Posted on 04/13/2008 8:20:52 AM PDT by ZacandPook
Ocean Press churns out a lot of Cuban propaganda, so I'd take anything they publish accordingly.
1. The device that USAMRIID thought was used to weaponize the anthrax was the bioreactor when actually it was the DOD-funded Microbial Vac.
2. The Microbial Vac can be used to concentrate and sequentially filter the anthrax. It can be used to weaponize anthrax on a small scale.
3. The silica coating technology that was used was a DARPA/DOD technique.
See silica coating pictures at the URL below.
http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=02REVIEW153
Microbial-Vac was going to work with the Navy under the SBIR program but then it did not move forward formally.
4. Ali had a high security clearance in the late 1990s for work with the Navy.
5. A scientist who lived a mile from me was arrested the day Ali’s residence was searched regularly mixed with silica.
6. The USAMRIID scientist who collected Ames went to work with NNMC and actually that is where the Ames file was retrieved.
7. A prototype of the Microbial Vac was at ISU — a professor at the ISU microbiology department had it.
8. The fellow who inherited Al-Timimi’s telephone number is expert in electrospray and electrostatic, electromagnetic control of anthrax particles.
9. And so the main reason for The Hatfill Theory is just that he was the best candidate for POI from that squad. They acted in good faith. Hatfill continued to lie about material things (e..g, re the PhD even after federal investigation) in applying for a federally-funded job in biodefense.
10. But Al-Timimi and his associates were the best candidate(s) for the other squad.
11. Al-Timimi does not have hands-on skill. He’s a “numbers guy.” He is neither the processor nor mailer.
12. Vigorously pursuing alternative hypotheses is what we would want from the investigation. Except for not effectively dealing with leaks in 2002 — and thereby avoiding the continuing leaks by Seikaly in 2003 — the FBI has done very well. It was Seikaly’s senior position and the fact he was in the US Attorney’s Office that prevented the FBI Task Force shutting the leaks down in 2002.
13. The massive press was due in part to Hatfill’s massive solicitation of press such as by the August 2 fax (which the fax transmittal sheet shows was to every major media outlet), press conference etc. . If he had followed Berry’s approach we might not remember Hatfill’s name. The Hatfill civil litigation, including the libel, civil rights and reporters’ issues are just an unfortunate distraction from the solution to the Amerithrax crime.
14. But a Hatfill Theory was fueled and greatly exacerbated by the leak of Mr. Seikaly whose daughter now represents Al-Timimi pro bono. Mr. Seikaly’s leaks likely were just motivated by a personal concern that too often people jump to the conclusion that Arabs are responsible for terrorism. His sister-in-law and brother are active on this issue and spoke and wrote on this issue in 2001/2002. But we all have our biases and political orientation. It’s part of being human. The human mind is an imperfect tool.
15. There is an embarrassment to be sure that there is this connection to DARPA-funded projects. Ali’s defenders have thrown in the fact that Ali worked for 2 months for Andy Card when he was DOT secretary just to confound things and provide material for more conspiracy theories.
16. Ayman Zawahiri thought it was a religious duty to use the weapons of your enemy and that’s what his supporters did.
17. But the embarrassment is no greater than that of the US Army, CIA or FBI in being duped by the Al Qaeda operative Ali Mohammed. We all will trust. We all sometimes will have our trust betrayed.
18. Former CIA analyst Stan Bedlington’s point about Greendale, though, was just mistaken — he perhaps did not know Ayman was using “school” as code for EIJ in May 2001 correspondence. He knew Hatfill and so may have been influenced by Dr. Hatfill’s history of saying things that were not true. Having left the CIA, he may have not have known that Saif Adel used “Green Team” for the EIJ contingent that went to Somalia etc.
19. The press is in the business of news, not analysis. When presented with the Hatfill legal team extensively promoting these issues and Seikaly — whose position made him a great source for any reporter — it is not all surprising that the press evolved the way it did.
20. We only have the great work by USG and foreign forces in capturing KSM, Hambali, Sufaat, Ahmad, Barq, Wahdan and others to thank for the information that then inexorably led to abandonment of The Hatfill Theory.
