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Growth of Clostridia and Preparation of Their Neurotoxins

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Book cover Clostridial Neurotoxins

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 195))

Abstract

Various strains of Clostridium botulinum and C. tetani elaborate a family of eight structurally similar protein neurotoxins. The seven botulinum neurotoxins (types A-G) are distinguished on the basis of their reactions with specific antibodies and are the causative agents of the disease botulism. These toxins act on the peripheral nervous system where they block neuromuscular transmission and induce widespread flaccid paralysis (Shone 1986; Niemann 1991). Tetanus toxin, on the other hand, acts primarily on the central nervous system to disrupt the control mechanisms of polysynapses resulting in the characteristic muscular spasms and convultions of tetanospasm. Although symptomatically very different, the mechanisms of action of botulinum and tetanus toxins are very similar; both are presynaptically acting neurotoxins which inhibit the calcium-mediated secretion of various neurotransmitter substances (Bigalke et al. 1981).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK

    C. C. Shone & H. S. Tranter

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  1. C. C. Shone
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  2. H. S. Tranter
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  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Trieste, 75, 35121, Padova, Italia

    Cesare Montecucco

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Shone, C.C., Tranter, H.S. (1995). Growth of Clostridia and Preparation of Their Neurotoxins. In: Montecucco, C. (eds) Clostridial Neurotoxins. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 195. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-85173-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-85173-5_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-85175-9

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