The Need For Continued Development Of Ricin Countermeasures

Abstract

Ricin toxin, an extremely potent and heat-stable toxin produced from the bean of the ubiquitous Ricinus communis (castor bean plant), has been categorized by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a category B biothreat agent that is moderately easy to disseminate. Ricin has the potential to be used as an agent of biological warfare and bioterrorism. Therefore,there is a critical need for continued development of ricin countermeasures. A safe and effective prophylactic vaccine against ricin that was FDA approved for "at risk" individuals would be an important first step in assuring the availability of medical countermeasures against ricin.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA558833

Entities

People

  • Leonard A. Smith
  • Ronald B. Reisler

Organizations

  • United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amino Acids
  • Bean Plants
  • Biological Warfare
  • Biomedical Research
  • Bioterrorism
  • Cells
  • Countermeasures
  • Food
  • Lethal Dosage
  • Medical Personnel
  • Molecules
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Small Molecules
  • United States
  • Vaccines
  • Vegetables
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Critical Infrastructure Protection in CBRN and WMD Threats.
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology