title: Botulism and bioterrorism: how serious is this problem?
abstract: Botulism is a potentially lethal disease caused by one of seven homologous neurotoxic proteins usually produced by the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. This neuromuscular disorder occurs through an exquisite series of molecular events, ultimately ending with the arrest of acetylcholine release and hence, flaccid paralysis. There are three types of botulism: food, wound, and infant botulism. Most strains of the bacterium produce a potent, respiratory muscle-paralyzing neurotoxin, botulinum toxin (BTX). It can lead to death unless appropriate therapy is promptly initiated. Due to the severity and potency of BTX, its importance as a biological weapon is of major concern to public health officials. Nevertheless, BTX is also medicament.
authors.affiliation: University of Defence, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Toxicology, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. patocka@pmfhk.cz
authors.forename: Jirí
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patocka
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Splino
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Merka
mesh_terms: D023482:Bioterrorism; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000506:poisoning; D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins