New York: The theft of two vials of a genetically altered bacterium from a Michigan State University research laboratory in September has triggered fears of bio- terrorism because of the effect it had on pigs.

The investigating authorities have identified a suspect who worked in the building but was not authorised to go into the secure laboratory that stored the bacterium, 'Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae', also known as APP.

The altered bacterium was used to develop a vaccine for a swine virus, the 'Wall Street Journal' reported on September 23, adding that the authorities had not released the name of the suspect.

APP, it said, was being developed into a pig vaccine to treat respiratory problems, but instead led to encephalitis in the animals. Both the respiratory problem and encephalitis are fatal to pigs if untreated.

The investigation had centred on what access the suspect had to the lab, because the storage of APP, along with lab notes of the failed research wasn't widely known.

The theft of the vials and research notes raised concerns of potential bio-terrorism because of the impact the bacterium could have had on pigs, the paper said quoting university spokesman Terry Denbow adding that evidence suggests that the suspect destroyed the APP.

The theft, the journal said, has raised concerns on security of research laboratories in the US. President George W Bush in June signed into law the Public Health Security and Bio-terrorism Response Act of 2002, which includes some provisions for laboratory security, including personnel-screening protocols. At present guidelines have been developed by the departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, and won't go into effect until 2003.

PTI