The molecular size of type A botulinum toxin affects the response in a time-to-death assay. Definitive statements of specific activity should be based on quantal assay.

The mouse LD50 assay is routinely used for potency testing of botulinum toxins. Unfortunately, this test is associated with severe pain and distress in animals and requires large quantities of mice. Here we used cocultures of spinal cord and muscle tissue as an alternative for probing botulinum toxins. Cocultures were prepared from mouse embryonic tissue (C57/BL6J) and cultured for 24-27 days. ...

BACKGROUND Botulinum neurotoxin treatment is the most common aesthetic procedure in the United States. A number of serotypes and formulations are available worldwide. Similarities and differences among these toxins were evaluated by reviewing the existing literature. METHODS Reports of botulinum neurotoxin for aesthetic use, published in peer-reviewed literature or presented at recent profess...

Through elaboration of its botulinum toxins, Clostridium botulinum produces clinical syndromes of infant botulism, wound botulism, and other invasive infections. Using comparative genomic analysis, an orphan nine-gene cluster was identified in C. botulinum and the related foodborne pathogen Clostridium sporogenes that resembled the biosynthetic machinery for streptolysin S, a key virulence fact...

The largest reported outbreak of type C botulism in fur production animals is described. Epidemiological investigation of 117 out of 157 (response rate, 74.5%) farms revealed that 44,130 animals died or were euthanized, while 8,033 animals with milder symptoms recovered. The overall death rate in all animals at risk was 21.7%. The death rates were significantly higher in blue and shadow foxes (...