| abstract |
The invention provides novel enzymes and methods for enzyme-based active decontamination, e.g., nerve agent detoxification. In one aspect, the invention provides enzymes having non-heme chloroperoxidase (nhCPOs) activity, and methods for bleaching and degradation of lignin. The invention provides polypeptides, nucleic acids, infective vehicles, transduced or infected cells or plants and/or transgenic plants to, and methods of using them, e.g., provide self-protecting, pesticide-resistant and/or herbicide-resistant cells or plants, where in one aspect the polypeptides of the invention act to hydrolyzing P-S or P-F bonds and detoxify acetylcholinesterases or butyrylcholinesterases. In one aspect, the invention provides an enzyme mixture or composition that provides broad-spectrum, agent-specific oxidation and hydrolysis activities as well as hypohalite generation for oxidation or hydrolysis of V-agents, G-agents and H-agents and which generates oxidants such as chlorine dioxide and reactive radicals for killing of biological agents, including anthrax spores. |