Threat Assessment of Mycotoxins as Weapons: Molecular Mechanisms of Acute Toxicity

Author: Stark, Avishay-Abraham

Source: Journal of Food Protection®, Volume 68, Number 6, June 2005 , pp. 1285-1293(9)

Publisher: International Association for Food Protection

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Abstract:

Mycotoxins are impractical as tactical weapons, but they can be used by small poor terrorist organizations to poison food and water sources or can be released in crowded, confined areas. Crude concentrated or dried extracts of readily grown fungal cultures can be used as weapons. The production of fungal weapons does not require elaborate facilities for the growth of fungi, sophisticated equipment for the purification of the toxins, or highly trained personnel. Aflatoxin B₁, fumonisin B₁, ochratoxin A, and the trichothecenes T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol could be weaponized for bioterrorism. Knowledge of the symptoms of intoxication and the biochemical mechanisms of action of mycotoxins is necessary for the rapid identification of the toxins, the development of prophylactic antidotes, and the design of effective treatments of affected persons. All of these mycotoxins except deoxynivalenol are carcinogens (Stark, A. A., Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 34:235–262, 1980; Stark, A. A., p. 435–445, in P. S. Steyn and R. Vleggaar, ed., Mycotoxins and phycotoxins, 1986; Stark, A. A., p. 47–60, in C. L. Wilson and S. Droby, ed., Microbial food contamination, 2000; Stark, A. A., and N. Paster, p. 60–64, in M. L. Wahlqvist, A. S. Truswell, R. Smith, and P. L. Nestel, ed., Nutrition in a sustainable environment, 1994). Because immediate and widespread death, illness, or panic is the goal of bioterrorists, the mechanisms by which mycotoxins exert acute toxicity are the focus of this article.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Biochemistry, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel

Publication date: 2005-06-01

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First published in 1937, the Journal of Food Protection^®, is a refereed monthly publication. Each issue contains scientific research and authoritative review articles reporting on a variety of topics in food science pertaining to food safety and quality. The Journal is internationally recognized as the leading publication in the field of food microbiology with a readership exceeding 11,000 scientists from 70 countries. The Journal of Food Protection^® is indexed in Index Medicus, Current Contents, BIOSIS, PubMed, Medline, and many others.

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Threat Assessment of Mycotoxins as Weapons: Molecular Mechanisms of Acute Toxicity

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