Biosecurity Threat Posed by Botulinum Toxin

Cenciarelli, Orlando; Riley, Paul; Baka, A

doi:10.3390/toxins11120681

Cited by 18 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Typically, patients that have some anatomical or functional abnormalities of the intestine or are subjected to prolonged antimicrobial therapies, can allow bacterial colonization. Thus, the adult intestinal colonization botulism is the result of the production of the toxin in the intestinal lumen of adults that leads to gut microbiota dysbiosis [40][41][42].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Botulinum Neurotoxins (BoNTs) and Their Biological, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Issues: A Scoping Review

et al. 2021

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Botulinum toxins or neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent neurotoxins known, and are currently extensively studied, not only for their potential lethality, but also for their possible therapeutic and cosmetic uses. Currently, seven types of antigenically distinct toxins are known and characterized, produced by a rod-shaped bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. Human poisoning by botulism (presenting with severe neuromuscular paralytic disease) is usually caused by toxins A, B, E, and F type. Poisoning from contaminated food preparations is the most common cause of noniatrogenic botulism. The spores are highly resistant to heat but are easily destroyed at 80 °C for thirty minutes. Type A and B toxins are resistant to digestion by the enzymes of the gastrointestinal system. After their entry, BoNTs irreversibly bind to cholinergic nerve endings and block the release of acetylcholine from the synapses. In contrast, in wound botulism, the neurotoxin is instead product by the growth of C.botulium in infected tissues. The contamination by BoNT inhalation does not occur by a natural route but it is certainly the most dangerous. It can be caused by the dispersion of the botulinum toxin in the atmosphere in the form of an aerosol and therefore can be deliberately used for bioterrorist purposes (e.g., during CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) unconventional events). In addition, BoNTs are currently used to treat a variety of diseases or alleviate their symptoms, such as the onabotulinumtoxinA for migraine attacks and for cosmetic use. Indeed, this paper aims to report on updated knowledge of BoNTs, both their toxicological mechanisms and their pharmacological action.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Botulinum Neurotoxins (BoNTs) and Their Biological, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Issues: A Scoping Review

et al. 2021

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“…The extreme toxicity of BoNTs for humans has led to the inclusion of botulinum neurotoxins in the first category of the tier 1 list of potential agents for bioterrorism (Arnon et al 2001 ; Villaer et al 2006 ; Bhattacharjee 2011 ; Cenciarelli et al 2019 ). TeNT has not been considered for such a use because of the worldwide prophylaxis with the potent anti-tetanus vaccine and antisera.…”

Section: Toxicology Of Tetanus and Botulinum Neurotoxinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…http://www.selectagents.gov/ ). They are easily isolated as crude mixtures but their extensive delivery requires sophisticated procedures making terrorist mass attacks with BoNTs unlikely, though selected episodes cannot be excluded (Arnon et al 2001 ; Bigalke and Rummel 2005 ; Cenciarelli et al 2019 ). On the other hand, thanks to extensive scientific research that has unveiled the exceptional biological properties of BoNT, including exquisite neuroselectivity and specific enzymatic activity, together with limited diffusion from the site of injection (Carli et al 2009 ; Eleopra et al 2004 ), have been exploited for beneficial purposes, including human therapy and use as research tools for cell biology and physiology.…”

Section: Pharmacology Of Botulinum Neurotoxinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicology and pharmacology of botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins: an update

2022

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Tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins cause the neuroparalytic syndromes of tetanus and botulism, respectively, by delivering inside different types of neurons, metalloproteases specifically cleaving the SNARE proteins that are essential for the release of neurotransmitters. Research on their mechanism of action is intensively carried out in order to devise improved therapies based on antibodies and chemical drugs. Recently, major results have been obtained with human monoclonal antibodies and with single chain antibodies that have allowed one to neutralize the metalloprotease activity of botulinum neurotoxin type A1 inside neurons. In addition, a method has been devised to induce a rapid molecular evolution of the metalloprotease domain of botulinum neurotoxin followed by selection driven to re-target the metalloprotease activity versus novel targets with respect to the SNARE proteins. At the same time, an intense and wide spectrum clinical research on novel therapeutics based on botulinum neurotoxins is carried out, which are also reviewed here.

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“…Since the aim of this review is to give a technological overview of suitable multiplex on-site detection methodologies for security relevant toxins, we do not here give a detailed description of the particular toxins mentioned in Table 1 . However, we refer to several reviews describing their particular characteristics and the use of biological toxins as potential biothreat agents [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiplex Immunoassay Techniques for On-Site Detection of Security Sensitive Toxins

Pöhlmann

Elßner

2020

Toxins

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Biological toxins are a heterogeneous group of high molecular as well as low molecular weight toxins produced by living organisms. Due to their physical and logistical properties, biological toxins are very attractive to terrorists for use in acts of bioterrorism. Therefore, among the group of biological toxins, several are categorized as security relevant, e.g., botulinum neurotoxins, staphylococcal enterotoxins, abrin, ricin or saxitoxin. Additionally, several security sensitive toxins also play a major role in natural food poisoning outbreaks. For a prompt response to a potential bioterrorist attack using biological toxins, first responders need reliable, easy-to-use and highly sensitive methodologies for on-site detection of the causative agent. Therefore, the aim of this review is to present on-site immunoassay platforms for multiplex detection of biological toxins. Furthermore, we introduce several commercially available detection technologies specialized for mobile or on-site identification of security sensitive toxins.

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Biosecurity Threat Posed by Botulinum Toxin

Cited by 18 publications

References 41 publications

Botulinum Neurotoxins (BoNTs) and Their Biological, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Issues: A Scoping Review

Botulinum Neurotoxins (BoNTs) and Their Biological, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Issues: A Scoping Review

Toxicology and pharmacology of botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins: an update

Multiplex Immunoassay Techniques for On-Site Detection of Security Sensitive Toxins

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