MMSL 2018, 87(4):158-168 | DOI: 10.31482/mmsl.2018.027

HIGHLY TOXIC RIBOSOME-INACTIVATING PROTEINS AS CHEMICAL WARFARE OR TERRORIST AGENTSReview article

Jiří Patočka ORCID...1,2*
1 Institute of Radiology, Toxicology and Civil Protection, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
2 Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

Biological weapons include infectious agents and toxins. Toxins are poisons produced by living organisms. An important group of toxins are ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) of plant or microbial origin that inhibit protein synthesis by inactivating ribosomes. RIPs have been of great scientific interest due to their importance in human health, as both pathogenic agents and therapeutics, but also due to their potential use in biological warfare and bioterrorism. RIPs relevant to bioterrorism include mainly ricin and abrin. Ricin is protein produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis). Abrin is protein that has been isolated from the seeds of Abrus precatorius. Both inactivate ribosomes, which results in toxicity because of the inhibition of protein synthesis. Abrin and ricin are substances very toxic to humans in all types of administration, with the exception of oral administration. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, tachycardia, hypotension, and seizures. Treatment is supportive, and no antidote exists.

Keywords: Plant toxic proteins;  ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs); abrin; ricin; modeccin; viscumin; volkensin; warfare; medicine

Received: March 20, 2018; Accepted: April 24, 2018; Prepublished online: June 8, 2018; Published: December 7, 2018  Show citation

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Patočka, J. (2018). HIGHLY TOXIC RIBOSOME-INACTIVATING PROTEINS AS CHEMICAL WARFARE OR TERRORIST AGENTS. MMSL, 87(4), 158-168. doi: 10.31482/mmsl.2018.027
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