- ‘Investigation of proteolytic stability and trans epithelial transport of proteogenic ricin, BoNT and SEB toxins’ project (PDF, 30 KB)
- Establishment of Quality Assurances for the Detection of Biological Toxins of Potential Bioterrorism Risk (EQuaTox)
- Development of an functional in vitro assay for the detection of botulinumtoxins (2011-2013):
3R-Project 125-11
- Development/establishment of analysis for DSP and ASP
- Weingart et al. 2012: A Bioanalytical Platform for Simultaneous Detection and Quantification of Biological Toxins
- B. Dorner et al. 2011: Ricinus communis Intoxications in Human and Veterinary Medicine - A Summary of Real Cases
- Weingart et al. 2010: The case of botulinum toxin in milk – experimental data
- Pauly et al. 2009:: Simultaneous quantification of five bacterial and plant toxins from complex matrices using a multiplexed fluorescent magnetic suspension assay
Toxinology
What is toxinology?
Toxinology is an interdisciplinary and specialist area of the science of toxicology, which deals specifically with naturally occurring toxins, their composition and their modes of action. Unlike poisons which can also be produced synthetically, toxins (low molecular chemical compounds and complex biomolecules alike) can only be produced by living organisms, such as animals, fungi, plants and bacteria.
There is much more to the field of toxinology than the chemistry and modes of action of a toxin. Toxinology also involves the study of the biology of venom- and toxin-producing organisms, the structure and sometimes the function of a venom apparatus, as well as the use and ecological role of these compounds.
Nowadays, toxins are increasingly used as research tools and as treatments for acute and chronic diseases like cancer, epilepsy, thrombosis, as well as in analgesic and anti-hypertensive medication.
Toxinology in the SPIEZ LABORATORY
All work with toxins in the Biology Division of the SPIEZ LABORATORY is carried out by the Toxinology Group.
The Toxinology Group works primarily on projects that deal with substances which feature in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), in particular the protein-based plant toxin ricin and the low molecular neurotoxin saxitoxin (STX) which appear alongside classic chemical warfare agents in Schedule 1 of the CWC.
According to a list compiled by NATO, there are over 200 different toxins. At present, we work exclusively with ricin and saxitoxin, botulinum neurotoxin and staphylococcus enterotoxin B, as these are considered among the twelve most dangerous biological warfare agents, or "Dirty Dozen", as they are also commonly known.
The Toxinology Group is involved in an ever greater number of non-military projects, particularly civil protection projects. A large number of toxins cause serious food poisoning and in worst-case scenarios could even be used in terrorist attacks on the civilian population. When food poisoning incidents are reported, the Toxinology Group carries out random tests on food samples for the presence of toxins. In doing so, the group helps medical professionals and public authorities develop a more effective response to such outbreaks.
Other fields of activity:
- Development and enhancement of its expertise
- Development and establishment of laboratory detection methods
- Evaluation and testing of commercial detection systems
- Advising national agencies in emergency situations
- Training of specialists from the Swiss Armed Forces NBC Defence Laboratory
- Involvement in the in-house apprenticeship programme (training of young chemical laboratory technicians)
- Running of an accredited test centre (STS 054)
- Creation of a national reference laboratory for ricin, BoNT, SEB and STX
 Head: Marc Avondet |
 Werner Arnold |