title: Technological advancements for the detection of and protection against biological and chemical warfare agents.
abstract: There is a growing need for technological advancements to combat agents of chemical and biological warfare, particularly in the context of the deliberate use of a chemical and/or biological warfare agent by a terrorist organization. In this tutorial review, we describe methods that have been developed both for the specific detection of biological and chemical warfare agents in a field setting, as well as potential therapeutic approaches for treating exposure to these toxic species. In particular, nerve agents are described as a typical chemical warfare agent, and the two potent biothreat agents, anthrax and botulinum neurotoxin, are used as illustrative examples of potent weapons for which countermeasures are urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Eubanks
authors.forename: Tobin J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Kim D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Janda
mesh_terms: D000881:Anthrax / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001906:Botulism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002618:Chemical Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D020011:Protective Agents