In vitro comparison of the acetylcholinesterase inhibition caused by V- and A-series nerve agents' surrogates.

Nerve agents (NA) pose as a great risk in the modern world. NA from the V-series, such as VX, are currently recognized as the most toxic among those compounds. However, the emergence of new classes of toxicants recently included in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), such as the A-series NA, a class of organophosphorus compounds related to phosphoramidates, pose a new source of concern due to the lack of information. In order advance in the investigation on the toxicity of such toxic chemicals, we performed in vitro studies to compare representatives of the V- and A-series using affordable surrogates. Results suggest a similar inhibition potency between both agents. • Nerve agents are a great concern in the modern world. • V-series nerve agents are the most toxic organophosphorus compounds known. • There are insufficient data on A-series nerve agents. • Preliminary in vitro study comparing of V- an A-series' surrogates were performed. • Toxicity of V- an A-series' surrogates were comparable under assays' conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]