A Novel Botulinum Neurotoxin, Previously Reported as Serotype H, Has a Hybrid-Like Structure With Regions of Similarity to the Structures of Serotypes A and F and Is Neutralized With Serotype A Antitoxin.

Abstract

Botulism is a potentially fatal paralytic disease caused by the action of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) on nerve cells. There are 7 known serotypes (A-G) of BoNT and up to 40 genetic variants. Clostridium botulinum strain IBCA10-7060 was recently reported to produce BoNT serotype B (BoNT/B) and a novel BoNT, designated as BoNT/H. The BoNT gene (bont) sequence of BoNT/H was compared to known bont sequences. Genetic analysis suggested that BoNT/H has a hybrid-like structure containing regions of similarity to the structures of BoNT/A1 and BoNT/F5. This novel BoNT was serologically characterized by the mouse neutralization assay and a neuronal cell-based assay. The toxic effects of this hybrid-like BoNT were completely eliminated by existing serotype A antitoxins, including those contained in multivalent therapeutic antitoxin products that are the mainstay of human botulism treatment.

• Authors: Susan E Maslanka, Carolina Lúquez, Janet K Dykes, William H Tepp, Christina L Pier, Sabine Pellett, Brian H Raphael, Suzanne R Kalb, John R Barr, Agam Rao, Eric A Johnson
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 213 Issue 3 Pg. 379-85 (Feb 01 2016) ISSN: 1537-6613 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26068781 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2015. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.

Chemical References

• Botulinum Antitoxin
• Botulinum Toxins

Topics

• Animals
• Biological Assay
• Botulinum Antitoxin (pharmacology)
• Botulinum Toxins (chemistry, classification)
• Humans
• Mice