Vaccine Developed Against Bioterrorism Toxin
By Biotechdaily staff writers
Posted on 13 Sep 2002
Researchers have developed a vaccine in mice against ricin, a deadly toxin produced from castor beans that has been used as a biologic weapon in many parts of the world. Their work was reported in the September 10, 2002, issue of Vaccine.Posted on 13 Sep 2002
In creating the new vaccine, researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT, Dallas, USA) mutated the DNA encoding the active A chain of the toxin. They took out the site that inhibits protein synthesis as well as the site responsible for inducing vascular leak. They then created three recombinant versions of ricin A chain, two of which were effective as vaccine in mice. The researchers believe one or both of these would be safe and effective in humans.
"Ricin is not only dangerous, but it is also cheap and easy to make,” said Dr. Ellen Vitetta, director of the Cancer Immunology Center at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study. Large stockpiles of ricin have been found in several countries in the Middle East, she noted.
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