Lecture 23. Biowarfare - Toxins, Recent Events and 'flu

Question 1

What has Ricin been used for?

Answer 1

In targeted assassinations (1920s onwards, records in the Metropolitan Police Journal),
As a terror weapon (extremist groups),
Has been developed as a large-scale biological weapon AT LEAST TWICE (US military, 1940s and Iraq, 1980s)

Question 2

What is ricin similar to?

Answer 2

SLTx1

Question 3

What is the mode of action in both ricin and SLTx1?

Answer 3

1. Cell-surface receptor binding and endocytosis
2. Retrograde trafficking to the ER lumen
3. Reductive separation of the A and B chains in the ER lumen
4. Dislocation of the A chains from the ER lumen to the cytosol
5. Recovery of A chain native structure in the cytosol
6. Inactivation of ribosomes: protein synthesis stops; cell dies

Question 4

Are there any cures for ricin and SLTx1?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

How many vaccines for ricin are there?

Answer 5

2 but they are not widely available

Question 6

How many vaccines for SLTx1 are there?

Answer 6

0

Question 7

What may prevent death from ricin?

Answer 7

Anti-ricin antibodies within 15 minutes of exposure may prevent death

Question 8

What may prevent death from SLTx1?

Answer 8

Anti-SLTx1 antibodies have a very small window of use (less than 15 minutes post exposure)

Question 9

What causes the flu?

Answer 9

Orthomyxoviridae RNA viruses

Question 10

What does the influenza A genome contain?

Answer 10

11 genes on eight pieces of RNA, encoding 11 proteins, including serotype antigens: haemagglutinin (HA)and neuraminidase (NA)