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Hobbs RJ, Thomas CA, Halliwell J, Gwenin CD. Rapid Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxins-A Review. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E418. [PMID: 31319550 PMCID: PMC6669533 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11070418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms. One of the most potent groups of toxins currently known are the Botulinum Neurotoxins (BoNTs). These are so deadly that as little as 62 ng could kill an average human; to put this into context that is approximately 200,000 × less than the weight of a grain of sand. The extreme toxicity of BoNTs leads to the need for methods of determining their concentration at very low levels of sensitivity. Currently the mouse bioassay is the most widely used detection method monitoring the activity of the toxin; however, this assay is not only lengthy, it also has both cost and ethical issues due to the use of live animals. This review focuses on detection methods both existing and emerging that remove the need for the use of animals and will look at three areas; speed of detection, sensitivity of detection and finally cost. The assays will have wide reaching interest, ranging from the pharmaceutical/clinical industry for production quality management or as a point of care sensor in suspected cases of botulism, the food industry as a quality control measure, to the military, detecting BoNT that has been potentially used as a bio warfare agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Hobbs
- Applied Research in Chemistry and Health (ARCH) Research Group, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Carol A Thomas
- Applied Research in Chemistry and Health (ARCH) Research Group, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Jennifer Halliwell
- Applied Research in Chemistry and Health (ARCH) Research Group, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Christopher D Gwenin
- Applied Research in Chemistry and Health (ARCH) Research Group, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales LL57 2UW, UK.
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2
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Xin W, Huang Y, Ji B, Li P, Wu Y, Liu J, Wang X, Yang H, Kang L, Gao S, An X, Xu X, Tong Y, Wang J. Identification and characterization of Clostridium botulinum strains associated with an infant botulism case in China. Anaerobe 2018; 55:1-7. [PMID: 30401636 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2018.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Infant botulism was rarely reported in China. The second reported event of the disease including three cases occurred in 2015. In the present study, one (the third case) of the three cases was identified and investigated to trace the sources of transmission. Samples from feces and foodstuffs were used to isolate Clostridium botulinum strains. Each isolate was obtained from the baby's feces and opened powdered infant rice cereal, respectively. In this case, the C. botulinum strains were identified and characterized by combined mouse bioassay, Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and high-throughput sequencing including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Results showed that the disease was caused by a type B strain of C. botulinum. Strains associated with this case as well as isolates from stored and historical samples were phylogenetically analyzed and compared. C. botulinum type B isolates from the infant feces and from an opened container of infant rice cereal were indistinguishable, suggesting that opened container of infant rice cereal is likely to be the source of transmission of spores to the infant. It is not clear that how the opened container was contaminated and the child was exposed since environmental testing was not performed. This study provides detailed information about usage of the three methods and references for dealing with other associated cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Bin Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Ye Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and National Institute for Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Hao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Lin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Shan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xiaoping An
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xuefang Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and National Institute for Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
| | - Yigang Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China.
| | - Jinglin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China.
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Pirazzini M, Rossetto O. Challenges in searching for therapeutics against Botulinum Neurotoxins. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2017; 12:497-510. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2017.1303476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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4
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Kiris E, Nuss JE, Stanford SM, Wanner LM, Cazares L, Maestre MF, Du HT, Gomba GY, Burnett JC, Gussio R, Bottini N, Panchal RG, Kane CD, Tessarollo L, Bavari S. Phosphatase Inhibitors Function as Novel, Broad Spectrum Botulinum Neurotoxin Antagonists in Mouse and Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Motor Neuron-Based Assays. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129264. [PMID: 26061731 PMCID: PMC4462581 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop novel treatments to counter Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) poisoning. Currently, the majority of BoNT drug development efforts focus on directly inhibiting the proteolytic components of BoNT, i.e. light chains (LC). Although this is a rational approach, previous research has shown that LCs are extremely difficult drug targets and that inhibiting multi-serotype BoNTs with a single LC inhibitor may not be feasible. An alternative approach would target neuronal pathways involved in intoxication/recovery, rather than the LC itself. Phosphorylation-related mechanisms have been implicated in the intoxication pathway(s) of BoNTs. However, the effects of phosphatase inhibitors upon BoNT activity in the physiological target of BoNTs, i.e. motor neurons, have not been investigated. In this study, a small library of phosphatase inhibitors was screened for BoNT antagonism in the context of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons (ES-MNs). Four inhibitors were found to function as BoNT/A antagonists. Subsequently, we confirmed that these inhibitors protect against BoNT/A in a dose-dependent manner in human ES-MNs. Additionally, these compounds provide protection when administered in post-intoxication scenario. Importantly, the inhibitors were also effective against BoNT serotypes B and E. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing phosphatase inhibitors as broad-spectrum BoNT antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkan Kiris
