DUARTE, Calif. -- Scientists at City of Hope and the California Department of Public Health have developed a new ultrasensitive assay to detect botulinum neurotoxin. The toxin is one of the most poisonous substances known that can cause life-threatening disease, and is considered a major potential bioterrorism threat agent. The research teams work is published today in the online journal PLoS ONE (http://www.plosone.org/doi/pone.0002041).
Botulinum neurotoxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. When ingested, the toxin disables nerve function and can result in paralysis and even death. Botulism normally results when a person eats food tainted with C. botulinum bacteria or if a wound is infected by the bacterium. Infants, whose digestive systems are not yet fully developed, also are susceptible to the disease if the bacterium gains a foothold in their intestinal tract. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify botulinum neurotoxin as one of six maximum threat bioterrorism agents due to its potency, lethality and ease of production and transport. One gram of botulinum toxin could kill more than 1 million people, according to a 2001 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The new test is at least ten thousand times more sensitive and produces results much faster than the current detection method for botulinum neurotoxin, said Markus Kalkum, Ph.D., assistant professor, Division of Immunology, City of Hope, and lead researcher in the study. Wide use of the new assay would improve food safety and food processing technology, speed up and improve the diagnosis and treatment of human disease, advance the development of novel therapeutics, and greatly enhance the countrys ability to detect and defend against a bioterrorism attack.
The collaborative research team developed a test that is less expensive, faster and easier to perform than c
'/>"/>
| Contact: Shawn Le sle@coh.org 800-888-5323 Public Library of Science Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. USC School of Dentistry researchers uncover link between osteoporosis drugs and jaw infection
2. UCLA stem cell researchers create heart and blood cells from reprogrammed skin cells
3. Researchers discover molecular basis of a form of muscular dystrophy
4. Sunflower debate ends in Mexico, researchers say
5. Carnegie Mellon researchers urge development of low carbon electricity
6. In computer models and observations, researchers see potential for significant red tide season
7. Montana State researchers study spread of lake trout in Glacier National Park
8. Medical College researchers find dinosaur clues in fat
9. Researchers discover gene for branchio-oculo-facial syndrome
10. Researchers reveal structure of protein that repairs damage to cancer cells
11. Purdue researchers propose way to incorporate deforestation into climate change treaty
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |