Suicidal death after injection of a castor bean extract (Ricinus communis L.)

Coopman, Vera; Leeuw, Marc De; Cordonnier, Jan; Jacobs, Werner

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.04.019

Cited by 65 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Ricin, in semi-purified or purified form, is extremely toxic [1–3]. Although few cases of ricin intoxication in humans have been reported [4], animal studies confirm that the toxin can be fatal by injection, inhalation or ingestion. Ricin has a history of being used both as a biological weapon and biothreat agent [5], a fact that is disconcerting considering no available vaccines or antidotes are currently available to prevent or counteract the effects of the toxin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Folding domains within the ricin toxin A subunit as targets of protective antibodies

O’Hara¹,

Neal²,

McCarthy³

et al. 2010

Vaccine

188

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Efforts to develop an effective vaccine against ricin are focused on the engineering of attenuated and stable recombinant forms of the toxin’s enzymatic A subunit (RTA). While several candidate antigens are in development, vaccine design and efficacy studies are being undertaken in the absence of a fundamental understanding of those regions of RTA that are critical in eliciting protective immunity. In this present study, we produced and characterized a collection of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against five distinct immunodominant regions on RTA, and used these MAbs to identify several key neutralizing epitopes on the toxin. Protective MAbs were directed against α-helices located in RTA folding domains 1 and 2, whereas non-neutralizing antibodies recognized random coils and loops that were primarily confined to folding domain 3. These data offer insights into the immunodominant and structural determinants on RTA that give rise to protective immunity, and for the first time provide an immunological rationale for ricin vaccine design.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Folding domains within the ricin toxin A subunit as targets of protective antibodies

O’Hara¹,

Neal²,

McCarthy³

et al. 2010

Vaccine

188

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…and Ricinus communis are sometimes used in suicides and homicides [6][7][8][9]. R. communis is the source of castor oil, which has broad applications in various industries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genus identification of toxic plant by real-time PCR

Matsuyama

Nishi

2010

Int J Legal Med

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Some plants have toxicities that are dangerous for humans. In the case of poisoning by toxic plants, a rapid and easy screening test is required for accurate medical treatment or forensic investigation. In this study, we designed specific primer pairs for identification of toxic plants, such as subgenus Aconitum, genus Ricinus, genus Illicium, and genus Scopolia, by internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Allied species of target plants, foods, and human DNA were not detected, but each primer pair provided a specific PCR product from the target plant using real-time PCR. This method can detect the subgenus Aconitum, genus Ricinus, and genus Scopolia with template DNA of 10 pg, respectively, and genus Illicium with 1 pg. Furthermore, each primer pair provided the exact PCR product from digested target plants in artificial gastric fluid. When a trace unknown plant sample in forensic investigation is collected from stomach contents, this PCR assay may be useful for screening toxic plants.

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“…77 The low molecular weight alkaloid ricinine has been used as a marker of ingestion of Ricinus material because it was easier to analyze than the protein ricin. 81,82 In order to obtain unequivocal evidence for the presence of ricin, a sophisticated technique that can directly characterize the properties of the protein must be applied. During the past decades, mass spectrometers that can carry out this task have been developed, and in the year 2000, Despeyroux et al determined the molecular weight of ricin isoforms by MALDI-TOF-MS. 83 Increased certainty in ricin identification has been demonstrated by tryptic peptide mapping by LC-MS and MALDI-TOF-MS. 84,85 However, peptide mapping is considered to give only a provisional level of identification.…”

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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Suicidal death after injection of a castor bean extract (Ricinus communis L.)

Cited by 65 publications

References 13 publications

Folding domains within the ricin toxin A subunit as targets of protective antibodies

Folding domains within the ricin toxin A subunit as targets of protective antibodies

Genus identification of toxic plant by real-time PCR

Mass Spectrometric Detection of Protein-Based Toxins

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