- Geneva Foundation, Tacoma, WA, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States of America
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Jonathan E. Nuss
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Stephanie M. Stanford
- Division of Cellular Biology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Laura M. Wanner
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Lisa Cazares
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Michael F. Maestre
- Division of Cellular Biology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Hao T. Du
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Glenn Y. Gomba
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - James C. Burnett
- Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Computational Drug Development Group (CDDG), NCI, Frederick, MD, United States of America
- CDDG, Developmental Therapeutics Program, NCI, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Rick Gussio
- CDDG, Developmental Therapeutics Program, NCI, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Nunzio Bottini
- Division of Cellular Biology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Rekha G. Panchal
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Christopher D. Kane
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States of America
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
- DoD Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute (BHSAI), Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Lino Tessarollo
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Sina Bavari
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States of America
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Kiris E, Burnett JC, Nuss JE, Wanner LM, Peyser BD, Du HT, Gomba GY, Kota KP, Panchal RG, Gussio R, Kane CD, Tessarollo L, Bavari S. SRC family kinase inhibitors antagonize the toxicity of multiple serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin in human embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons. Neurotox Res 2015; 27:384-98. [PMID: 25782580 PMCID: PMC4455898 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-015-9526-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), the causative agents of botulism, are potent inhibitors of neurotransmitter release from motor neurons. There are currently no drugs to treat BoNT intoxication after the onset of the disease symptoms. In this study, we explored how modulation of key host pathways affects the process of BoNT intoxication in human motor neurons, focusing on Src family kinase (SFK) signaling. Motor neurons derived from human embryonic stem (hES) cells were treated with a panel of SFK inhibitors and intoxicated with BoNT serotypes A, B, or E (which are responsible for >95 % of human botulism cases). Subsequently, it was found that bosutinib, dasatinib, KX2-391, PP1, PP2, Src inhibitor-1, and SU6656 significantly antagonized all three of the serotypes. Furthermore, the data indicated that the treatment of hES-derived motor neurons with multiple SFK inhibitors increased the antagonistic effect synergistically. Mechanistically, the small molecules appear to inhibit BoNTs by targeting host pathways necessary for intoxication and not by directly inhibiting the toxins' proteolytic activity. Importantly, the identified inhibitors are all well-studied with some in clinical trials while others are FDA-approved drugs. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of targeting host neuronal pathways, rather than the toxin's enzymatic components, to antagonize multiple BoNT serotypes in motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkan Kiris
- Geneva Foundation, Tacoma, WA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Neural Development Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - James C. Burnett
- Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Computational Drug Development Group (CDDG), NCI, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- CDDG, Developmental Therapeutics Program, NCI, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jonathan E. Nuss
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Laura M. Wanner
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Brian D. Peyser
- CDDG, Developmental Therapeutics Program, NCI, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hao T. Du
- Neural Development Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Glenn Y. Gomba
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Krishna P. Kota
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Rekha G. Panchal
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Rick Gussio
- CDDG, Developmental Therapeutics Program, NCI, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Christopher D. Kane
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, USA
- DoD Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute (BHSAI), Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), Frederick, MD 2170, USA
| | - Lino Tessarollo
- Neural Development Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Sina Bavari
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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Singh A, Datta S, Sachdeva A, Maslanka S, Dykes J, Skinner G, Burr D, Whiting RC, Sharma SK. Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins A, B, E, and F in selected food matrices. Health Secur 2015; 13:37-44. [PMID: 25812427 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2014.0075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The mouse bioassay (MBA) is the only accepted standard method for detection of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) in foods. The ELISA method has several advantages over the MBA and is therefore widely used for in vitro detection of BoNTs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a precollaborative study to evaluate the applicability of Botulinum Toxin ELISA kits for the detection of BoNT serotypes A, B, E, and F in a variety of food matrices. In this study, food samples (e.g., broccoli, salami, smoked salmon, green beans, orange juice, tomato juice, low-fat plain yogurt, whole milk, liquid infant formula milk, and liquid eggs) were spiked with high, medium, and low concentration BoNT serotypes A, B, E, and F. Samples (unspiked and spiked) were tested at both laboratories by the ELISA kits. All food samples were positive for BoNTs by ELISA in both laboratories at medium and high spiking levels; a positive ELISA result in low spiked samples was both serotype and laboratory dependent. Overall, the ELISA method appears to be an effective preliminary screening method for BoNT detection in food matrices.
