Center for Countermeasures against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents

Cassava is a major food crop for over 800 million people worldwide, but it contains natural toxins (cyanogenic glycosides) and is often viewed as only a source of calories. In this study, we produced a specially processed, cyanide‑free dried cassava mash (DCM) and tested whether it could safely improve immune function. We found that DCM contained no detectable cyanide, no harmful bacteria or heavy metals, and met all food safety standards. When given to mice for 8 days, DCM increased the number of immune cells in the spleen (a key immune organ) by 15% and enhanced the production of two important immune messengers – IL‑2 and IFN‑γ – which help the body fight viruses and other intracellular pathogens. Importantly, it did not cause unwanted allergic or immunosuppressive responses. A separate 28‑day safety study in rats showed no adverse effects on body weight, blood cells, liver, or kidneys, even at high doses. These results suggest that properly processed cassava can be more than just ...

LAGOS, NIGERIA – March 2026 – The Center for Countermeasures Against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents (CCACBWA) is pleased to announce the formalization of a major international research collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Prof. Dr. Levent Kenar, Chairman of the CBRN Defence Policy Development Society in Ankara, Turkey. This strategic partnership unites Nigerian and Turkish scientific expertise in pursuit of a common goal: advancing the development of novel medical countermeasures against chemical warfare agents. The collaboration is structured around a joint proposal submitted to the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) under Broad Agency Announcement HDTRA1-25-5-0001, Thrust Area 1: Fundamental Science for Chemical and Biological Defense. The Project: SodaSulphaneocobalamin The research initiative, titled "SodaSulphaneocobalamin: A Novel Cobalt(III)-Polysulfide Platform for Broad-Spectrum Neutralization of Chemical Warfare...

Dear Mr. Chairperson, the Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Excellencies, distinguished diplomats, NGO colleagues, and Ladies and Gentlemen The Center for Countermeasures against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents (CCACBWA) proposes to make a significant and timely contribution to CSP-30 by addressing a critical gap in the global chemical security architecture, a gap made more urgent by recent allegations of chemical weapons use. Our contribution is framed not as a political accusation, but as a practical, scientific, and humanitarian response to the evolving nature of chemical threats, including those posed by their alleged abuse by state and non-state actors. 1. Providing a Scientific and Humanitarian Solution in a Politicized Environment Amidst concerning reports from conflict zones—such as the alleged use of chemical weapons by Russia in Ukraine and the deployment of toxic chemicals by Israel in Gaza—the international disarmament comm...

C enter for Countermeasures against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents, CCACBWA Researchers have created a new, single treatment that acts as a rapid and safe countermeasure against multiple chemical and biological threats, including cyanide, nerve agents, and mustard gas, offering a powerful new tool for emergency preparedness." In a world where chemical threats pose a significant risk to public safety and military personnel, the search for effective, rapid, and safe countermeasures is more critical than ever. Current treatments are often agent-specific, slow-acting, or carry their own risks. Today, a new study from our researchers announces a promising solution: a single, multifunctional agent capable of neutralizing a wide range of these deadly threats. What is the Discovery? Our team at the Center for Countermeasures Against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents (CCACBWA) has successfully synthesized and tested a new molecule named SodaSulphanecobalamin. This novel ...

1.1 Introduction to Bioengineered Toxins Toxins represent a diverse class of biologically derived poisonous substances that have been weaponized throughout history. From a synthetic biology standpoint, these molecules offer both challenges and opportunities as we examine them through the lens of programmable biological systems. Modern synthetic biology approaches allow us to: Decouple toxin production from native organisms through heterologous expression systems Engineer novel toxin variants with tailored properties Develop precisely controlled delivery mechanisms Create orthogonal detection and countermeasure systems 1.2 Ricin: From Natural Product to Engineered Bioweapon 1.2.1 Synthetic Production Systems Ricin's glycoprotein structure (64 kDa) makes it an ideal candidate for recombinant production. Current synthetic biology approaches include: Expression Platforms: Yeast (Pichia pastoris) systems for eukaryotic glycosylation Cell-free protein synthesis for rapid prototy...

We are thrive to announce that all of our Five Research papers submitted at the ACS FALL 2025 has been accepted for presentation across four technical sessions and inter-division session and one of the paper has been selected for SCI-MIX Presentation. These papers shows significant in the quality of the original research across the Agriculture and Food Chemistry division,Chemical toxicology division, Physical Chemistry division , and Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Enviromental Chemistry, and Analytical Chemistry Division, respectively. The details of the papers are shown below Paper ID Title Session Date Time Format Room & Location 4325848 Novel Approach in Synthetic of Rosmarinic and Carnosic acid from lemon: Balm and rosemary leave respectively using diethyl ether at super-natal temperature for Food Preservative and treatment of Chronic bacteria and fungus Diseases General Papers (AGFD) Tue, Aug 19, 2025 8:20 AM – 8:35 AM Oral (In-person) Room 142, Walter E. Washington Conven...