Possible Botulism Treatment Breakthrough Reverses Paralysis
A possible botulism treatment breakthrough that reverses paralysis in mice has been announced by scientists at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. Botulism food poisoning can be deadly. It is caused by the botulinum toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum spores.
The spores grow in a low acid, anaerobic environment (without oxygen) such as in improperly canned foods. A tiny amount of the toxin can kill an adult human being. The spores are found in soil, dust, and in foods such as honey.
Early treatment is key in recovery, since once paralysis starts, it cannot be reversed. That is what makes this new treatment so exciting.
New approach to tame botulinum toxin for drug delivery
While rare, botulism can cause paralysis and is potentially fatal. It is caused by nerve-damaging toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum the most potent toxins known. These toxins are often found in contaminated food (home canning being a major culprit). Infants can also develop botulism from ingesting C. botulinum spores in honey, soil, or dust; the bacterium then colonizes their intestines and produces the toxin.
Once paralysis develops, there is no way to reverse it, other than waiting for the toxins to wear off. People with serious cases of botulism may need to be maintained on ventilators for weeks or months. But a new treatment approach and delivery vehicle, described today in
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IMAGE: The toxin-based delivery platform consists of the modified botulinum toxin at upper left (protease domain in gold, translocation domain in blue, and receptor-binding domain in purple) and the nanobody (the. view more
Credit: Sicai Zhang/Dong Lab, Boston Children s Hospital
While rare, botulism can cause paralysis and is potentially fatal. It is caused by nerve-damaging toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum the most potent toxins known. These toxins are often found in contaminated food (home canning being a major culprit). Infants can also develop botulism from ingesting C. botulinum spores in honey, soil, or dust; the bacterium then colonizes their intestines and produces the toxin.