Toxins: BoNT, TeNT, Anthrax Flashcards
1
Q
clostridial neurotoxins (2)
A
- botulinum toxin (BoNT)
- tetanus toxin (TeNT)
2
Q
botulinum toxin (BoNT): bacterium
A
- clostridium botulinum
3
Q
botulinum toxin: serotypes
A
- A-G
4
Q
BoNT: serotype A (3)
A
- one of the most potent toxins for humans
- extremely toxic lethal dose
- half life of several months
5
Q
BoNT: symptoms (2)
A
- flaccid paralysis; body goes limp
- muscles relax with no contractions
6
Q
tetanus toxin: bacterium
A
- clostridium tetani
7
Q
TeNT: symptoms (2)
A
- spastic paralysis; muscle spasms
- muscles contracting excessively
8
Q
C. botulism (3)
A
- strict anaerobe
- spore-former
- gram positive
9
Q
botulism types (4)
A
- food botulism
- infant botulism
- wound botulism
- cosmetic botulism
10
Q
food botulism (2)
A
- ingestion of toxin
- bacteria grow in food anaerobically, producing toxin in the food
11
Q
infant botulism (2)
A
- ingestion of bacterial spores
- bacteria grows in gastrointestinal tract
12
Q
wound botulism (2)
A
- puncture with bacterial spore
- bacteria grows in wound
13
Q
cosmetic botulism
A
- injection of toxin for cosmetic reasons
14
Q
progenitor BoNT structure (3)
A
- heterodimer
- active (derivative) BoNT protein
- non-toxic protein similar to BoNT (missing active site)
15
Q
progenitor BoNT structure (3)
A
- heterodimer
- active (derivative) BoNT protein
- non-toxic protein similar to BoNT (missing active site)
16
Q
progenitor BoNT: non-toxic component (2)
A
- likely protects active protein from stomach acids and proteases
- active component eventually dissociates from complex
17
Q
BoNT structure (3)
A
- single protein with multiple domains
- HC (heavy chain) and LC (light chain)
- held together via disulfide bonds
18
Q
BoNT structure: HC
A
- B subunit
19
Q
BoNT strucutre: LC (2)
A
- A subunit
- zinc-endopeptidase, a protease
20
Q
BoNT target cell
A
- binds neurons in the peripheral nervous system
21
Q
BoNT receptor
A
- “B” subunit binds to pre-synaptic membrane receptors
22
Q
BoNT: mechanism of intoxication (5)
A
- HC binds receptor and is taken up into the neuron in an endosome
- disulfide bonds are reduced when pH drops
- LC subunit translocates via HC to the cytosol
- depending on serotype, LC cleaves different SNARE proteins
- fusion of vesicle with pre-synaptic membrane is prevented and no neurotransmitters are released
23
Q
BoNT: what SNARE proteins are cleaved (3)
A
- Synaptobrevin
- SNAP25
- Syntaxin
24
Q
Synpatobrevin (2)
A
- a VAMP
- found on vesicles containing neurotransmitters
25
Q
VAMP
A
- vesicle associated membrane protein
26
Q
SNAP25
A
- found on pre-synaptic membrane