21. Perps never run when they should. For example, Roger Von Bergendorff should have snuck out of the hospital.
See silica coating pictures at the URL below. http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=02REVIEW153
You seem to be suggesting that if anything can be coated with silica, then spores can be coated with silica. The problem with that reasoning is that most things which are "coated with silica," as in your example, are NOT LIVING CREATURES. Therefore, you don't have to worry about killing them.
When coating spores, assuming someone had a valid reason for doing so, you would have to make certain you did not KILL the spores. You and TrebelRebel keep talking about processes which would KILL EVERY SPORE YOU TRY TO COAT.
In the link you provide, it says:
After spraying, the coated phosphor is heat-treated to remove residual organics and to further densify the coating.
When they "remove residual organics," wouldn't they be removing the spore?
So, you would end up with a coating on nothing.
Note that the DARPA funded work dates back years. For example, here is the same web content from 2003 but the work pre-dates 9/2001.
http://web.archive.org/web/20030303115459/http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=02REVIEW153
Rather than two lay people discussing the science, let’s pull up the second 2001 DARPA grant to the GMU Center for Biodefense. The one from July 2001 involved Delta Ames supplied by NIH. What did the first one involve? Ali Al-Timimi — who the FBI, Al-Timimi and the Washington Post suggested the FBI suspected of involvement in the anthrax mailings — was not much more than 15 feet from the leading anthrax scientist Ken Alibek and the former deputy USAMRIID commander Charles Bailey. He was sentenced to life plus 70 years for sedition.
Director Mueller has cautioned that universities must guard against the theft of biochemistry information prior to patenting and classification — universities settings especially pre-911 to be places of free and open exchange (and unlocked offices). Ken tells me that Al-Timimi was a fanatic but not hands-on — he was just a numbers guy. But at issue is not processing, but theft of biochemistry information.
Ken and Charles filed a patent on March 14, 2001 relating to concentration of biological agents (such as anthrax) using silica. The patent application was confidential until after 9/11 — and in any event left key information to those knowledgeable in the field (or practiced in the art).
Here is the patent by Dr. Alibek and Dr. Bailey. One is a leading anthrax scientist. One is the USAMRIID Deputy Commander. Both are above reproach. But the biochemistry information that was in their heads, as reflected by this patent, was just feet away from a man actively working (and taught by) Bin Laden’s sheik.
United States Patent
6,649,408
Bailey , et al.
November 18, 2003
Microdroplet cell culture technique
Abstract
The present invention comprises a novel culture method and device in which living cells are cultured in a plurality of individual microdroplets that are immobilized and isolated within a matrix of hydrophobic particles. The hydrophobic particles adhere to inoculated microdroplets of media, isolating the microdroplets in an aseptic microenvironmet. The plurality of individual microdroplets provide and optimal environment for the concentrated growth of cultured cells contained therein.
Inventors:
Bailey; Charles L. (Fayetteville, TN), Alibek; Ken (Alexandria, VA)
Assignee:
George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)
Appl. No.:
09/805,464
Filed: March 14, 2001
***
DESCRIPTION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/191,771, filed Mar. 24, 2000.
Claims
Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:
1. A cell culture method comprising the steps of: introducing liquid media inoculated with cells to be cultured into a vessel; converting the inoculated liquid media into individual microdroplets; introducing a sufficient quantity of hydrophobic particles in the form of a dry powder into the vessel to coat the individual microdroplets; and growing the cells within the individual microdroplets.
2. The cell culture method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recovering the cultured cells from the individual microdroplets.
3. The cell culture method of claim 1 wherein the converting step comprises: adding ferromagnetic particles to the vessel; applying an electromagnetic field within the vessel, thereby causing the random circulation of the ferromagnetic particles throughout the vessel.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the cultured cells are microbial cells.
5. The process of claim 1 where the cultured cells are fungal cells.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein the cells are bacterial cells.
7. The process of claim 1 wherein the cells are eukaryotic cells.
8. The process of claim 1 wherein the cells are insect cells.
9. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic particles are silicon dioxide particles.
10. The process of claim 1 wherein the ratio of inoculated media to hydrophobic particles comprises a range between 1:2 and 2:1.
11. The process of claim 1 wherein the growing step further comprises the step of providing the microdroplets with exogenous gas.
12. The process of claim 10 wherein the exogenous gas is molecular oxygen.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the cultivation and growth of cells on laboratory, pilot plant, or industrial scales and, more particularly, to the cultivation and growth of cells in a plurality of individual microdroplets of liquid media which are interspersed within a matrix of hydrophobic microparticles.