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7
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Kota KP, Soloveva V, Wanner LM, Gomba G, Kiris E, Panchal RG, Kane CD, Bavari S. A high content imaging assay for identification of Botulinum neurotoxin inhibitors. J Vis Exp 2014:e51915. [PMID: 25489815 DOI: 10.3791/51915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptosomal-associated protein-25 (SNAP-25) is a component of the soluble NSF attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex that is essential for synaptic neurotransmitter release. Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is a zinc metalloprotease that blocks exocytosis of neurotransmitter by cleaving the SNAP-25 component of the SNARE complex. Currently there are no licensed medicines to treat BoNT/A poisoning after internalization of the toxin by motor neurons. The development of effective therapeutic measures to counter BoNT/A intoxication has been limited, due in part to the lack of robust high-throughput assays for screening small molecule libraries. Here we describe a high content imaging (HCI) assay with utility for identification of BoNT/A inhibitors. Initial optimization efforts focused on improving the reproducibility of inter-plate results across multiple, independent experiments. Automation of immunostaining, image acquisition, and image analysis were found to increase assay consistency and minimize variability while enabling the multiparameter evaluation of experimental compounds in a murine motor neuron system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna P Kota
- Perkin Elmer Inc.; Division of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases;
| | - Veronica Soloveva
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation; Division of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases; DoD Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute (BHSAI), Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC)
| | - Laura M Wanner
- The Geneva Foundation; Division of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Glenn Gomba
- ORISE; Division of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Erkan Kiris
- The Geneva Foundation; Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research; Division of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Rekha G Panchal
- Division of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Christopher D Kane
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation; Division of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases; DoD Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute (BHSAI), Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC)
| | - Sina Bavari
- Division of Molecular and Translational Sciences, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
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Lévêque C, Ferracci G, Maulet Y, Mazuet C, Popoff M, Seagar M, El Far O. Direct biosensor detection of botulinum neurotoxin endopeptidase activity in sera from patients with type A botulism. Biosens Bioelectron 2014; 57:207-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2014.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Revised: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Botulinum toxin suppression of CNS network activity in vitro. J Toxicol 2014; 2014:732913. [PMID: 24688538 PMCID: PMC3944787 DOI: 10.1155/2014/732913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The botulinum toxins are potent agents which disrupt synaptic transmission. While the standard method for BoNT detection and quantification is based on the mouse lethality assay, we have examined whether alterations in cultured neuronal network activity can be used to detect the functional effects of BoNT. Murine spinal cord and frontal cortex networks cultured on substrate integrated microelectrode arrays allowed monitoring of spontaneous spike and burst activity with exposure to BoNT serotype A (BoNT-A). Exposure to BoNT-A inhibited spike activity in cultured neuronal networks where, after a delay due to toxin internalization, the rate of activity loss depended on toxin concentration. Over a 30 hr exposure to BoNT-A, the minimum concentration detected was 2 ng/mL, a level consistent with mouse lethality studies. A small proportion of spinal cord networks, but not frontal cortex networks, showed a transient increase in spike and burst activity with exposure to BoNT-A, an effect likely due to preferential inhibition of inhibitory synapses expressed in this tissue. Lastly, prior exposure to human-derived antisera containing neutralizing antibodies prevented BoNT-A induced inhibition of network spike activity. These observations suggest that the extracellular recording from cultured neuronal networks can be used to detect and quantify functional BoNT effects.
