RICINName 1Name 2Name 3Name 4

What is a toxin? Substance produced by an organism

that has an adverse affect on other organisms.

Any substance is capable of becoming a toxin under the right conditions and in the appropriate organism.

Toxins can be produced for various reasons Defensively Offensively Both defensively and offensively

Why we chose Ricin?

We chose to do our project on Ricin because it comes from castor beans , which are very common around the world. We found it interesting that castor oil has been used as a folk remedy for years and yet Ricin poisoning is not common. As we researched Ricin we became intrigued by the medical uses of Ricin.

What is Ricin?

Ricin is a type II ribosome inactivating protein It contains two subunits called

A and B chains The A and B chains are linked

by a disulfide bond

Ricin is freely soluble in water

Where does Ricin come from? Comes from castor beans on the

castor bean plant, Ricinus communis Is released when the beans are crushed

Castor bean plants are currently found throughout the world, originating from Asia and Africa

Mechanism of Ricin1. Ricin utilizes the

A-B mechanism to enter the cell, in which the B chain attaches to the cell and then the protein undergoes endocytosis into the cell.

2. It then enters the Golgi apparatus and undergoes retrograde transport to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

Mechanism of Ricin (continued)3. In the ER the A and B

chains dissociate and then the A chain translocates to the cytosol.

4. The A chain inactivates ribosomes by removing an adenine from position 4324 of the 28S rRNA in the 60S ribosomal subunit.

5. The rRNA is unable to bind protein elongation factors, thus seizing protein synthesis.

History of the castor bean Production of castor oil

Folk uses/ Home remedies

Industrial uses

Production of castor oil

Castor oil is made up of Rhicinoleic acid: 85-95% Oleic acid: 2-6% Linoleic acid: 1-5%

Ricin is found in the mash that is produced when castor beans are processed

Folk remedies

Skin remedies Other uses Sunburn Skin abrasions/

inflammation Acne Reduction in

scar tissue

Laxative Arthritis Ringworm Hair loss Athlete’s foot

Industrial uses

Motor oil- Castrol Biofuel

Lubricant Varnishes

Uses for Ricin

Biological warfare During WWII, the British military

developed a Ricin bomb. It was code-named the W-bomb However, it was never used on soldiers

or civilians During WWII, U.S. and Canada

undertook studying Ricin in cluster bombs.

Development of Ricin into a military weapon is no longer funded due to the fact that it is less potent than other agents such as botulinum or anthrax.

Terrorism

In recent years, Ricin turned up in an envelope in the mailroom that serves Senator Bill Frist’s office and in the post office in Greenville, SC.

In 2002, plans by the al Qaeda terror network to produce Ricin were found in Kabul

In 1991, four members of the Patriots Council, an extremist and anti-government group, were arrested for allegedly plotting to kill a U.S. marshall with Ricin

Ricin assassination

In 1978, Ricin was used to assassinate Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian dissident. The Ricin was injected through a poison dart that was shot from an umbrella. The Russian KGB and the Bulgarian secret police are suspected.

Ricin vaccine

A Ricin vaccine, RiVax, was developed at the University of Texas Southwestern.

RiVax contains a genetically inactivated subunit Ricin A chain that is enzymatically inactive and lacks residual toxicity of the holotoxin.

It is currently undergoing its second trial at the University of Texas.

Medical uses for Ricin

Ellen Vitetta, director of the Cancer Immunobiolgy Center at UT Southwestern, is working on developing a cancer treatment using ricin. Developed a portion of the Ricin toxin into a

new class of immunotoxins Immunotoxins are made by linking a portion of

the Ricin toxin to a tumor-seeking antibody. The antibody binds to the tumor cell and then the

Ricin portion of the immunotoxin is taken into the cell. This results in the tumor cell’s death.

Continued cancer research

Vitetta has also developed a way to genetically modify the Ricin A chain so that it is less dangerous to humans, but still as lethal to cancer cells. This would allow for higher doses of the treatment to be given without the risk of increased side effects.

This new version has been successful in human and mice trials.

