Bio Warfare and Terrorism: Toxins and Other Mid-Spectrum Agents
Abstract
Toxins are toxic chemicals that can be elaborated by a biological organism. The word `toxin' is often loosely used to mean poison but should be reserved for its more restricted definition; toxicant is a better synonym for poison. Several of the less complex toxins can now be synthesized in the laboratory or produced by other organisms following gene insertion, but synthetic toxins identical to their naturally occurring counterparts are still by definition toxins. Related terms include phycotoxins (toxins from algae), mycotoxins (fungal toxins), phytotoxins (plant toxins), and venoms (toxins from animals, especially vertebrates). Endotoxins are lipopolysac-charide toxins in the cell walls of certain gram-negative bacteria, and enterotoxins are toxins, such as cholera toxin, that damage intestinal mucosal cells. An exotoxin is a toxin that an organism releases into the environment. The actual toxin secreted by cells has in some cases been altered from the protoxin initially formed within the cells. Toxins usually do not perform crucial metabolic functions within their organisms of origin but act as offensive or defensive reactions to other organisms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA442503
Entities
People
- James M. Madsen
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense