3. Clostridium bacteria are gram- positive rod-shaped bacteria that form spores that allow the bacteria to survive in a dormant state until exposed to conditions that can support growth. There are seven types of botulism neurotoxin designated by the letters A through G. Only types A, B, E, and F cause illness in humans. The Clostridium bacteria are considered to be anaerobic, which means these organisms grow best in low or absent oxygen levels.

4. Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is a serious illness that causes flaccid paralysis of muscles.

5. The classic symptoms of botulism include: Double vision Blurred vision Drooping eyelids Slurred speech Difficulty swallowing Dry mouth Muscle weakness Constipation may occur. The doctor's examination may reveal that the gag reflex and the deep tendon reflexes like the knee-jerk reflex are decreased or absent. Infants with botulism appear lethargic, weak, and floppy, feed poorly, become constipated, and have a weak cry and poor muscle tone. In infants, constipation is often the first symptom to occur. These are all symptoms of the muscle paralysis that is caused by the bacterial neurotoxin

6. There are three main kinds of botulism: 1. Foodborne botulism 2. Wound botulism 3. Infant botulism

7. The neurotoxin actually paralyzes the nerves so that the muscles cannot contract. This happens when the neurotoxin enters the nerve cells and eventually interferes with the release of acetylcholine. Unless the nerve can regenerate a new axon that has no exposure to the neurotoxin, the interference at the neuromuscular junction is permanent.

10. Sarin gas is a human-made chemical warfare agent classified as a nerve agent. Sarin gas, or GB, is an organophosphorus compound. Organophosphorus compounds are degradable organic compounds containing carbon– phosphorus bonds, used primarily in pest control as an alternative to chlorinated hydrocarbons that persist in the environment. It has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction in the UN Resolution 687. It is a colorless, odorless liquid and it is used as a chemical weapon owing to its extreme potency as a nerve agent.

11. Like other nerve agents, sarin gas attacks the nervous system by stopping nerve endings at the muscles from switching off. Death will usually occur as a result of asphyxia due to the inability to control the muscles involved in breathing function.

12. Specifically, sarin gas is a potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter used at the neuromuscular junction. Normally, acetylcholine is released from the neuron to stimulate the muscle, after which it is degraded by acetylcholinesterase, allowing the muscle to relax.

16. Owing to the ubiquity of the trade name Novocain, in some regions procaine is referred to generically as novocaine. Procaine is a local anesthetic drug of the amino ester group. It is used primarily to reduce the pain of intramuscular injection of penicillin, and it is also used in dentistry. It acts mainly by being a sodium channel blocker.

17. Local anesthetics like novocaine (procaine) are agents that prevent transmission of nerve impulses without causing unconsciousness. They act by binding to fast sodium channels from within (in an open state).

18. In dentistry it works by producing a trigeminal nerve conduction block, in the mandibular (3rd) branch, decreasing the permeability of the axon cell membrane to (Na+) sodium ions. This mechanism prevents the entry of Na+ ions into the axon to propagate an action potential in both slow and fast pain fibers. Unmyelinated axons are the first to be affected. Myelinated motor nerves are only affected at the nodes of Ranvier.

20. Lidocaine is a common local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic drug. Lidocaine is usually used to relieve itching, burning and pain from skin inflammations. It is also injected as a dental anesthetic or as a local anesthetic for minor surgery.

21. Lidocaine is a type of medicine called a local anesthetic. It is used to numb areas that would otherwise feel pain. The stimulation causes sodium to enter the nerve. Lidocaine works by temporarily blocking this pathway of pain signals along nerves. It does this by stopping the sodium entering the nerve ending at the site of the pain. This prevents an electrical signal building up and passing along the nerve fibers to the brain.