2. Background Description
The culturing of microbial and animal or plant cells are crucial processes that are essential to the production of a wide array of useful chemical and biochemical products. Living cells are employed in such processes because they provide the essential elements necessary to economically synthesize many commercially valuable metabolic products.
Typically, growing cells are cultured either in liquid media (submerged cultivation) or on the surface of a solid nutrient(surface cultivation). Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi can be cultured in either the surface or submerged method. Eukaryotic cells can be cultured in a submerged or suspended cell culture in rolling flasks or, where cell surface attachment is necessary, cells are grown to confluence in tissue culture flasks with liquid nutrient media placed above the cells. A suitable nutrient medium for microorganisms typically includes a carbon and energy source, an assimilable nitrogen source, oxygen (usually derived from surrounding air), and suitable pH conditions and additional factors which vary for a given microorganism, as one skilled in the art can readily appreciate.
***
With the submerged method, a microorganism is cultured throughout the liquid media. Nutrients are absorbed from contact with the media surrounding the individual microorganisms, oxygen and are provided by various means of aeration that one skilled in the art can readily appreciate, and metabolites seep out and into the media. Usually, the nutrient media is also stirred continually, in order to evenly distribute the microorganisms.
The submerged cultivation process has the beneficial advantages of being less labor and space intensive than the surface method and can be used to produce large batches of cells in a relatively small space. The submerged method is thus the method of choice currently employed in most pilot and industrial scale production of cultured microrganisms and cells.
The submerged cultivation method does, however, require an extensive investment in equipment necessary for the large scale production of cell cultures. In addition, the end products that are the object of large scale submerged cultivation (i.e., the intracellular or extracellular metabolic products of cell and microbe growth) usually require further purification and concentration either from the liquid media or the cells therein. This additional isolation step is necessary because the concentration of product in the media is limited by the metabolites released into the media and the limited solubility of oxygen and/or other gases in the media.
***
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide for the growth of a microbe or cell culture with a hybrid method that both combines the beneficial features of submerged and surface cultivation while eliminating some of the negative features inherent in both procedures.
It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for the sterile growth of a cell culture in a collection of individual microdroplets. The invention provides for the growth of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The invention is particularly suited to the aseptic cultivation of human, animal, plant or microbial cell populations.
***
According to the invention, cells are cultivated in a plurality of individual microdroplets of liquid media. These microdroplets are created by aerosolizing liquid media that has been inoculated with the cells of interest and coating the aerosolized droplets with hydrophobic particles of solid material, such as silicon dioxide, for example. The individual microdroplets are stabilized within the hydrophobic solid particles, thereby providing a large number of small cell culture reactors. The coated microdroplets each provide a sterile environment for the individual microdroplets contained within the culture. Furthermore, the individual microdroplets each provide an optimum microenvironment with a reduced effect of potentially inhibitory metabolites and optimal accessability to aeration, resulting in substantial increases in the concentration of cells per liquid volume.
***
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a generalized method and apparatus for aseptically culturing a plurality of microdroplets of media that are inoculated with a given cell type that is to be cultured. Each individual microdroplet provides an individual microenvironment that is isolated from the surrounding microdroplets. In such a manner, each microdroplet is protected from contamination by any adjacent microdroplets. In addition, the apparatus and methods of the present invention provide for concentrated growth of cells in minimal amounts of liquid medium, without the need for extensive further concentration of cells or their metabolic products.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a flow chart of the process that is the object of the present invention. Liquid media is inoculated with a given cell strain, which can be a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell, either of which may be additionally infected with a virus, transformed with a heterologous DNA expression vector, or otherwise genetically engineered to produce a given substance with techniques that are well known within the art. It is also within the scope of the present invention that cells that produce important chemical and biochemical products without any genetic alterations can be grown with the apparatus and methods of the invention.
