U of I research finds way to fight biological attacks

University of Iowa researchers have discovered a way to boost the humanimmune system to fight biological attacks by agents such as anthrax. U-of-Iinternal medicine professor Arthur Krieg (kreeg) says the discovery couldalso help fight cancer and other diseases. Krieg says they’ve found a D-N-Ain bacteria that energizes the immune system to fight diseases.The U-S Department of Defense has given researchers four-point-four milliondollars to study the use of the bacterial D-N-A as a defense againstbiological warfare.Most of the research has used mice, but Krieg says they’ve also used theD-N-A to boost the effectiveness of vaccines given to humans.Krieg says the treatment may also help people suffering allergies.Krieg says studies in mice show the protection against biological agents canlast from one to four weeks.