title: Current gaps in basic science knowledge of botulinum neurotoxin biological actions.
abstract: Botulinum neurotoxins are produced by anaerobic spore-forming bacteria of the genus Clostridium in several dozens of variants that inactivate neurotransmitter release owing to their metalloprotease activity. This results in a persistent paralysis of peripheral nerve terminals known as botulism. They are the most potent toxins known and are classified as one of the six highest-risk threat agents of bioterrorism. Despite their high toxicity, two of them are used as valuable pharmaceutical for the therapy of many neurological and non-neurological disorders. Notwithstanding the many advances in our understanding of the genetics and structure of botulinum neurotoxins, there are still many gaps in knowledge of toxin mechanism of action that will be discussed here.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Università di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rossetto
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Università di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirazzini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Università di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy; Istituto CNR di Neuroscienze, Università di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy. Electronic address: cesare.montecucco@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montecucco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D001665:Binding Sites; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003013:Clostridium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A
keywords: Botulinum neurotoxin isoforms; Clostridia; Duration of neuroparalysis; Endocytosis; Presynaptic binding; Translocation