Clostridium botulinum serotype A produces a neurotoxin composed of a 100-kDa heavy chain and a 50-kDa light chain linked by a disulfide bond. This neurotoxin is part of a ca. 900-kDa complex, formed by noncovalent association with a single nontoxin, nonhemagglutinin subunit and a family of hemagglutinating proteins. Previous work has suggested, although never conclusively demonstrated, that neu...

Background: Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) complexes consist of neurotoxin and neurotoxin-associated proteins. Hemagglutinin-33 (HA-33) is a member of BoNT type A (BoNT/A) complex. Considering the protective role of HA-33 in preservation of BoNT/A in gastrointestinal harsh conditions and also its adjuvant role, recombinant production of this protein is favorable. Thus in this study, HA-33 was expr...

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of botulinum toxin type A(botulinum A toxin) on the autonomic and other non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerve terminals. METHODS The effects of neurotoxin on twitch contractions evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) were studied in isolated rabbit iris sphincter and dilator muscles using isometric tension recording. RESULTS Botulinum A toxin(150 nM)...

An amplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Clostridium botulinum complex neurotoxins was evaluated for its ability to detect these toxins in food. The assay was found to be suitable for detecting type A, B, E, and F botulinum neurotoxins in a variety of food matrices representing liquids, solid, and semisolid food. Specific foods included broccoli, orange juice,...

OBJECTIVES To compare the effects and histopathological changes of botulinum neurotoxin type A and lysozyme gene injections into prostate tissue within a testosterone induced benign prostate hyperplasia rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS 40 male Wistar rats were randomized into four Groups. Group-1: Control, Group-2: Testosterone replacement, Group-3: Testosterone+botulinum neurotoxin type A, G...

Existing methods for detection of food-borne pathogens and their toxins are frequently time-consuming, require specialized equipment, and involve lengthy culture procedures and/or animal testing and are thus unsuitable for a rapid response to an emergency public health situation. A series of simple and rapid affinity immunochromatography column (AICC) assays were developed to detect Clostridium...

BACKGROUND Botulinum neurotoxin induces healing in patients with idiopathic fissure. The optimal dosage is not well established. AIM To compare the efficacy and tolerability of two different formulations of type A botulinum neurotoxin, and to provide more evidence with regard to the choice of dosage regimens. METHODS Symptomatic adults with chronic anal fissure were enrolled in a randomized...

Clostridial neurotoxins are zinc endopeptidases that block neurotransmission and have been shown to cleave, in vitro, specific proteins involved in synaptic vesicle docking and/or fusion. We have used immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting to demonstrate alterations in toxin substrates in intact neurons under conditions of toxin-induced blockade of neurotransmitter release. Vesicle-associated ...