Botulinum Neurotoxins

Abstract

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.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 28, 2012
Accession Number
ADA562179

Entities

People

  • Leonard A. Smith
  • Robert P. Webb
  • Virginia I. Roxas-duncan

Organizations

  • United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Factors
  • Chemistry
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Neurons
  • Peripheral Nervous System
  • Poisoning
  • Second World War

Readers

  • Microbial Pathology
  • Strategic Security Studies