Chemical and Biological Agents

Chemical and Biological Agents represent a broad category of hazardous substances and pathogens rather than a specific molecular target like a receptor or enzyme. Chemical agents include toxic substances such as nerve agents (e.g., Sarin), blister agents (e.g., Sulfur mustard), and blood agents (e.g., Cyanide), which disrupt vital physiological processes like neurotransmission or cellular respiration (CDC, 2023; NIH, 2022). Biological agents consist of bacteria, viruses, or toxins—such as Bacillus anthracis or Botulinum toxin—that cause severe disease or death in humans (WHO, 2024). These agents are not therapeutic targets themselves; instead, they are the causative factors of injury or illness that medical countermeasures, such as antidotes and vaccines, are designed to treat or prevent. Because this term encompasses a heterogeneous group of threats and lacks a specific biological structure, it is considered an incorrect designation for a single drug target.

Other names

Chemical warfare agentsBiological warfare agentsBiothreat agentsCBRN agentsToxic industrial chemicals

Mechanisms vary by specific agent; for example, nerve agents inhibit acetylcholinesterase, while biological toxins like ricin inhibit protein synthesis.