Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders

Collaborative study for the BINACLE assay for in vitro determination of botulinum neurotoxin activity

This study evaluates the BINACLE assay's reliability for determining botulinum neurotoxin potency across multiple labs, showing acceptable reproducibility for serotypes A and B.

Design and Validation of New Primers for Specific and Sensitive Real-time PCR Detection and Quantification of Seven Botulinum Encoding Genes (Serotype A-G) of Clostridium botulinum

This study designs and validates new primers for specific and sensitive real-time PCR detection of seven Botulinum serotypes, achieving 10 copies/reaction sensitivity and eliminating carryover PCR products.

LRP1 is an entry receptor for the botulinum toxin complex in the gut

This study identifies LRP1 as the receptor for L-PTC/BOkra to enter the gut, showing HA binds to LRP1 via N-glycans and facilitates transcytosis.

An Antibiotic-Treated Mouse Model Reveals the Progression of Intestinal Botulism

This study develops an antibiotic-treated mouse model to study intestinal botulism, showing that Cb colonization and BoNT/A accumulation lead to disease progression.

The historical domestication of a Clostridium botulinum strain used for the industrial production of botulinum neurotoxin

This paper reconstructs the genomic evolution of a Clostridium botulinum strain used for industrial botulinum neurotoxin production, identifying key mutations that drove its domestication and adaptation.

Gut mucin fucosylation dictates the entry of botulinum toxin complexes

The paper shows that fucosylation of intestinal mucin determines the entry routes and oral toxicity of botulinum toxin complexes.

Botulinum Neurotoxin A1 Signaling in Pain Modulation within Human Sensory Neurons

This study investigates the mechanism of BoNT/A1 in human sensory neurons, showing it disrupts SNARE complexes and reduces neurotransmitter release through transcriptomic analysis.

Membrane constraints reshape synaptotagmin recognition by botulinum neurotoxin B1

This study shows how membrane constraints affect synaptotagmin recognition by botulinum neurotoxin B1 through lipid-mediated interactions, revealing limitations in AI predictions of membrane-bound complexes.

Structures of native SV2A reveal the binding mode for tetanus neurotoxin and anti-epileptic racetams

This study determines the structures of native SV2A, revealing its binding modes for tetanus neurotoxin and anti-epileptic drugs, and provides insights into toxin-receptor interactions and drug specificity.

Identification of a divergent botulinum neurotoxin like gene cluster in Furfurilactobacillus

The paper identifies a novel botulinum neurotoxin-like gene cluster in Furfurilactobacillus sp. OKN36, encoding a toxin with structural similarities to clostridial neurotoxins but significant sequence divergence.

Low Intestinal Doses of Botulinum Neurotoxins types A and B favour infection by Salmonella and Shigella without the flaccid paralysis of botulism

The paper shows that low doses of Botulinum Neurotoxins A and B enter cholinergic neurons and promote Salmonella and Shigella infection without causing flaccid paralysis.

Detection of Nontoxic BoNT/A Levels in Post-Facial Botox Injection Breastmilk using a Multi-technique Approach

This study detects BoNT/A in breastmilk after Botox injections using multiple techniques, finding peak levels around 48 hours and 2 months post-injection, with concentrations deemed safe for infants.

Identification of a botulinum neurotoxin-like gene cluster in Bacillus toyonensis

The paper identifies a novel botulinum neurotoxin-like gene cluster in Bacillus toyonensis, showing it shares structural and functional features with known BoNTs.

Synaptotagmin 1 mediates toxicity of botulinum neurotoxin type A

This paper shows that botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) toxicity relies on synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1), which forms nanoclusters with PSG and SV2 on neuronal membranes, enabling endocytic targeting and neuronal communication disruption.

In silico conformational features of botulinum toxins A1 and E1 according to the intraluminal acidification

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to analyze conformational changes in botulinum toxins A1 and E1 under different pH conditions, revealing domain movements and structural dynamics.

Identification of divergent botulinum neurotoxin homologs in Paeniclostridium ghonii

The paper identifies two divergent botulinum neurotoxin homologs in Paeniclostridium ghonii and characterizes their structural and functional features.

Structural basis of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A1 binding to human SV2A or SV2C receptors

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate how BoNT/A1 binds to glycosylated SV2A and SV2C receptors in a lipid raft environment, revealing the role of N-glycans in toxin-receptor interactions.

A heterohexameric protein consisting of six linked single-domain antibodies is highly protective for BoNT/A, BoNT/B and BoNT/E exposures

This study develops heterohexameric proteins with six linked VHHs that neutralize BoNT/A, B, and E, showing full protection in mice against high toxin doses.

Newly identified relatives of botulinum neurotoxins shed light on their molecular evolution

The paper identifies new relatives of botulinum neurotoxins in environmental bacteria, revealing their evolutionary origins and divergence from related toxin families.

Botulinum-neurotoxin-like sequences identified from an Enterococcus sp. genome assembly

The paper identifies a botulinum-neurotoxin-like gene cluster in an Enterococcus sp. genome, similar to known BoNT gene clusters but with unknown pathogenic potential.