title: A mouse model for ricin poisoning and for evaluating protective effects of antiricin antibodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND. Ricin is a potential bioterrorism agent and no specific antidote or treatment exists for ricin poisoning. For this reason, we developed ricin-specific antibodies that were tested in a murine model of ricin poisoning for use as antidotes against symptoms of ricin poisoning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were poisoned with a lethal dose of ricin (5 microg) and their temperature and general condition were monitored for determination of a surrogate and humane end point. Mice were then treated with injections of ricin and different combinations of polyclonal anti-ricin antibodies. Antibody effect was evaluated for various doses and using various time points from ricin to antibody injection. Also, the effect of adjuvant symptomatic treatment was examined. Brain, heart, intestines, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, spleen, and stomach tissues were sampled for histopathological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mouse model was reproducible and easy to use. A clear protective effect of both anti-ricin A-chain and anti-ricin B-chain antibodies-but not of irrelevant antibodies-was demonstrated with no added effect of symptomatic treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that specific polyclonal antibodies against ricin A- and B-chain may reproducibly protect mice against ricin poisoning, even when the antibodies are administered up to 1.5 h after poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen S, Denmark. nat@ssi.dk
authors.forename: Natascha Helena
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kogutowska
authors.forename: Jesper Juhl
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Kristin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Engelhart Illigen
authors.forename: Niels H H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Heegaard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D023482:Bioterrorism; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012276:Ricin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012276:Ricin