
A new source of Botox has been found in a strain of animal gut bacteria known as Enterococcus faecium.
The neurotoxic protein is known for its paradoxical ability to remove wrinkles yet cause botulism, a potentially fatal illness associated with food poisoning.
Advertisement
‘Botox is commonly used to treat muscular conditions, migraine, and cosmetically to remove wrinkles. Finding a new source of Botox may enable an expansion in its therapeutic usage.’
Tweet it Now
Over the past 20 years, there has also been a growing number of therapeutic applications for botulinum toxin type A, known as Botox, including treatment for migraines, leaky bladders, excessive sweating, and cardiac conditions.
"This is the first time that an active botulinum toxin has been identified outside of Clostridium botulinum and its relatives, which are often found in soil and untreated water," said Andrew Doxey, one of the study's two corresponding authors and a bioinformatics professor at the University of Waterloo. "Its discovery has implications in several fields, from monitoring the emergence of new pathogens to the development of new protein therapeutics, it's a game changer."
Doxey's findings were developed in collaboration with researchers from Harvard University and the Boston Children's Hospital.
In the study, originally designed to investigate the origins of antibiotic resistance in E. faecium bacteria, the researchers were able to sequence the genome of the E. faecium bacteria drawn from cow feces. The genome was then run through computer programs in Doxey's lab, which found the gene for botulinum toxin in the bacterial strain.
The research team concluded that the botulinum toxin was likely transferred from C. botulinum bacteria in the environment into the E. faecium bacteria in the cow's gut, showing that the toxin can be transferred between very different species.
"The botulinum toxin is a powerful and versatile protein therapeutic" says Michael Mansfield, a Biology doctoral candidate in the Doxey Lab and one of the study's lead authors. "By finding more versions of the toxin in nature, we can potentially expand and optimize its therapeutic applications even further."
Source: Eurekalert
Advertisement
Doxey's findings were developed in collaboration with researchers from Harvard University and the Boston Children's Hospital.
In the study, originally designed to investigate the origins of antibiotic resistance in E. faecium bacteria, the researchers were able to sequence the genome of the E. faecium bacteria drawn from cow feces. The genome was then run through computer programs in Doxey's lab, which found the gene for botulinum toxin in the bacterial strain.
The research team concluded that the botulinum toxin was likely transferred from C. botulinum bacteria in the environment into the E. faecium bacteria in the cow's gut, showing that the toxin can be transferred between very different species.
"The botulinum toxin is a powerful and versatile protein therapeutic" says Michael Mansfield, a Biology doctoral candidate in the Doxey Lab and one of the study's lead authors. "By finding more versions of the toxin in nature, we can potentially expand and optimize its therapeutic applications even further."
Source: Eurekalert
Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Drug News

The reverse vaccine uses the liver's natural "non-target" signals to prevent autoimmune responses against naturally decaying cells.

The psychedelic market set for remarkable growth, projected to hit $7.2B by 2029 with a strong 55% CAGR.

The study explores whether CDNF could influence the progression of ALS in rodent models and to elucidate the mechanism through which it operates.

Amoxicillin-clavulanate use in acute sinusitis patients is associated with a higher incidence of adverse events.

Professionals advocate for enhanced education of patients and caregivers, and creation of more effective child-resistant systems for monitoring ADHD medication.