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Structure-Based Drug Discovery for Botulinum Neurotoxins

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Botulinum Neurotoxins

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 364))

Abstract

Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin is the most poisonous substance known to humans. It is a potential biowarfare threat and a public health hazard. The only therapeutics available is antibody treatment which will not be effective for post-exposure therapy. There are no drugs available for post-intoxication treatment. Accordingly, it is imperative to develop effective drugs to counter botulism. Available structural information on botulinum neurotoxins both alone and in complex with their substrates offers an efficient method for designing structure-based drugs to treat botulism.

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Abbreviations

BoNT:

Botulinum neurotoxin

SNAP-25:

Synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa

VAMP:

Vesicle-associated membrane protein

SNARE:

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor

HC:

Heavy chain

LC:

Light chain

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Acknowledgments

The author is thankful to his colleagues and collaborators for contributing to this research. Special thanks are due to Drs. S. Eswaramoorthy, D. Kumaran, R. Agarwal, S.A. Ahmed, and G. Kumar. Research was supported by an award from DTRA BO742081 under DOE prime contract No. DEAC02-98CH10886 with Brookhaven National Laboratory.

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  1. Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA

    Subramanyam Swaminathan

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  1. Subramanyam Swaminathan
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Correspondence to Subramanyam Swaminathan .

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  1. , Institut für Toxikologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany

    Andreas Rummel

  2. , Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany

    Thomas Binz

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Swaminathan, S. (2012). Structure-Based Drug Discovery for Botulinum Neurotoxins. In: Rummel, A., Binz, T. (eds) Botulinum Neurotoxins. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 364. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33570-9_10

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