Czech Scientists in the Fight against Terrorism

*A group of Brno scientists have found an enzyme for breaking down mustard gas and similar substances which is far more effective than currently available means.* *Scientists from Loschmidt Laboratories and Military Institute of Protection are also working on decontamination mixtures for civil defence use which could be used in places threatened by terrorist attack, such as the metro or airports.* Even though mustard gas has been around for quite a long time, up until now there has been no suitable antidote to neutralise the effect in people stricken by it. A new discovery by Czech scientists may soon change all this. Because enzymes are natural material they are gentle on the body and problems only arise in cases where there is an allergic reaction, but this is a problem that can be controlled. Mustard gas is one of the most insideous of substances as the results of contact with it continue to attack the system for a number of hours. The high reactivity of mustard gas and its attack on the biomolecular structures of the afflicted cells causes interruption of the cell metabolism and damages its DNA and consequent decease. #img_201#.<>

What has made this discovery more important at the present time is that, along with the increased threat of terrorist attack, there is an increasing need to protect ourselves and to have all suitable means available. Even though this substance which was first used on a massive scale in the First World War still represents a real threat from various terrorist organisations and there are significant supplies of it all around the world. „Efficient but gentle decontamination is one of the most efficient ways of protection against terrorist attacks. That´s why we are so interested in this technology and cooperate with its creators,“ claims Ing. Jiri Slabotinsky, CSc., scientist of the National Institute for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection (SUJCHBO). Mustard gas is a chemical weapon of mass destruction and has been around for about a hundred years. It was first used on a large scale by the Germans during the First World War. “Mustard gas is a substance which is easily synthesized without any special equipment and any average chemist could manage to produce it. The raw material is relatively easy to obtain and that is why it presents such a serious threat” says Zbyněk Prokop of Loschmidt laboratories. For the same reason when some states decide to arm themselves with weapons of mass destruction most start with production of mustard gas. A recent example is Iraq who used it in the Iran- Iraq War. #img_183#.<>

Until the discovery of enzymes for neutralising mustard gas the only known treatments were chemical ‘stechiometric’ decontaminants which are quite aggressive and not suitable in decontaminating skin and are also difficult to use in enclosed spaces. Their chemically active components are stoichiometric materials that are gradually consumed during their reaction, exhibiting high unit consumption. These methods are therefore inadequate and there is an urgent need to find an alternative. In comparison, enzymatic decontamination has great advantages in that it is harmless to the environment and, thanks to the mechanism of enzymatic division of mustard gas molecules, one molecule of enzyme can destroy up to a thousand molecules of this substance. Because of this there isn’t the need for massive amounts of the decontaminating agent, which is logistically very advantageous. The one disadvantage, however, is the current low stability of the enzyme. An usefulness of this enzyme is roughly between 1 and 2 years but the enzyme is relatively cheap to produce industrially and when compared to its positive effects this drawback is bearable. In searching for a suitable enzyme Czech scientists drew on the previous 10 years of experience in searching for and investigating enzymes suitable for use in biotechnology. They worked with enzymes isolated from nature, in this case bacteria, and used protein engineering tool for the manipulation with these enzymes. “In the first phase of research we drew on computer modelling and simulated an enzymatic reaction in order to ascertain whether dividing mustard gas molecules is at all theoretically possible by the action of selected enzymes. The computer modelling indicated that these enzymes ought to be successful in such a reaction” says Prokop, describing the beginning of this research. “This led to testing of batches of this enzyme and to empirical laboratory trials and selection of enzymes which would be the most effective at this reaction” Now the research team is working on investigating kinetics and mechanisms through which the reaction proceeds and, in particular, in developing methods of mass production of this enzyme with the aid of fermentation and alongside this a suitable enzyme carrier for practical application in decontamination mixtures and tolerance of the enzyme to individual components of such mixtures. According to Zbyněk Prokop of Loschmidt laboratories the principles of enzymatic deactivation are already well known and this technology is used for various warfare chemical and biological agents eg. against anthrax spores. The contribution of these Czech scientists is significant in that up till now no such an enzyme had been discovered for neutralization of mustard gas. “Thanks to our results we have been accepted onto a team of experts led by NATO which deals with biotechnology in the breakdown and degradation of various chemical weapons of mass destruction” says Dr. Prokop. Next year Czech scientists are to organize a meeting for a group of these experts. The team of scientists from Loschmidt Laboratories are going to apply for an European grant focused on development of multi-enzyme decontamination mixtures for civil defence services. Such decontamination mixtures would be located, for example, in the London Underground for protection against terrorist attacks. The possibility that civil defence services will have at their disposal such a universal decontamination mixture, which would be applicable without first having to analyse the weapons agent used, is certainly an attractive proposition. And the awareness that Czech scientists are to play a significant role in developing such substances is very pleasing. **Related article** "**Enzymes and Protein Engineering**":[http://www.gate2biotech.com/topic-of-the-month/enzymy-a-proteinove-inzenyrstvi.html] "Image: Direct Evolution":[ http://www.gate2biotech.com/documents/direct_evolution2.jpg]