Drosophila melanogaster developing in necrotic fruit are subject to daily episodes of intense hyperthermia capable of causing significant mortality and disruption of external morphology [9], [10].
The latter include both food security aspects for low-income countries and the potential threat to human health due to the extensive circulation of avian influenza viruses capable of causing significant mortality in humans.
Both mechanisms are capable of causing massive mortality.
Contrary to previous studies (Alarco et al., 2004; Chamilos et al., 2006), we found that by injecting C. albicans yeast cells directly into the haemolymph of wild-type flies we were capable of causing high-mortality systemic infections.
These include Aeromonas salmonicida subspecies salmonicida, a bacterium capable of causing 100% mortalities in just 7 days after challenge [ 33], and the parasites Philasterides dicentrarchi and Enteromyxum scophthalmi, which are responsible for severe fish outbreaks [ 34, 35].
On the other hand, diagnosis of non-dyspneic pleuritis would be less actionable because potential mechanisms of pleuritis (e.g. malignancies), while capable of causing serious morbidity and mortality, would not necessarily lead to great reductions in morbidity and mortality by quick identification and response.
Could this knowledge, in the hands of malevolent individuals, organizations, or governments, allow construction of a genetically altered influenza virus capable of causing a pandemic with mortality exceeding that of the "Spanish flu" epidemic of 1918?
P. aeruginosa is capable of causing high morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients [2], and it is a well-known cause of outbreaks in oncohematology units [3] [4].
This organism is frequently pandrug-resistant and is capable of causing substantial morbidity and mortality in patients with severe underlying disease, both in the hospital and in the community [ 2].
Several species of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) are capable of causing significant amounts of tree mortality in conifer forests throughout much of the world.
New World coral snakes (Elapidae) are represented by three genera and over 120 species and subspecies that are capable of causing significant human morbidity and mortality, yet coral-snake venom composition is poorly understood in comparison to that of Old World elapids.
