Advances in Ricin and Shiga Toxin Inhibitors

Dear Colleagues,

Ricin, produced by castor beans, is a worldwide problem as a biothreat agent due to its accessibility, stability, and extreme toxicity and is classified as a category-B agent for bioterrorism. Shiga toxins are the primary virulence factors of E. coli (STEC), they are potentially fatal, foodborne pathogens responsible for the development of hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Ricin and Shiga toxins are type II ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) with identical mechanisms of action. The active (A) subunits catalyze the removal of the same adenine base from the sarcin/ricin loop of the large rRNA, thereby inhibiting protein synthesis. Despite more than three decades of research it has been extremely challenging to identify small molecules effective at preventing and/or treating ricin intoxication or STEC infection. Assays to measure their catalytic activity are critical for diagnosis, detection, and for the evaluation of inhibitor efficacy. Recent reports indicate novel approaches and promising avenues in the search for ricin and Shiga toxin inhibitors and this Special Issue aims to highlight these new developments, including small molecules, peptides, antibodies as potential antidotes against ricin and Shiga toxins and new assays to measure their catalytic activity. It will showcase the latest research and tools that will aid in inhibitor development and will advance our understanding of the mechanism of cytotoxicity of RIPs.

Dr. Nilgun E. Tumer
Dr. Jacques Y. Roberge
Guest Editors

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