In the practice of the present invention, liquid media is inoculated in an aseptic fashion with a cell type that is to be cultured. Referring now to FIG. 2, the inoculated media is then introduced through a first opening into a coating vessel of the present invention, for example, in one embodiment by means of a peristaltic pump, through an entry port. The coating vessel provides an environment in which individual microdroplets of inoculated media can be encased by hydrophobic solid particles. Once the microdroplets are formed and added to the coating vessel, dry hydrophobic powder composed of a plurality of particles of, for example, a hydrophobic ceramic, are introduced into the vessel where the coating process then occurs. The hydrophobic particles intercalate with and adhere to the individual microdroplets, preventing the microdroplets from becoming a confluent liquid, thereby creating a plurality of individual microdroplet cultures, each containing an isolated droplet of growing cells. The resulting product is a slurry-like material that has a semi liquid consistency, due to the fact that the individual microdroplets are prevented from re-aggregating as a confluent liquid. Once the coated hydrophobic particles are formed, they are collected and removed through narrow slotted openings located at the bottom of the coating vessel. The coated microdroplets are then cultured either in a batch or continuous flow process.
It is contemplated in the practice of the present invention that the timing and means of introducing the inoculated media and hydrophobic particles can be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the media may be introduced through means other than a peristaltic pump and an entry port, for example, via a spray nozzle. In addition, it is only required that the hydrophobic particles be introduced into the coating vessel at a time such that they are able to homogeneously mix with the microdroplets of liquid media. This time may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as discussed further infra, the hydrophobic particles may be introduced into the coating vessel prior to, simultaneous with, or subsequent to formation of the microdroplets of inoculated culture. The only limitation on this aspect of the invention is that the hydrophobic particles must be able to surround and adhere to the microdroplets after they are formed.
In one embodiment of the invention, the inoculated media is converted into microdroplets prior to introduction into the coating vessel. Such a process is enabled by introducing the inoculated media via a spray nozzle that dispenses individual microdroplets into the vessel. It is not essential to the practice of the invention that the microdroplets be created prior to the introduction of the droplets into the coating vessel. Thus, in yet another embodiment, the microdroplets are created after the inoculated liquid media is introduced into the coating vessel. Ferromagnetic particles are sterilized and introduced into a non-magnetic mixing/coating vessel. Electromagnetic inductors are mounted in parallel on either side of the coating vessel. Activation of the electromagnetic inductors causes an electromagnetic field to exist within the vessel. Oscillations of this electromagnetic field are induced by the inductors. The ferromagnetic particles orient along and follow the field lines of the electromagnetic field and follow the oscillations of the field. The rapid motion of the field and particles vigorously mixes the hydrophobic particles and liquid media, inducing the formation of droplets.
The size of the microdroplets will vary, with an optimum size for the cultivation of microorganisms, for example, usually being between 0.5 and 2.0 mm in diameter. Sizes within this range have been found to result in high concentrations of microorganisms per microdroplet. It should readily be understood by one skilled in the art, however, that the optimal size of microdroplet will vary, depending on such factors as the growth rate of the cultured cell type, the amount of optimal aeration for a given cell type, the most effective cell density for production of a given metabolite, and the like.
The size of individual microdroplets can be regulated by adjusting such factors as the size of the nozzle or portal delivering the liquid or aerosolized media, the volume of the vessel, the speed at which the various components are added, the power and frequency of electromagnetic induction (in one embodiment of the invention), and the type of hydrophobic particle utilized, for example.
In one particular embodiment of the invention, the vessel is contained in a refrigerated environment to prevent the rapid random motion of the electromagnetic process from destroying the inoculated microdroplets with excessive heat.
Once the microdroplets of inoculated media have formed, the hydrophobic particles can then intercalate between and around individual microdroplets, creating a semi-liquid slurry comprising a matrix of interspersed microdroplets of inoculated culture and hydrophobic particles. In one embodiment of the invention, the particles are pumped into the coating vessel while the ferromagnetic particles and liquid media are agitated, resulting in the simultaneous agitation and mixing of the hydrophobic particles along with the microdroplets. In another embodiment, the hydrophobic particles are introduced through a second opening positioned such that the particles encounter the aerosolized microdroplets of inoculated media as the droplets enter the vessel.
The hydrophobic particles can be introduced into the vessel by a variety of methods well known within the art, for example, by forced flow with the assistance of an air pump. Introduction of the coating particles can be through the same opening used for the introduction of the inoculated media or through a second opening. The use of two different openings for the media and coating particle introduction may have the advantage of allowing for easier process controls.
