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Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

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<strong>Chemical</strong> <strong>Agents</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Opportunity</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Terrorism</strong><br />

Training Support Package<br />

Participant Guide<br />

Slide 31<br />

This slide depicts the mechanism <strong>of</strong> action <strong>of</strong> botulinum toxin – the end result being<br />

inhibition <strong>of</strong> acetylcholine (neurotransmitter) release. The toxin, once taken up by the<br />

nerve fibre (axon) ending, prevents the fusion <strong>of</strong> presynaptic vesicles containing<br />

acetylcholine (the neurotransmitter responsible <strong>for</strong> sending signals between the brain<br />

and the muscle) with the nerve membrane at the synapse (connection point between<br />

nerve and muscle). If no acetylcholine is released, then coordinated muscle activity does<br />

not occur. Thus patients with botulism have paralysis, and this paralysis lasts a long time<br />

(weeks - months) even with use <strong>of</strong> the botulinum antidote (antitoxin antibodies).<br />

December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 287

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