Botulinum Neurotoxins

Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease caused by neurotoxin produced from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are among the most potent known biological toxins and have an estimated human median lethal dose (LD50) in the nanogram/kilogram range. Botulinum toxins have...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Webb, Robert P, Roxas-Duncan, Virginia I, Smith, Leonard A
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ANTIPERSONNEL WEAPONS
BACTERIAL TOXINS
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE
BONTS(BOTULINUM NEUROTOXINS)
CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM
LETHAL DOSAGE
NEUROTOXINS
Pharmacology
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Summary:Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease caused by neurotoxin produced from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are among the most potent known biological toxins and have an estimated human median lethal dose (LD50) in the nanogram/kilogram range. Botulinum toxins have historically been employed as biological weapons (BW) through state-sponsored programs in Japan, Germany, the United States, Russia and Iraq as well as by independent terrorist organizations. The extreme potency of the toxin, its persistence within affected neurons, the need for protracted intensive care, and the lack of an effective post-intoxication therapeutic intervention make BoNTs a potentially deadly offensive biological weapon. Chapt 6 in the Book Bioterrorism; Edited by Stephen A. Morse, ISBN 978-953-51-0205-2; InTech, Rijeka, Croatia