Current treatments, such as atropine and diazepam, work by blocking acetylcholine receptors, but they must be administered right away and can't always prevent permanent neurological damage. All block an enzyme that regulates levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in muscles, causing muscle spasms, difficulty breathing, and sometimes death. The most commonly used type includes sarin, soman, cyclosarin, and tabun. Nerve agents are chemicals known as organophosphates. "There are a number of pros and cons," says biochemist Moshe Goldsmith of the Weizmann Institute of Science, who was not involved with the research. A person could develop a harmful immune response to the introduced protein, for example. The strategy could theoretically be adopted for human soldiers, but it would have risks. ![]() ![]() Army researchers have created a gene therapy that allows mice to make their own nerve agent–busting proteins, providing protection against the toxicants for months. Existing treatments for these chemical weapon attacks must be given quickly and don't always prevent convulsions or brain damage. Despite international bans, some countries, such as Syria, use deadly nerve agents against enemy soldiers and civilians.
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