Ricin: current understanding and prospects for an antiricin vaccine.
Ricin is a potent cytotoxin that can be rapidly internalized into mammalian cells leading to cell death. The ease in obtaining the toxin and its deadly nature combine to implicate ricin as a convenient agent for bioterrorism. Research into the mechanism of toxicity, as well as strategies for treatment and protection from the toxin has been widely undertaken for a number of years. This article reviews the current understanding of the mechanism of action of the toxin, the clinical effects of ricin intoxication and how these relate to current and continuing prospects for vaccine development.
Marsden
Catherine J
CJ
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK. cmarsden@bio.warwick.ac.uk
Smith
Daniel C
DC
Roberts
Lynne M
LM
Lord
J Michael
JM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000992:Antitoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012276:Ricin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics
D000992:Antitoxins; D014612:Vaccines; D012276:Ricin