Contributor: Defence Institute for BioMedical Research (ISBD)
This year, from the 8th to 10th of April, Munich once again hosted one of the most important international events in the field of medical biodefence: the Biomedical Defence Conference, organized every two years by the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology.
The conference was held inside a large military barracks in Munich. Everything was well organized and conducive to the successful outcome of the event.
This unique event brings together experts from all over the world – scientists, policy makers, healthcare professionals, PhD students, researchers and professors – united by a shared interest in the prevention and management of biological threats. It’s a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, strategies, and scientific advances on increasingly relevant topics. The conference offered a remarkable opportunity for exchanging ideas through sessions, poster exhibitions and workshops.
The atmosphere at the conference was truly engaging, with over 50 nations represented, creating a melting pot of experiences, approaches, and scientific cultures. The event has a strong civil-military dimension, highlighting how collaboration across sectors is crucial in responding to events such as bioterrorist attacks or natural infectious disease outbreaks.
The sessions covered a wide range of topics, from biological risk management and emergency preparedness, to the latest advancements in diagnostics, vaccines, and innovative therapies.
Each talk provided a chance to learn and reflect on how science can serve as a key tool for global security.
RELIANCE partners from the Defence Institute for Biomedical Research (ISBD) in Italy actively participated by presenting two posters related to the project: one focused on thymol, and the other one on the Silica Mesoporous Nanoparticles (SMIN). It was an incredibly rewarding experience to see a great number of attendees stopping at the posters to read, ask questions, and engage in discussion—a clear sign that the research we’re working on is generating interest.
One of the most valuable aspects of the conference was the opportunity to share our knowledge and engage with fellow researchers. ISBD colleagues returned home with an enriched toolkit, filled not only with new information but also with contacts, insights and future inspiration.
The overall experience was extremely positive: intense, useful, and—above all—motivating.
The main topics addressed at the conferences were:
- Analysis of Host-Pathogen Interaction
- Responding to Threats: Biosafety and Deployable Labs
- Bacteriophages
- Current Trends in Biodefense-related Bacterial Infections
- Medical Countermeasures (MCM)
- Genomics and AI
- One Health: Surveillance and Tools for the Big Picture
- Synthetic Biology: Boon and Bane for Medical Biodefense
- Novel Technologies
- Tox-Alert: New Insights into Biological Toxins
- German Biosecurity Programme
- Emerging viruses
What results were reported on in the two posters:
The first poster titled “Thymol: a novel eco-friendly defense against biological threats” demonstrated research that fit perfectly within the broader context of medical biodefence, focusing on the use of natural compounds as a potential tool in the fight against biological threats.
Thymol is an essential oil known for its antimicrobial properties. RELIANCE team explores its potential as an antibacterial agent effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The ultimate goal is to investigate how thymol could be applied in the context of public health and emergency biodefence as a natural, safe and effective compound.
In vitro experiments were performed using two standard methods:
MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration)
MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration)
They compared thymol’s activity with that of other essential oils: carvacrol, eugenol, and menthol.
The core of ISBD research focused on a killing test to evaluate the rapid bactericidal activity of thymol against three key bacterial strains: Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), and Bacillus clausii, a non-pathogenic surrogate for Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium responsible for anthrax.
Their findings were striking: within just 5 minutes of incubation, thymol exhibited 100% bactericidal activity, even at low concentrations. This highlights its strong potential as a rapid-response antimicrobial in biodefence and public safety contexts.
The results obtained with Bacillus clausii are especially significant, suggesting that thymol could be considered a viable alternative or complement to conventional treatments in case of bioterrorism events or natural outbreaks involving high-risk pathogens.
Presenting this work at the conference was an invaluable opportunity to share ideas, receive feedback and connect with researchers from around the world. The level of interest and engagement from attendees reinforced the idea that there’s growing curiosity—and need—for more natural approaches to biodefence.
The second poster was titled “New antimicrobial surfaces based on silica mesoporous nanoparticles functionalized with bioactive compounds”.
These coatings based on silica nanoparticles (SMINs) are modified with copper and carvacrol, an essential oil. The copper ions released from the nanoparticles damage bacteria and viruses by disrupting their cellular structures, while carvacrol enhances this effect by breaking down membranes and DNA. Laboratory tests demonstrated that these nanocoatings are highly effective: they can eliminate 100% of bacteria such as E. coli and S. aureus within just 5 minutes. Additionally, they significantly reduce the presence of SARS-CoV-2, with over 70% reduction observed after one hour of contact. However, their effectiveness against non-enveloped viruses like MS2 is more limited. Overall, this innovative approach offers a promising, eco-friendly solution for creating antimicrobial and antiviral surfaces, contributing to improved hygiene and safety in various settings.
