Chapter 57 – Clostridium botulinum and Associated Neurotoxins

Clostridium botulinum and botulism, the disease it causes, have been known for centuries. In the later part of the 20th century, the deadly toxin produced by C. botulinum and related species emerged as a new class of therapeutic for the treatment of a variety of neuromuscular conditions. This chapter reviews the current level of understanding of this complex multidomain family of protein toxins. Each of the three major domains that constitute a botulinum toxin has a specific function within the intoxication process and, thanks to the input of many researchers in the last 10–15 years, is now understood in much more detail. The potential to engineer novel biotherapeutics is discussed, while the importance of developments in detection and treatment approaches is also acknowledged.