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Kiris E, Kota KP, Burnett JC, Soloveva V, Kane CD, Bavari S. Recent developments in cell-based assays and stem cell technologies for botulinum neurotoxin research and drug discovery. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2014; 14:153-68. [PMID: 24450833 DOI: 10.1586/14737159.2014.867808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are exceptionally potent inhibitors of neurotransmission, causing muscle paralysis and respiratory failure associated with the disease botulism. Currently, no drugs are available to counter intracellular BoNT poisoning. To develop effective medical treatments, cell-based assays provide a valuable system to identify novel inhibitors in a time- and cost-efficient manner. Consequently, cell-based systems including immortalized cells, primary neurons and stem cell-derived neurons have been established. Stem cell-derived neurons are highly sensitive to BoNT intoxication and represent an ideal model to study the biological effects of BoNTs. Robust immunoassays are used to quantify BoNT activity and play a central role during inhibitor screening. In this review, we examine recent progress in physiologically relevant cell-based assays and high-throughput screening approaches for the identification of both direct and indirect BoNT inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkan Kiris
- Geneva Foundation, 917 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402, USA
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Cunha CE, Moreira GM, Salvarani FM, Neves MS, Lobato FC, Dellagostin OA, Conceição FR. Vaccination of cattle with a recombinant bivalent toxoid against botulism serotypes C and D. Vaccine 2014; 32:214-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Revised: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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12
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Gil LAF, da Cunha CEP, Moreira GMSG, Salvarani FM, Assis RA, Lobato FCF, Mendonça M, Dellagostin OA, Conceição FR. Production and evaluation of a recombinant chimeric vaccine against clostridium botulinum neurotoxin types C and D. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69692. [PMID: 23936080 PMCID: PMC3729698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 05/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine botulism is a fatal disease that is caused by botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) produced by Clostridium botulinum serotypes C and D and that causes great economic losses, with nearly 100% lethality during outbreaks. It has also been considered a potential source of human food-borne illness in many countries. Vaccination has been reported to be the most effective way to control bovine botulism. However, the commercially available toxoid-based vaccines are difficult and hazardous to produce. Neutralizing antibodies targeted against the C-terminal fragment of the BoNT heavy chain (HC) are known to confer efficient protection against lethal doses of BoNTs. In this study, a novel recombinant chimera, consisting of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB), a strong adjuvant of the humoral immune response, fused to the HC of BoNT serotypes C and D, was produced in E. coli. Mice vaccinated with the chimera containing LTB and an equivalent molar ratio of the chimera without LTB plus aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) developed 2 IU/mL of antitoxins for both serotypes. Guinea pigs immunized with the recombinant chimera with LTB plus Al(OH)3 developed a protective immune response against both BoNT/C (5 IU/mL) and BoNT/D (10 IU/mL), as determined by a mouse neutralization bioassay with pooled sera. The results achieved with guinea pig sera fulfilled the requirements of commercial vaccines for prevention of botulism, as determined by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, Supply. The presence of LTB was essential for the development of a strong humoral immune response, as it acted in synergism with Al(OH)3. Thus, the vaccine described in this study is a strong candidate for the control of botulism in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana A. F. Gil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo P. da Cunha
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Gustavo M. S. G. Moreira
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Felipe M. Salvarani
- Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ronnie A. Assis
- Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Mendonça
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Odir A. Dellagostin
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Fabricio R. Conceição
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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13
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Lévêque C, Ferracci G, Maulet Y, Grand-Masson C, Blanchard MP, Seagar M, El Far O. A substrate sensor chip to assay the enzymatic activity of Botulinum neurotoxin A. Biosens Bioelectron 2013; 49:276-81. [PMID: 23787358 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2013.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Revised: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) induces muscle paralysis by enzymatically cleaving the presynaptic SNARE protein SNAP-25, which results in lasting inhibition of acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction. A rapid and sensitive in vitro assay for BoNT/A is required to replace the mouse lethality assay (LD50) in current use. We have developed a fully automated sensor to assay the endoprotease activity of BoNT/A. We produced monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that recognize SNAP-25 neo-epitopes specifically generated by BoNT/A action. Recombinant SNAP-25 was coupled to the sensor surface of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system and samples containing BoNT/A were injected over the substrate sensor. Online substrate cleavage was monitored by measuring binding of mAb10F12 to a SNAP-25 neo-epitope. The SNAP-25-chip assay was toxin serotype-specific and detected 55 fM BoNT/A (1 LD50/ml) in 5 min and 0.4 fM (0.01 LD50/ml) in 5h. Time-course and dose-response curves were linear, yielding a limit of quantification of 0.03 LD50/ml. This label-free method is 100 times more sensitive than the mouse assay, potentially providing rapid read-out of small amounts of toxin for environmental surveillance and the quality control of pharmaceutical preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Lévêque
- INSERM, UMR_S 1072, 13015 Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Université, 13015 Marseille, France.
