[en] The role of Microbiology has been fundamental in the development of biological weapons. In this sense, the evolution of biological armaments, both for war and terrorist purposes, has been linked to the study of microorganisms, although other factors are important for the phenomenon. The present study is a review in that shows the role of Microbiology in the evolution of biological armament throughout history and its future direction. The use of biological weapons is banned as considered inhuman and of high risk, having a potential clearly superior to any other type of weapon. There are many microorganisms that can be used for the development of this armament, although few meet all the requirements that make them ideal. Those are studied in this review with which a greater number of attacks have been carried out in recent years, under a bioterrorist context, as well as throughout history. As a defence against these attacks, actions taken are focused on the prevention, preparation of weapons and attacks by organizations, and on the reaction to such attacks, based on the improvement of medical management. For this, many governments have developed significant investments, trying to be ready in case of a possible threat. The real chances of an attack are not very high. On the one hand, the relatively simple access of governments and terrorist groups to these weapons would facilitate their development. However, the attack would be much more difficult, due to the hard handling of microorganisms and the exponential growth of science in terms of defence against bioterrorism.

[gl] O papel da Microbioloxía foi fundamental no desenvolvemento de armas biolóxicas. Neste sentido, a evolución dos armamentos biolóxicos, tanto con fins bélicos coma terroristas, estivo ligada notablemente ao estudo de microorganismos, aínda que outros factores tamén son determinantes no fenómeno. O presente estudo preséntase coma unha revisión bibliográfica na que se valora o papel da Microbioloxía na evolución do armamento biolóxico ao longo da historia e a súa dirección futura. O uso das armas biolóxicas está prohibido por ser consideradas inhumanas e de alto risco, tendo un potencial claramente superior ao das armas de calquera outro tipo. Hai moitos microorganismos que se poden usar para o desenvolvemento deste armamento, aínda que poucos cumpren todos os requisitos que os fan ideais. Istos son os estudados nesta revisión, cos que se realizaron un maior número de ataques nos últimos anos, nun contexto bioterrorista, así coma ao longo da historia Como defensa contra estes ataques, defínense accións para a prevención, preparación de armas e ataques de organizacións e a reacción ante tales ataques, baseada na mellora da xestión médica. Para iso, moitos gobernos desenvolveron importantes investimentos, ante unha posible ameaza. As posibilidades reais dun ataque non son moi elevadas. Por un lado, o acceso relativamente sinxelo de gobernos e grupos terroristas a estas armas facilitaría o seu desenvolvemento. Non obstante, o ataque sería moito máis difícil, debido a complexa xestión dos microorganismos e ao crecemento exponencial da ciencia en termos de defensa contra o bioterrorismo