In one embodiment of the invention, the hydrophobic particles comprises a powder of silicon dioxide. It can readily be seen by one skilled in the art, however, that the hydrophobic particles can alternatively comprise other hydrophobic ceramic particles (e.g., possibly aluminum oxides and zinc oxides).
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the silicon dioxide particles are Aerosil 300, produced by Brenntag N.V. of Belgium. In another preferred embodiment, the silicon dioxide particles are selected from the group comprising the AEROSIL series of powders manufactured by the Degussa-huls Corporation (i.e., AEROSIL R 104, AEROSIL R 106, AEROSIL R 202, AEROSIL R 805, AEROSIL R 812, AEROSIL R812.S, AEROSIL R 972, AEROSIL R 974, and AEROSIL R.8200). Other silicon dioxide particles are contemplated and within the scope of the invention. The choice of silicon dioxide particles will vary depending on the organism to be cultured and the amount of aeration required. In general, silicon dioxide particles that are useful in the practice of the present invention will be hydrophobic and have a surface area between 50 and 380 meters.sup.2 per gram of weight.
It is contemplated within the practice of the invention that the percent composition of coating particles to inoculated medium will vary, depending on, but not limited to, such factors as the cell type, the size of the individual microdroplets, and the desired final density and phase of growth that is the objective of the particular culture. In one embodiment of the invention that the ratio of individual coating particles to cultured inoculum may be within a range of 99:1 and 1:99. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the ratio individual coating particles to cell inoculum to will be within a range of 1:2 to 2:1.
Once the microdroplets are formed and coated, they are evacuated from the coating vessel through narrow slotted openings at the bottom of the vessel. In one particular preferred embodiment, the slotted openings will be between 1.5-2.0 mm wide but may vary depending on the size of the microdroplets formed. The microdroplets can be as little as 10 to 20 microns, so long as the initial inoculum is dense enough to ensure each microdroplet contains inoculated medium. The microdroplets can be much larger, with diameters greater than 2.5 mm, so long as the hydrophobic particles are able to maintain the media in individual droplet form. Accordingly, the slots for removal can also be designed to be the same as whatever size the microdroplets are or slightly larger.
In most cases, the space between the coated microdroplets provides adequate aeration of the cell culture. It is a particularly useful and beneficial feature of the present invention that the space which exists between individual coated microdroplets provides an optimum environment for the concentrated growth of cell cultures. The adequate aeration provided with the present invention allows the growing cultures to make optimal use of the liquid media contained within each microdroplet.
It can readily be seen by one skilled in the relevant art, however, that various means can be employed to provide the growing microdroplet culture with supplemental oxygen and/or other gases to optimize the aeration conditions for a given cell culture. For example, a fermentation vessel or zone may be provided with a port opening onto the vessel or zone through which exogenous molecular oxygen may be pumped via conduits and means to transport the gas. Additionally, the fermentation vessel or zone may further be equipped with a second port opening for removal of gases during the fermentation process.
In one embodiment of the invention, the cultured cells will be microorganisms. Fermentation of microorganisms can proceed via a batch process or a continuous fermentation process. In the case of batch fermentation, the microdroplets are collected and grown in a fermentation vessel. In a continuous fermentation process, the coated microdroplets are collected from the slots at the bottom of the coating vessel and are grown in long conduits that constitute a fermenting zone. The particular fermentation method used to culture the microdroplets is not critical to the practice of the present invention.
As can readily be appreciated by one skilled in the art, it will not always be necessary or preferable to separate the hydrophobic particles away from the liquid cell culture following cell growth. For example, since silicon dioxide is frequently utilized in soil treatment, there is no need to remove the silicon dioxide from cell cultures that are grown for the purposes of soil treatment. Furthermore, since the hydrophobic particles limit the potential for the spread of contamination, it may be desirable to maintain cultivated cells within the Individual hydrophobic microdroplets for storage purposes.
It is a particularly beneficial feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the enhanced aeration of cultured cells, combined with the efficient removal of metabolites, allow for microbial cultures to divide to a density that consumes all of the available liquid present in a microdroplet. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention there is no need to (1) concentrate cultures or (2) remove the hydrophobic particles from the microdroplet culture. When all of the liquid media is consumed, the hydrophobic particles disassociate from the cell cultures, allowing the cells to interact directly with the surrounding environment.