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14
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Hong WS, Young EWK, Tepp WH, Johnson EA, Beebe DJ. A Microscale Neuron and Schwann Cell Coculture Model for Increasing Detection Sensitivity of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A. Toxicol Sci 2013; 134:64-72. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kft082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
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15
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Rossetto O, Megighian A, Scorzeto M, Montecucco C. Botulinum neurotoxins. Toxicon 2013; 67:31-6. [PMID: 23435262 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 01/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- O Rossetto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Italy, Via G. Colombo 3, 35121 Padova, Italy
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16
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van Oordt T, Stevens GB, Vashist SK, Zengerle R, von Stetten F. Rapid and highly sensitive luciferase reporter assay for the automated detection of botulinum toxin in the centrifugal microfluidic LabDisk platform. RSC Adv 2013. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ra44482a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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17
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Fernández-Salas E, Wang J, Molina Y, Nelson JB, Jacky BPS, Aoki KR. Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A specific cell-based potency assay to replace the mouse bioassay. PLoS One 2012. [PMID: 23185348 PMCID: PMC3504020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A), a potent therapeutic used to treat various disorders, inhibits vesicular neurotransmitter exocytosis by cleaving SNAP25. Development of cell-based potency assays (CBPAs) to assess the biological function of BoNT/A have been challenging because of its potency. CBPAs can evaluate the key steps of BoNT action: receptor binding, internalization-translocation, and catalytic activity; and therefore could replace the current mouse bioassay. Primary neurons possess appropriate sensitivity to develop potential replacement assays but those potency assays are difficult to perform and validate. This report describes a CBPA utilizing differentiated human neuroblastoma SiMa cells and a sandwich ELISA that measures BoNT/A-dependent intracellular increase of cleaved SNAP25. Assay sensitivity is similar to the mouse bioassay and measures neurotoxin biological activity in bulk drug substance and BOTOX® product (onabotulinumtoxinA). Validation of a version of this CBPA in a Quality Control laboratory has led to FDA, Health Canada, and European Union approval for potency testing of BOTOX®, BOTOX® Cosmetic, and Vistabel®. Moreover, we also developed and optimized a BoNT/A CBPA screening assay that can be used for the discovery of novel BoNT/A inhibitors to treat human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Fernández-Salas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Allergan Inc., Irvine, California, United States of America.
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18
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Ho M, Goh CH, Brothers MC, Wang S, Young RL, Ou Y, Lui JNM, Kalafatis M, Lan X, Wolf AE, Rienstra CM, Wilson BA. Glycine insertion at protease cleavage site of SNAP25 resists cleavage but enhances affinity for botulinum neurotoxin serotype A. Protein Sci 2012; 21:318-26. [PMID: 22170566 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The light chain of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A-LC) is a Zn-dependent protease that specifically cleaves SNAP25 of the SNARE complex, thereby impairing vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release at neuromuscular junctions. The C-terminus of SNAP25 (residues 141-206) retains full activity for BoNT/A-LC-catalyzed cleavage at P1-P1' (Gln197-Arg198). Using the structure of a complex between the C-terminus of SNAP25 and BoNT/A-LC as a model to design SNAP25-derived pseudosubstrate inhibitors (SNAPIs) that prevent presentation of the scissile bond to the active site, we introduced multiple His residues to replace Ala-Asn-Gln-Arg (residues 195-198) at the substrate cleavage site, with the intent to identify possible side-chain interactions with the active site Zn. We also introduced multiple Gly residues between the P1-P1' residues to explore the spatial tolerance within the active-site cleft. Using a FRET substrate YsCsY, we compared a series of SNAPIs for inhibition of BoNT/A-LC. Among the SNAPIs tested, several known cleavage-resistant, single-point mutants of SNAP25 were poor inhibitors, with most of the mutants losing binding affinity. Replacement with His at the active site did not improve inhibition over wildtype substrate. In contrast, Gly-insertion mutants were not only resistant to cleavage, but also surprisingly showed enhanced affinity for BoNT/A-LC. Two of the Gly-insertion mutants exhibited 10-fold lower IC₅₀ values than the wildtype 66-mer SNAP25 peptide. Our findings illustrate a scenario, where the induced fit between enzyme and bound pseudosubstrate fails to produce the strain and distortion required for catalysis to proceed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfei Ho
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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19
