Long‑acting enzyme therapy to neutralize aldicarb poisoning
Long-acting aldicarb hydrolase as a medical countermeasure for aldicarb poisoning
A long‑lasting enzyme treatment that breaks down the pesticide aldicarb to help people with acute carbamate poisoning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190450 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing an enzyme that can rapidly break down aldicarb in the body and remain active longer than current options. They will test the enzyme's ability to prevent and reverse aldicarb poisoning in laboratory and animal experiments, comparing outcomes to standard treatments like atropine. The team will measure survival, neurological recovery, and safety to inform whether this approach could move toward human testing. If results are positive, the work will support next steps toward clinical trials and improved emergency treatment for mass‑exposure scenarios.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recent or acute exposure to aldicarb or similar carbamate pesticides would be candidates for this countermeasure in future clinical testing.
Not a fit: People with poisonings from unrelated chemicals, chronic low‑level pesticide exposure, or non‑toxicologic medical problems are unlikely to benefit from this specific antidote.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could provide a rapid, longer‑lasting antidote that reduces deaths and long‑term nerve damage after aldicarb exposure.
How similar studies have performed: Enzyme‑based countermeasures for related nerve agents have shown promise in animal studies, but a long‑acting aldicarb‑specific enzyme is a novel approach with limited prior testing.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zheng, Fang — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Zheng, Fang
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.