A purified recombinant organophosphorus acid anhydrase protects mice against soman

Since pharmacologic treatments of organophosphorus anticholinesterases (OPs) are nearing their practical limit other types of treatment are being sought. One approach is the prophylactic administration of scavengers that will detoxify OPs before they reach their critical target site. We have shown that mice which have been treated with a purified organophosphorus acid anhydride hydrolase (OPAH) are not measurably affected by doses of soman that are lethal to untreated animals. This result indicates that this approach is worthy of exploration and development for protecting military personnel and agriculture workers against OP intoxication.