Alternatively, once cell growth is complete, the liquid media can be isolated away from the hydrophobic particles through a simple centrifugation step. As can readily be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the time and force of centrifugation will vary depending on the organism and hydrophobic particle employed in the process. The silicon dioxide particles can be sterilized and re-used in another microdroplet cultivation process.
Ed, your astute concern re killing the spores with excessive heat was avoided by Dr. Alibek in his micro-droplet cell culture:
“In one particular embodiment of the invention, the vessel is contained in a refrigerated environment to prevent the rapid random motion of the electromagnetic process from destroying the inoculated microdroplets with excessive heat.”
I don't know how to break this to you, but this is NOT about coating spores.
They put the living bacteria inside a DROPLET of liquid media and that DROPLET is coated with "hydrophobic particles" so that they don't all merge together into one big pot of liquid media. That way, each bacterium has it's own supply of food and it's own space in which to grow. There's no competition for food, and there's no crowding for space.
Think of it as a fish in a fishbowl. The fish is the bacteria, the water is the liquid media, and the fishbowl is the coating of silica dioxide. The FISH is not coated with the fishbowl!
The size of the microdroplets will vary, with an optimum size for the cultivation of microorganisms, for example, usually being between 0.5 and 2.0 mm in diameter. Sizes within this range have been found to result in high concentrations of microorganisms per microdroplet.
So, we're talking about coating DROPLETS which are 500 to 2,000 times larger than an anthrax bacterium. MANY bacteria will grow inside one droplet.
When all of the liquid media is consumed, the hydrophobic particles disassociate from the cell cultures, allowing the cells to interact directly with the surrounding environment.
In other words, when the bacteria growing within the DROPLET have consumed all the liquid medium, the hydrophobic (silicon dioxide) particles FALL AWAY from the wet bacteria.
Alternatively, once cell growth is complete, the liquid media can be isolated away from the hydrophobic particles through a simple centrifugation step. As can readily be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the time and force of centrifugation will vary depending on the organism and hydrophobic particle employed in the process. The silicon dioxide particles can be sterilized and re-used in another microdroplet cultivation process.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COATING SPORES AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING RELATED TO THE ANTHRAX ATTACKS. NO SPORES ARE CREATED DURING THIS PROCESS. SO NO SPORES CAN BE COATED DURING THIS PROCESS.
This is about heating up the LIQUID MEDIUM. It has nothing to do with that other article where heat was used to totally destroy all organic material. That process made sure that NO ORGANIC MATERIAL (A.K.A. BACTERIA or SPORES) WAS LEFT when the process was completed.
You seem to be looking for words like silicon and bacteria, and then you put them together in some totally imaginary way that has NOTHING to do with what is really happening.
Ed, Ken is very responsive and straight-forward. You should email him and ask them to clarify any of the scientific matters.
I get my scientific learning from experts. In this case and on this particular patent, I get my scientific advice from military scientists — to include one military scientist whose lab was raided by the FBI. He says this patent relates to encapsulation — and is WOW. Increasing the viability of a wide range of pathogens. So as between Ed Lake, who has no expertise in the field, and a military scientist who makes anthrax simulant for the government, I’ll rely on my consulting scientist rather than you.
But thanks for sharing.
You should also see Dr. Crockett’s PhD thesis on the method of weaponization. Advised by William Patrick and Ken Alibek, she addresses this precise issue of the reason for the silica in the Fall 2001 mailings. See also NSL directed to North Carolina State.
Ed,
You seem not to have read Dr. Crockett’s thesis advised by Ken on the method of weaponization. I’d be glad to send it to you if you like. She also credits Dr. Patrick (and as I recall Dr. Bailey was on the reviewing panel). So when she address silica in connection with the Fall 2001 mailings, it is worth taking note.
Ed,
You seem not to have read Dr. Crockett’s thesis advised by Ken on the method of weaponization. I’d be glad to send it to you if you like. She also credits Dr. Patrick (and as I recall Dr. Bailey was on the reviewing panel). So when she address silica in connection with the Fall 2001 mailings, it is worth taking note.
As of the January 2002 GMU directory, Dr. Crockett (she was one of Ken’s assistants) was a few doors from Ali.
It does. It just has NOTHING to do with creating spores.
When you cover a DROPLET with some form of silicon dioxide to keep the DROPLET from merging with other such droplets, that would be termed "encapsulation."
