Microbial Toxins: Current Research and Future Trends
Publisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Thomas Proft
ISBN: 978-1-904455-44-8

"This is a book of reference that comprises unlimited information on microbial toxins! This well crafted book not only provides a general overview of toxins but elucidates in detail recent molecular approaches, achievements and refreshing perspective on the future studies of these molecules. ... Overall, the present book "Microbial Toxins" is an invaluable reference for scientists who devote their time and efforts to dissect many unveiled aspects of toxins. This is a book of reference to learn more about the molecular mechanisms employed by pathogenic microbes to survive and evade immunosurveillance of the host." (Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, August 2009)

from Mansour Mohamadzadeh, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA in Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy (August 2009)

Further reading: Microbial Toxins: Current Research and Future Trends

Labels: book review, toxin, toxins

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent natural toxins known. The family of BoNTs comprises seven antigenically distinct serotypes (A to G) that are produced by various toxigenic strains of spore-forming anaerobic Clostridium botulinum. They act as metalloproteinases that enter peripheral cholinergic nerve terminals and cleave proteins that are crucial components of the neuroexocytosis apparatus, causing a persistent but reversible inhibition of neurotransmitter release resulting in flaccid muscle paralysis.

Apart from being the sole causative agent of the deadly food poisoning disease, botulism, BoNTs pose a major biological warfare threat due to their extreme toxicity and easy production. Interestingly they also serve as powerful tools to treat an ever expanding list of medical conditions. A better understanding of the structure-function relationship of clostridial neurotoxins will not only help decipher their molecular mode of action but will also provide a greater understanding of the potential use of their individual domains in answering more fundamental questions of neuroexocytosis. It is also critical for designing effective specific inhibitors to counter botulism biothreat, and for the development of new therapeutics.

from Kukreja and Singh in Microbial Toxins: Current Research and Future Trends

Further reading:

1. Microbial Toxins
2. Clostridia: Molecular Biology in the Post-genomic Era

Labels: bacteria, biodefense, botulism, clostridia, clostridium, toxin, toxins