Super toxin

To protect the warfighter from current and potential future super-toxins, the threats should be described with as much technical precision as possible. Future threats may include more sophisticated CB weapons but also entities such as prions (as weaponized proteins) or toxic nanoparticles. 

A super list of world-wide sources of information about drugs, pesticides, environmental pollutants and other potential toxins. Ties into ASDTR, EPA, the National Toxicology Program Carcinogen List (NTPA), and other governmental... 

Even though environmental toxicology could have profound effects on the HS response, there are other considerations where manipulation of the HS response could be beneficial. For example, constitutive induction of the HS response in bacteria could be a potential means to develop super-microbes which could withstand harsh environments while engaging in their genetically-designed function such as scouring oil spills and enzymatically converting toxins into harmless substances. 

Diagnosis Be suspicious if an aerosol attack occurs in the form of yellow rain with droplets of yellow fluid contaminating clothing and the environment. Confirmation requires testing of blood, tissue and environmental samples. As for treatment, there is no specific antidote however, super-activated charcoal should be given orally if the toxin is swallowed. The only defense is to wear a protective mask and clothing during an attack. No specific immunotherapy or chemotherapy is available for use in the field. 

Figure 15 Structure of the SUPER TWIG 1(6) Shiga toxin inhibitor. The nomeclature is derived from the generation of the dendrimer and the number of glycan displays. Here, the hexavalent glycan display (designated by R groups) is presented on a first-generation carbosilane dendrimer scaffold.

The pores of friendly nanomaterials could be used to store strong adds, even super acids, in some cases. Likewise, weak bases or strong bases could be stored for use as needed in killing or destroying advanced enemy toxins. In addition, the nanomaterial itself could be produced with acidic sites (metal ions and/or certain proton donors) built into the pore walls and crystal faces. For example, titanium or zirconium ions can serve as acid sites if adjacent to sulfate species. Likewise, the proton forms of some transition-metal oxygen-anion clusters (polyoxometalates or POMs ), like some metal oxides, are effective superacids in commercial processes. Polyoxometalates could be physically held within the pores or could be grafted onto the pore walls or onto the outer nanocrystal faces. Basic sites can also be built into the nanostructure, such as oxide anions near a metal cation vacancy. There are many other possibilities, such as sulfide substitution for oxide anions on the surface of the nanocrystals. 

Efforts to better characterize the mechanism of action of SEB and related "super antigens" are being funded by NIH (at a very modest level), and USAMRIID is pursuing both passive and active immuno-protection. Administration of chicken-derived anti-SEB antibodies prior to, or up to 4 hours after, inhalation of an otherwise lethal dose of SEB protected nonhuman primates from death (but not from illness). Active immunization is felt to be the most promising line of defense due to the very rapid binding of the toxin (less than 5 minutes). 

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