The toxic products of the anaerobic bacteria Clostridium botulinum,
Clostridium butyricum, Clostridium barati and
Clostridium tetani are the causative agents of botulism
and tetanus. The ability of botulinum neurotoxins to disrupt
neurotransmission, often for prolonged periods, has been
exploited for use in several medical applications and the
toxins, as licensed pharmaceutical products, now represent the
therapeutics of choice for the treatment for several
neuromuscular conditions. Research into the structures and
activities of botulinum and tetanus toxins has revealed
features of these proteins that might be useful in the design
of improved vaccines, effective inhibitors and novel
biopharmaceuticals. Here, we discuss the relationships between
structure, mechanism of action and therapeutic use.
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