200 different kinds of potentially weaponizable bio-agents have been described and studied to date.<unk> s have the ability to adversely affect human health in a variety of ways, ranging from relatively mild allergic reactions to serious medical conditions, including serious injury, as well as serious or permanent disability or even death. Many of these organisms are ubiquitous in the natural environment where they are found in water, soil, plants, or animals. Bio-agents may be amenable to "weaponization" to render them easier to deploy or disseminate. Genetic modification may enhance their incapacitating or lethal properties, or render them impervious to conventional treatments or preventives. Since many bio-agents reproduce rapidly and require minimal resources for propagation, they are also a potential danger in a wide variety of occupational settings. The 1972<unk>  Weapons Convention (BWC) is an international treaty banning the development, use or stockpiling of<unk>  weapons; as of March 2021, there were 183 States Parties to the BWC. Bio-agents are, however, widely studied for both defensive and medical research purposes under various biosafety levels and within biocontainment facilities throughout the world.
Biological agent
Drug
Drug 
Biomaterial
Prebiotic 
Pesticide
Botanical drug
Pollutant