Toxins As Biological Weapons for Terror-characteristics, Challenges and Medical Countermeasures: a Mini-review

Overview

Journal Disaster Mil Med

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Emergency Medicine

Date 2017 Mar 8

PMID 28265441

Citations 17

Authors

Tamar Berger

Arik Eisenkraft

Erez Bar-Haim

Michael Kassirer

Adi Avniel Aran

Itay Fogel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Toxins are hazardous biochemical compounds derived from bacteria, fungi, or plants. Some have mechanisms of action and physical properties that make them amenable for use as potential warfare agents. Currently, some toxins are classified as potential biological weapons, although they have several differences from classic living bio-terror pathogens and some similarities to manmade chemical warfare agents. This review focuses on category A and B bio-terror toxins recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Botulinum neurotoxin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin, and ricin. Their derivation, pathogenesis, mechanism of action, associated clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed in detail. Given their expected covert use, the primary diagnostic challenge in toxin exposure is the early detection of morbidity clusters, apart from background morbidity, after a relatively short incubation period. For this reason, it is important that clinicians be familiar with the clinical manifestations of toxins and the appropriate methods of management and countermeasures.

Citing Articles

Development of Effective Medical Countermeasures Against the Main Biowarfare Agents: The Importance of Antibodies.

Avril A, Guillier S, Rasetti-Escargueil C Microorganisms. 2025; 12(12.

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Neutralizing chimeric heavy-chain antibody targeting the L-HN domain of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type F.

Sun K, Luo S, Jiang Y, Guo J, Wang X, Cheng K Arch Toxicol. 2024; 98(12):4187-4195.

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A human bispecific antibody neutralizes botulinum neurotoxin serotype A.

Lu J, Jiang Y, Guo J, Chen L, Liu F, Li Z Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):20806.

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First Report of Food Poisoning Due to Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Type B in Döner Kebab (Italy).

Romano A, Carrella S, Rezza S, Nia Y, Hennekinne J, Bianchi D Pathogens. 2023; 12(9).

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Occurrence and Patterns of Enterotoxin Genes, Types and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in in Food and Food Contact Surfaces in Singapore.

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