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Singh AK, Stanker LH, Sharma SK. Botulinum neurotoxin: where are we with detection technologies? Crit Rev Microbiol 2012; 39:43-56. [PMID: 22676403 DOI: 10.3109/1040841x.2012.691457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Because of its high toxicity, botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) poses a significant risk to humans and it represents a possible biological warfare agent. Nevertheless, BoNT serotypes A and B are considered an effective treatment for a variety of neurological disorders. The growing applicability of BoNT as a drug, and its potential use as a biological threat agent, highlight the urgent need to develop sensitive detection assays and therapeutic counter measures. In the last decade, significant progress has been made in BoNT detection technologies but none have fully replaced the mouse lethality assay, the current "gold standard". Recently, new advances in robotics and the availability of new reagents have allowed development of methods for rapid toxin analysis. These technologies while promising need further refinement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay K Singh
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD 20740, USA
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20
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Kiris E, Nuss JE, Burnett JC, Kota KP, Koh DC, Wanner LM, Torres-Melendez E, Gussio R, Tessarollo L, Bavari S. Embryonic stem cell-derived motoneurons provide a highly sensitive cell culture model for botulinum neurotoxin studies, with implications for high-throughput drug discovery. Stem Cell Res 2011; 6:195-205. [PMID: 21353660 PMCID: PMC3081902 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2011.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2010] [Revised: 01/05/2011] [Accepted: 01/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) inhibit cholinergic synaptic transmission by specifically cleaving proteins that are crucial for neurotransmitter exocytosis. Due to the lethality of these toxins, there are elevated concerns regarding their possible use as bioterrorism agents. Moreover, their widespread use for cosmetic purposes, and as medical treatments, has increased the potential risk of accidental overdosing and environmental exposure. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel modalities to counter BoNT intoxication. Mammalian motoneurons are the main target of BoNTs; however, due to the difficulty and poor efficiency of the procedures required to isolate the cells, they are not suitable for high-throughput drug screening assays. Here, we explored the suitability of embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived motoneurons as a renewable, reproducible, and physiologically relevant system for BoNT studies. We found that the sensitivity of ES-derived motoneurons to BoNT/A intoxication is comparable to that of primary mouse spinal motoneurons. Additionally, we demonstrated that several BoNT/A inhibitors protected SNAP-25, the BoNT/A substrate, in the ES-derived motoneuron system. Furthermore, this system is compatible with immunofluorescence-based high-throughput studies. These data suggest that ES-derived motoneurons provide a highly sensitive system that is amenable to large-scale screenings to rapidly identify and evaluate the biological efficacies of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkan Kiris
- Department of Target Discovery and Experimental Microbiology, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Neural Development Group, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jonathan E. Nuss
- Department of Target Discovery and Experimental Microbiology, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - James C. Burnett
- SAIC Frederick, Inc., Target Structure-Based Drug Discovery Group (TSBDDG), National Cancer Institute at Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- TSBDDG, Information Technology Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, MD 2170, USA
| | - Krishna P. Kota
- Department of Target Discovery and Experimental Microbiology, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Dawn C. Koh
- Neural Development Group, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Laura M. Wanner
- Department of Target Discovery and Experimental Microbiology, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Edna Torres-Melendez
- Department of Target Discovery and Experimental Microbiology, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Rick Gussio
- TSBDDG, Information Technology Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, MD 2170, USA
| | - Lino Tessarollo
- Neural Development Group, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Sina Bavari
- Department of Target Discovery and Experimental Microbiology, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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21
