Consider the following characteristics of biological agents:-

A biological agent--also called bio-agent, biological threat agent, biological warfare agent, biological weapon, or bioweapon--that can be used purposefully as a weapon in bioterrorism or biological warfare.In addition to these living and/or replicating pathogens, biological toxins are also included among the bio-agents. More than 1,200 different kinds of potentially weaponizable bio-agents have been described and studied to date.most defining feature of a biological agent is pathogenicity,that is the ability to cause a disease. ref:park&;s textbook,ed 22,pg no 138