Botulinum Neurotoxin (BoNT) Resource Guide

Botulinum Neurotoxin (BoNT) Resource Guide

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are considered to be the deadliest naturally occurring toxins known to man. The potential use of BoNTs as bioweapons has accelerated the race to develop vaccines and antitoxins for this Category A bioterrorism agent as defined by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Exposure to botulinum toxins results in several forms of botulism including foodborne, wound and infant botulism as well as intestinal colonization of adults resulting in neuroparalytic botulism. BoNT/A, BoNT/B, BoNT/E and BoNT/F cause human botulism and are chromosome associated. BoNT/C and BoNT/D cause animal botulism and are lysogenic phage (prophage) associated. Botulinum toxins have also proven beneficial as treatments for involuntary muscle disorders and migraines and are widely used in cosmetology and anti-aging medications.

Latest Clostridium botulinum news

• Latest botulism news at CIDRAP
• Disease outbreak news at WHO
• News Releases and Statements for 2006 at NIAID
• CFIA/Warning: Health Hazard Alert-Certain Phillips Brand Pasteurized Canned Crab Meat Products May Contain Dangerous Bacteria, October 28, 2006, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
• Carrot juice cited in 2 botulism cases in Canada October 10, 2006, CIDRAP
• XOMA Awarded New $16 Million BioDefense Contract with NIAID July 31, 2006, Genetic Engineering News
• HHS Awards Bioshield Contract for Botulism Antitoxin June 1, 2006, HHS
• Botulism from Home-Canned Bamboo Shoots --- Nan Province, Thailand, March 2006 April 14, 2006, MMWR
• DOR BioPharma Announces Advances in Mucosal Vaccines for Botulinum Toxin April 7, 2006, DOR BioPharma, Inc.

BoNT Serotypes A-G Nucleotide and Protein Sequences

Botulinum-relevant nucleotide and protein sequences can be retrieved from NCBI using taxonomy ID queries submitted against NCBI's Entrez nucleotide and protein databases. Results, where available, for these queries can be viewed by following the links provided below for the seven BoNT serotypes. In addition, links to NCBI's Taxonomy Browser are available for these serotypes to provide navigation to genomic trace records. For a curated list of Clostridium botulinum nucleotide and protein sequences available at NCBI by serotype, see the BoNT_toxins and BoNT_strains pages.