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Sapsford KE, Granek J, Deschamps JR, Boeneman K, Blanco-Canosa JB, Dawson PE, Susumu K, Stewart MH, Medintz IL. Monitoring botulinum neurotoxin a activity with peptide-functionalized quantum dot resonance energy transfer sensors. ACS NANO 2011; 5:2687-2699. [PMID: 21361387 DOI: 10.1021/nn102997b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are extremely potent bacterial toxins that contaminate food supplies along with having a high potential for exploitation as bioterrorism agents. There is a continuing need to rapidly and sensitively detect exposure to these toxins and to verify their active state, as the latter directly affects diagnosis and helps provide effective treatments. We investigate the use of semiconductor quantum dot (QD)-peptide Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) assemblies to monitor the activity of the BoNT serotype A light chain protease (LcA). A modular LcA peptide substrate was designed and optimized to contain a central LcA recognition/cleavage region, a unique residue to allow labeling with a Cy3 acceptor dye, an extended linker-spacer sequence, and a terminal oligohistidine that allows for final ratiometric peptide-QD-self-assembly. A number of different QD materials displaying charged or PEGylated surface-coatings were evaluated for their ability to self-assemble dye-labeled LcA peptide substrates by monitoring FRET interactions. Proteolytic assays were performed utilizing either a direct peptide-on-QD format or alternatively an indirect pre-exposure of peptide to LcA prior to QD assembly. Variable activities were obtained depending on QD materials and formats used with the most sensitive pre-exposure assay result demonstrating a 350 pM LcA limit of detection. Modeling the various QD-peptide sensor constructs provided insight into how the resulting assembly architecture influenced LcA recognition interactions and subsequent activity. These results also highlight the unique roles that both peptide design and QD features, especially surface-capping agents, contribute to overall sensor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim E Sapsford
- Division of Biology, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, USA.
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22
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A label-free biosensor assay for botulinum neurotoxin B in food and human serum. Anal Biochem 2011; 410:281-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2010.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Revised: 11/25/2010] [Accepted: 11/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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23
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Kaittanis C, Banerjee T, Santra S, Santiesteban OJ, Teter K, Perez JM. Identification of molecular-mimicry-based ligands for cholera diagnostics using magnetic relaxation. Bioconjug Chem 2011; 22:307-14. [PMID: 21226491 DOI: 10.1021/bc100442q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
When covalently bound to an appropriate ligand, iron oxide nanoparticles can bind to a specific target of interest. This interaction can be detected through changes in the solution's spin-spin relaxation times (T2) via magnetic relaxation measurements. In this report, a strategy of molecular mimicry was used in order to identify targeting ligands that bind to the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB). The cellular CTB-receptor, ganglioside GM1, contains a pentasaccharide moiety consisting in part of galactose and glucose units. We therefore predicted that CTB would recognize carbohydrate-conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles as GM1 mimics, thus producing a detectable change in the T2 relaxation times. Magnetic relaxation experiments demonstrated that CTB interacted with the galactose-conjugated nanoparticles. This interaction was confirmed via surface plasmon resonance studies using either the free or nanoparticle-conjugated galactose molecule. The galactose-conjugated nanoparticles were then used as CTB sensors achieving a detection limit of 40 pM. Via magnetic relaxation studies, we found that CTB also interacted with dextran-coated nanoparticles, and surface plasmon resonance studies also confirmed this interaction. Additional experiments demonstrated that the dextran-coated nanoparticle can also be used as CTB sensors and that dextran can prevent the internalization of CTB into GM1-expressing cells. Our work indicates that magnetic nanoparticle conjugates and magnetic relaxation detection can be used as a simple and fast method to identify targeting ligands via molecular mimicry. Furthermore, our results show that the dextran-coated nanoparticles represent a low-cost approach for CTB detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charalambos Kaittanis
- Nanoscience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
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Pellett S, Du ZW, Pier CL, Tepp WH, Zhang SC, Johnson EA. Sensitive and quantitative detection of botulinum neurotoxin in neurons derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 404:388-92. [PMID: 21130748 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.11.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2010] [Accepted: 11/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), the most poisonous protein toxins known, represent a serious bioterrorism threat but are also used as a unique and important bio-pharmaceutical to treat an increasing myriad of neurological disorders. The only currently accepted detection method by the United States Food and Drug Administration for biological activity of BoNTs and for potency determination of pharmaceutical preparations is the mouse bioassay (MBA). Recent advances have indicated that cell-based assays using primary neuronal cells can provide an equally sensitive and robust detection platform as the MBA to reliably and quantitatively detect biologically active BoNTs. This study reports for the first time a BoNT detection assay using mouse embryonic stem cells to produce a neuronal cell culture. The data presented indicate that this assay can reliably detect BoNT/A with a similar sensitivity as the MBA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Pellett
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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