title: Ricin detection: tracking active toxin.
abstract: Ricin is a plant toxin with high bioterrorism potential due to its natural abundance and potency in inducing cell death. Early detection of the active toxin is essential for developing appropriate countermeasures. Here we review concepts for designing ricin detection methods, including mechanism of action of the toxin, advantages and disadvantages of current detection assays, and perspectives on the future development of rapid and reliable methods for detecting ricin in environmental samples.
authors.affiliation: Division of Therapeutic Proteins, Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Bozza
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tolleson
authors.affiliation: Division of Therapeutic Proteins, Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rivera Rosado
authors.affiliation: Division of Therapeutic Proteins, Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Electronic address: Baolin.zhang@fda.hhs.gov.
authors.forename: Baolin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D023482:Bioterrorism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012276:Ricin / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D012276:Ricin
keywords: Bioterrorism; Detection methods; Plant toxins; Ricin