Physical Characterization of Clostridium Botulinum Neurotoxin Genes

Abstract

A total of 4 structural genes (bot) encoding botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) have been cloned and their entire nucleotide sequences determined. These are the genes of the proteolytic Clostridium botulinum strains Danish (type B), NCTC 11219 (type E) Langeland (type F), and 89G (type G). The encoded toxins comprise 1291, 1252, 1278 and 1297 amino acids (aa), respectively. The determined BoNT/F sequence exhibits considerable divergence from that of a BoNT/ F derived from a non-proteolytic strain of C botulinum (ATCC 23387), and the BoNT/F produced by a strain of Clostridium baratii (ATCC 43756). Similar levels of divergence appear to exist between proteolytic and non-proteolytic type B neurotoxins. One consequence is that a vaccine based on the H sub c polypeptide of a single representative of a particular serotype (notably types B and F) may not give protection against all members of that serotype. Attempts to impose control on a Clacetobutylicum expression system were unsuccessful. Gene fusions were constructed between a glutathione-S-transferase gene and botA DNA encoding various portions of the BoNT/A H-chain. No direct evidence for the production of recombinant protein in C acetobutylicum was obtained. Foreign, BD, Clostridium, Cloning, Vaccines, BL3, Biotechnology, Gene expression, Gene cloning, DNA transfer, Neurotoxin genes, Clostridium botulinum.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA272939

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  • Nigel P. Minton

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