The patent is straightforward in its description. So, if you believe there is something else going on here, the problem is in your beliefs, as usual.
This is not a question about "expertise." It's a question of being able to read English.
If anyone says the patent is about anything other than encapsulating tiny DROPLETS of liquid medium in particles of silicon dioxide so that bacteria can grow in that tiny "capsule" without the problems associated with larger bioreactors or fermentation vats, that person doesn't know what he or she is talking about.
I've seen PhD theses which contain all sorts of idiotic stuff. So, a PhD thesis has little or no value unless it can be supported by something else. I've seen more than one PhD thesis where the author believes what was written in Gary Matsumoto's Science article. To me, that shows a total lack of understanding of the subject.
You forget that people on this forum have contacted Ken and threatened to get him involved in a lawsuit if he communicates with me.
So, #1 - I feel it would be irresponsible to contact him about some crazy beliefs some Freeper has about his patent.
And, #2 - I wouldn't want to put him on a spot of being threatened again if he responded to me.
In his interrogatory responses, he “Dr. Hatfill has lost the 25 years he invested in developing a unique career path progression.”
Don’t you love how lawyers can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear?
“William C. Patrick III, once a very close friend and colleague of Dr. Hatfill has broken off communication with him for fear of being associated with Dr. Hatfill and the Anthrax attacks.” (Response to Interrogatory No. 3, p. 8.)
As part of his claimed damages, he suggests in an interrogatory response that if he had gone to Iraq as planned as a UN inspector, he expected to write a book that will bring him $6-12 million given the focus on the issue.
From Kohl, Ken [AUSA]
To: Phillips, Channing
cc. Blier, William
Subject : RE: what I’m hearing from the media
Channing
***
“By the way, WFO has opened a leak investigation in an attempt to find out who spoke to NEWSWEEK magazine over the weekend about the bureau’s use of bloodhounds in the investigation.”
Note that Attorney Seikaly verified the interrogatory response relating to his contact with reporters and omitted his contact with Klaidman about bloodhounds.
Are you not reading your own postings? In another thread you posted another memorandum which included this:
The purpose of this memorandum is to notify your office of the closing of the FBI’s criminal investigation of the captioned media leak matter. It is the understanding of the FBI that your continued investigation of this matter will be pursued by your office.
And I replied this way:
It still looks like the FBI planted false information with Seikaly at the DOJ to see if he'd leak it. When he did, the FBI had no way to prosecute someone in the DOJ without help from the DOJ, so they let the people at the DOJ handle it. Seikaly left the DOJ, and he's still sweating out possible prosecution. The FBI got what it wanted: They stopped Seikaly from leaking any more information.
Not every criminal ends up in jail. This looks like a negotiated resulution that caused the least embarrassment to all concerned.
The bloodhound leak matter was evidently turned over to the DOJ's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). The OPR typically punishes people by getting them fired and/or by getting them disbarred. Seikaly left the DOJ. You may argue that he could have left on his own accord, but the facts do not support that belief.
From: Blier, William
Sent: August 11, 2002
To: Howard, Roscoe C, Fredericksen, Scott; Seikaly, Daniel
Subject: Conversation with Glenn Fine
Here is a summary of my conversation with Glenn about the anthrax leak investigation:
The manner in which investigations of leaks are allocated between OIG and OPR is somewhat less clear than you might think. If the universe of persons with knowledge is mixed, attorneys and agents, OPR and OIG will meet and determine who should do it, with OIG essentially deferring unless there appears to be a potential criminal violation. Glenn opined that his office is better equipped, with a staff of investigators, to handle a criminal investigation than is OPR. He was aware of the allegations in this case, but not of the potential leaking of classified material.
Neither OIG nor OPR open investigations based on news accounts. Both await a referral from a complainant (Hatfill) or from within the department (in particular, the DAG’s office). So far, his ofice has not received a referral and he does not believe OPR has either. Glenn said we could either wait to see what Hatfill does, or, if we think it is in the department’s or our Office’s best interest for an investigation to be opened, to talk to the DAG’s office and have the referral made by OGI by the DAG. Because Hatfill said he was going to make his referall to OPR, and because the substance of Hatfill’s complaints are not really criminal, Hatfill’s referall would probably result in OPR handling it (with OIG deferring).
Let me know if you want me to do anything further in this connection. Thanks, Bill.
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