Botulinum Neurotoxin, Tetanus Toxin, and Anthrax Lethal Factor Countermeasures

Ambrose, Elizabeth

doi:10.1007/7355_2016_8

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…In fact, toxins suitable for military uses are of a natural origin, being biologically produced [10]; they have a low volatility and they are not active by dermal poisoning, in contrast with most man-made chemical warfare agents. In some cases, their difficulty of extraction and concentration may pose serious limits to a practical use in the field [11] Nowadays, a wide variety of toxins as possible candidates for weaponization have been studied in detail, such as botulinum neurotoxin [12], clostridial neurotoxins [13], conotoxin [14] and plant toxins [15,16]. There is a great variability in the lethality of toxins, whose poisonous properties are usually measured in LD 50 , namely the lethal dose expressed in mass per kg of the victim's body in 50% of cases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic and Inorganic Biocidal Energetic Materials for Agent Defeat Weapons: An Overview and Research Perspectives

et al. 2023

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A critical survey concerning biocidal energetics is proposed according to a classification depending on their chemical structure. The need of optimizing the performances of such compounds is an important target for the inertization of biological weapons, requiring a synergy between the thermal effects of combustion/detonation with the biocidal effects of reaction products released into the environment. The main physicochemical aspects related to the synthesis technique, the thermodynamic variables and the antimicrobial activity have been discussed and compared. In particular, different kinds of biocides have been taken into account, with particular attention to the role of iodine as one of the most promising and eco-friendly chemical species to this purpose, in line with the paradigms of environmental protection and the rational utilization of chemicals. Furthermore, the protocols adopted to assess the effectiveness of biocidal agents have been thoroughly examined according to the recent studies proposed by some of the most reputable research groups in the field. Finally, some insights for future investigations are proposed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic and Inorganic Biocidal Energetic Materials for Agent Defeat Weapons: An Overview and Research Perspectives

et al. 2023

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“…The pore allows binding and transportation of LF or EF to the cytosol [45]. Vaccines against anthrax are available [46], but despite its poor prognosis, a widespread public immunization is unlikely due to its low incidence [47]. Consequently, searching for new strategies to protect against this disease is therefore warranted [48].…”

Section: Introduction To Toxic Pore-forming Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inhibition of Pore-Forming Proteins

Omersa

Podobnik

Anderluh

2019

Toxins

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Perforation of cellular membranes by pore-forming proteins can affect cell physiology, tissue integrity, or immune response. Since many pore-forming proteins are toxins or highly potent virulence factors, they represent an attractive target for the development of molecules that neutralize their actions with high efficacy. There has been an assortment of inhibitors developed to specifically obstruct the activity of pore-forming proteins, in addition to vaccination and antibiotics that serve as a plausible treatment for the majority of diseases caused by bacterial infections. Here we review a wide range of potential inhibitors that can specifically and effectively block the activity of pore-forming proteins, from small molecules to more specific macromolecular systems, such as synthetic nanoparticles, antibodies, antibody mimetics, polyvalent inhibitors, and dominant negative mutants. We discuss their mechanism of inhibition, as well as advantages and disadvantages.

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