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Nontoxic botulinum for drug delivery
Botulism is a severe and potentially fatal disease characterized by muscle paralysis. The causing agent, botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), has the ability to enter motor neurons and to block neurotransmission. In two independent studies, Miyashita et al. and McNutt et al. used nontoxic derivative of BoNT to deliver therapeutic antibodies against BoNTs in neurons. Miyashita et al. targeted BoNT/A and BoNT/B and reported therapeutic effects in mice. Using a similar approach targeting BoNT/A, McNutt et al. increased survival after lethal challenge in mice, guinea pigs, and monkeys. This approach provided a safe and effective treatment against BoNT intoxication and could be exploited for targeting other intracellular proteins in neurons.
Abstract
Botulism is caused by a potent neurotoxin that blocks neuromuscular transmission, resulting in death by asphyxiation. Currently, the therapeutic options are limited and there is no antidote. Here, we harness the structural and trafficking properties of an atoxic derivative of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) to transport a function-blocking single-domain antibody into the neuronal cytosol where it can inhibit BoNT serotype A (BoNT/A1) molecular toxicity. Post-symptomatic treatment relieved toxic signs of botulism and rescued mice, guinea pigs, and nonhuman primates after lethal BoNT/A1 challenge. These data demonstrate that atoxic BoNT derivatives can be harnessed to deliver therapeutic protein moieties to the neuronal cytoplasm where they bind and neutralize intracellular targets in experimental models. The generalizability of this platform might enable delivery of antibodies and other protein-based therapeutics to previously inaccessible intraneuronal targets.
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