Civilian Poisoning

Easy access from websites allows anyone the knowledge to synthesize toxic Ricin

This knowledge allows people to potentially use it as a deadly weapon

Some websites that contain directions:http://ishare-world.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-people-want-to-know-how-to-make.htmlhttp://www.zoklet.net/totse/en/bad_ideas/irresponsible_activities/163208.html

**Please DO NOT Try This At Home!!!!**

Exposure To Ricin

In its natural form, Ricin has to be ingested for an organism to be exposed to it

Purified Ricin can be exposed to organisms through the air, food and water

Ricin is not contagious (transmitted from human to human)

Exposure Pathways

Pathways: Inhalation Ingestion

Skin contact

The symptoms and severity of Ricin poisoning are route- and dose-dependent

Ricin poisoning can lead to death within 36 to 72 hours.

Increasing Lethality from Left to RightIncreasing Lethality from Left to Right

Inhalation Symptoms

Symptoms begin within 12 hours of exposure

Intoxication through inhalation of aerosolized powder or mist is the most lethal route

Symptoms include: respiratory distress, fever, cough, nausea, tightness in the chest, heavy sweating and pulmonary edema resulting in cyanosis. Low blood pressure and respiratory failure may occur, leading to death.

Ricin

Ingestion Symptoms

Oral ingestion is the least deadly route

Swallowing significant amounts of Ricin may result in vomiting & diarrhea that may become bloody.

Severe dehydration may result, followed by low blood pressure.

Other signs or symptoms may include hallucinations, seizures, and blood in the urine.

Multi-organ failure and death may follow shortly after.

Ricin

Subdermal Injection Symptoms Ricin is unlikely to be

absorbed through intact skin though contact may cause redness and pain

Intravenous exposure results in fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension, hepatitis, pancreatitis, nephritis, myocardial injury, cerebral edema, vomiting, diarrhea, and bone marrow suppression.

Ricin

Treatment There are currently no

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatments specifically for Ricin poisoning.

Patients suffering from Ricin poisoning should be provided supportive therapy.

Supportive Therapy: an intervention to relieve symptoms of infection in patients. Supportive care can include intravenous fluids or medicine for pain or fever relief.

What To Do If Exposed

Leave the area immediately

Remove clothing Wash skin and eyes Do NOT induce

vomiting or drink fluids

Seek medical attention immediately Death can take place

within 36-72 hours No antidote

Conclusion

What is it: Ricin

Where it comes from: “Mash” of Castor Beans

What it does: Ceases protein synthesis by inactivating ribosomal translation

Conclusion

The good: Currently being tested as a cancer treatment option

The bad: In the past, was developed by militaries as a biological weapon BUT never actually used

The ugly: Within the past decade, there have been numerous terrorist groups that have utilized Ricin poisoning

References http://www.compchemcons.com/ricin.html

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com (image)

http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/castor_bean.htm (image)

http://www.onlinehardware.ie/shop/images/eco_varnish.jpg (image)

http://www.performance-oils.co.uk/acatalog/a747.jpg (image)

http://www.dcmilitary.com/dcmilitary_archives/stories/090105/36813-1.shtml

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/01/07/terror.poison.extremists/index.html

http://www.dorbiopharma.com/prod_def_rivax.shtml

http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/focus/agents_diseases/fact_sheets/ricin.html

Audi, J., Belson, M., Patel, M. et al. 2005. Ricin Poisoning: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of American Medical Association. Vol 294: 2342-2351.

Coopman, V., Cordonnier, J., De Leeuw, M., Jacobs, W. 2009. Suicidal death after injection of a castor bean extract (Ricinnus communis ) . Forensic Science International. Vol 189: e13-e20.

Credle, J., Danielsen, M., Dretxhen, K., Leshin, J., O’Connell, K., Weeks, A. 2010. Characterization of Ricin toxin family members from Ricinus communis. Toxicon. Vol 55: 658-661.

Madea, B., and Musshoff, F. 2009. Ricin Poisoning and Forensic Toxicology. Drug Testing and Analysis. Vol 1: 184- 191.