Novichok Flashcards
What is the oldest known fungicide and pesticide?
Elemental sulphur.
What are neonicotinoids derived from?
Nicotine.
What is imidacloprid?
A neonicotinoid that is a commonly used insecticide.
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Autoimmune disease that attacks nicotinic ACh receptors at the NMJ.
What is edrophonium?
Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
What is edrophonium used for?
Used in a Tensilon Test to differentiate between Myasthenia Gravis and Lambert-Eaton Syndrome.
Using edrophonium in MG leads to recovery from symptoms whereas there is no effect in Lambet-Eaton Syndrome.
What does the calabar bean contain?
Physostigmine (AChE inhibitor).
How is venomous agent X (VX) produced?
Mixing together aminoethylmethyl phosphonite with sulphur.
What can we do with some organophosphate based compounds?
Transport them as two separate chemicals and then mix together at the point of use.
What does novichok refer to?
A series of organophosphate compounds.
What is urethane?
A carbamate used in non-recovery animal anaesthetic.
What is onchidal?
An irreversible AChE inhibitor excreted by the air-breathing sea slug.
What might the mechanism of action of onchidal involve?
The creation of a covalent bond between the toxin and the enzyme.
Why are pyrethrins and pyrethroids favoured over organophosphate and organochlorides as pesticides/insecticides?
They are less toxic.
How do pyrenthrins work?
Slow or inhibit the inactivation of Nav so cells can’t fire normally.
What is tubocurarine and why is it used by tribal hunters to create poison arrows?
An alkaloid derived from a climbing vine plant found in South America.
Competitive antagonist of nicotinic receptors.
