Denatured Ricin Can Be Detected as Native Ricin by Immunological Methods, but Nontoxic <i>In Vivo</i>

Kumar, Om; Pradhan, Santwana; Sehgal, Payal; Singh, Yamini; Vijayaraghavan, R.

doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01290.x

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(29 reference statements)

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“…This point is important in the case of an intentional release of ricin, especially with regard to emergency operating schedules, forensic analysis and therapy. The discrepancy between presence of the ricin protein and lack of toxicity has been noted for some immunoassays [280], while in other assays detection seems to correlate with activity [281,282,283]. Functional assays for ricin have traditionally been done by animal toxicity tests and in vitro cytotoxicity assays [130,284].…”

Section: Detection Of Ricin or Ricinus Communismentioning

confidence: 99%

Ricinus communis Intoxications in Human and Veterinary Medicine—A Summary of Real Cases

Worbs

Köhler

Pauly

et al. 2011

Toxins

193

177

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Accidental and intended Ricinus communis intoxications in humans and animals have been known for centuries but the causative agent remained elusive until 1888 when Stillmark attributed the toxicity to the lectin ricin. Ricinus communis is grown worldwide on an industrial scale for the production of castor oil. As by-product in castor oil production ricin is mass produced above 1 million tons per year. On the basis of its availability, toxicity, ease of preparation and the current lack of medical countermeasures, ricin has gained attention as potential biological warfare agent. The seeds also contain the less toxic, but highly homologous Ricinus communis agglutinin and the alkaloid ricinine, and especially the latter can be used to track intoxications. After oil extraction and detoxification, the defatted press cake is used as organic fertilizer and as low-value feed. In this context there have been sporadic reports from different countries describing animal intoxications after uptake of obviously insufficiently detoxified fertilizer. Observations in Germany over several years, however, have led us to speculate that the detoxification process is not always performed thoroughly and controlled, calling for international regulations which clearly state a ricin threshold in fertilizer. In this review we summarize knowledge on intended and unintended poisoning with ricin or castor seeds both in humans and animals, with a particular emphasis on intoxications due to improperly detoxified castor bean meal and forensic analysis.

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Section: Detection Of Ricin or Ricinus Communismentioning

confidence: 99%

Ricinus communis Intoxications in Human and Veterinary Medicine—A Summary of Real Cases

Worbs

Köhler

Pauly

et al. 2011

Toxins

193

177

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…11,77 ELISAs can be very sensitive but are prone to nonspecific reactions, and they may give positive responses for related proteins like RCA and even denatured ricin lacking toxic activity. 80 In vitro toxicity assays provide information on the type of toxic action but do not provide absolute evidence of which substance is present in the sample. 77 PCR-based methods detect the gene encoding the toxin but they do not provide evidence for the presence of the toxin itself.…”

Section: Ricinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass Spectrometric Detection of Protein-Based Toxins

Åberg

Björnstad

Hedeland

2013

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, an

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This review focuses on mass spectrometric detection of protein-based toxins, which are among the most toxic substances known. Special emphasis is given to the bacterial toxins botulinum neurotoxin from Clostridium botulinum and anthrax toxins from Bacillus anthracis as well as the plant toxin ricin produced by Ricinus communis. A common feature, apart from their extreme toxicity, is that they are composed of 2 polypeptide chains, one of which is responsible for cell uptake and another that has enzymatic function with the ability to destroy basic cellular functions. These toxins pose a threat, both regarding natural spread and from a terrorism perspective. In order for public health and emergency response officials to take appropriate action in case of an outbreak, whether natural or intentional, there is a need for fast and reliable detection methods. Traditionally, large molecules like proteins have been detected using immunological techniques. Although sensitive, these methods suffer from some drawbacks, such as the risk of false-positives due to cross-reactions and detection of inactive toxin. This article describes recently developed instrumental methods based on mass spectrometry for the reliable detection of botulinum neurotoxins, anthrax toxins, and ricin. Unequivocal identification of a protein toxin can be carried out by mass spectrometry-based amino acid sequencing. Furthermore, in combination with antibody affinity preconcentration and biochemical tests with mass spectrometric detection demonstrating the toxin's enzymatic activity, very powerful analytical methods have been described. In conclusion, the advent of sensitive, easily operated mass spectrometers provides new possibilities for the detection of protein-based toxins.

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“…ELISA can also underestimate actual ricin content when antigens are in high concentration, what is called the hook effect (Garber et al, 2005). Immunological methods cannot distinguish a toxic ricin molecule from a nontoxic ricin molecule (Kumar et al, 2010; Furtado et al, 2011). Among several methods evaluated by Kumar et al (2010), only SDS‐Page was able to differentiate native from denatured ricin molecules.…”

Section: Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Immunological methods cannot distinguish a toxic ricin molecule from a nontoxic ricin molecule (Kumar et al, 2010; Furtado et al, 2011). Among several methods evaluated by Kumar et al (2010), only SDS‐Page was able to differentiate native from denatured ricin molecules. In addition, ELISA may not be sensitive enough for the detection of ricin in biological samples such as: sera, animal waste, or intentionally contaminated food samples (Kumar et al, 2010).…”

Section: Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review on the Challenges for Increased Production of Castor

et al. 2012

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Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is one of the oldest cultivated crops, but currently it represents only 0.15% of the vegetable oil produced in the world. Castor oil is of continuing importance to the global specialty chemical industry because it is the only commercial source of a hydroxylated fatty acid. Castor also has tremendous future potential as an industrial oilseed crop because of its high seed oil content (more than 480 g kg−1), unique fatty acid composition (900 g kg−1 of ricinoleic acid), potentially high oil yields (1250–2500 L ha−1), and ability to be grown under drought and saline conditions. The scientific literature on castor has been generated by a relatively small global community of researchers over the past century. Much of this work was published in dozens of languages in journals that are not easily accessible to the scientific community. This review was conducted to provide a compilation of the most relevant historic research information and define the tremendous future potential of castor. The article was prepared by a group of 22 scientists from 16 institutions and eight countries. Topics discussed in this review include: (i) germplasm, genetics, breeding, biotic stresses, genome sequencing, and biotechnology; (ii) agronomic production practices, diseases, and abiotic stresses; (iii) management and reduction of toxins for the use of castor meal as both an animal feed and an organic fertilizer; (iv) future industrial uses of castor including renewable fuels; (v) world production, consumption, and prices; and (vi) potential and challenges for increased castor production.

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Denatured Ricin Can Be Detected as Native Ricin by Immunological Methods, but Nontoxic In Vivo

Cited by 11 publications

References 23 publications

Ricinus communis Intoxications in Human and Veterinary Medicine—A Summary of Real Cases

Ricinus communis Intoxications in Human and Veterinary Medicine—A Summary of Real Cases

Mass Spectrometric Detection of Protein-Based Toxins

A Review on the Challenges for Increased Production of Castor

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