TY - JOUR PY - 2006// TI - Bioregulators as prototypic nontraditional threat agents JO - Clinics in laboratory medicine A1 - Kagan, Elliott SP - 421 EP - 43, ix VL - 26 IS - 2 N2 - Bioregulators are naturally occurring organic compounds that regulate a multitude of biologic processes. Under natural circumstances, bioregulators are synthesized in minute quantities in a variety of living organisms and are essential for physiologic homeostasis. In the wrong hands, these compounds have the capability to be used as nontraditional threat agents that are covered by the prohibitions of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. Unlike traditional biowarfare/bioterrorism agents that have a latency period of hours to days,the onset of action of bioregulators may occur within minutes after host exposure. Concerns regarding the potential misuse of bioregulators for nefarious purposes relate to the ability of these nontraditional agents to induce profound physiologic effects.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0272-2712 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cll.2006.03.007 ID - ref1 ER -