Development of Specific Therapy to Category A ToxicInfections

Abstract

Category A select agents continue to be major threat to human population both as naturally occurring diseases and as potential weapon of bioterrorists. Anthrax and botulism are probably the most threatening agents as both have virtually uncontrolled natural reservoirs from which they can be isolated and propagated. Available specific antitoxin therapy of both diseases is outdated; its efficiency is questionable as well as safety of reactogenic or human-derived components used in treatment. Highly sensitive toxin detection techniques are still not as widespread as it needed for timely alerting medical services. There is urgent need of pre-exposure prophylaxis and postexposure specific antitoxin therapy for anthrax and botulism. Analysis of modern studies in the field suggests oligoclonal antibodies acting against receptor-binding toxin subunits and nucleic acid aptamers as allosteric inhibitors of metlloproteolytic toxin components as the most promising candidates for development of efficient antitoxin therapy