Botulinum Toxins: Molecular Structures and Synaptic Physiology

Abstract

Botulinum neurotoxins are produced by neurotoxigenic spore-forming Clostridia in several dozens of variants that cause a generalized flaccid paralysis of botulism by inactivating neurotransmitter release at peripheral nerve terminals. Botulinum neurotoxins are a marvel of protein design whose unique biological properties have led them to become not only the most potent toxins known but also highly effective and successful therapeutic agents for the therapy of a variety of human medical syndromes. The increased understanding of the detailed structures of the different toxins, combined with an improved understanding of their unique biological properties, will open up a huge opportunity to identify new therapeutic BoNTs with an improved feature with respect to the toxins available on the market or to be exploited for new clinical applications.