Analysis of neurotoxin cluster genes in Clostridium botulinum strains producing botulinum neurotoxin serotype A subtypes

Neurotoxin cluster gene sequences and arrangements were elucidated for strains of Clostridium botulinum encoding botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) subtypes A3, A4, and a unique A1-producing strain (HA(-) Orfx(+) A1). These sequences were compared to the known neurotoxin cluster sequences of C. botulinum strains that produce BoNT/A1 and BoNT/A2 and possess either a hemagglutinin (HA) or an Orfx cluster, respectively. The A3 and HA(-) Orfx(+) A1 strains demonstrated a neurotoxin cluster arrangement similar to that found in A2. The A4 strain analyzed possessed two sets of neurotoxin clusters that were similar to what has been found in the A(B) strains: an HA cluster associated with the BoNT/B gene and an Orfx cluster associated with the BoNT/A4 gene. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the neurotoxin cluster-specific genes were determined for each neurotoxin cluster and compared among strains. Additionally, the ntnh gene of each strain was compared on both the nucleotide and amino acid levels. The degree of similarity of the sequences of the ntnh genes and corresponding amino acid sequences correlated with the neurotoxin cluster type to which the ntnh gene was assigned.     

Sensitive and quantitative detection of botulinum neurotoxin in neurons derived from mouse embryonic stem cells

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.     

A neuronal cell-based botulinum neurotoxin assay for highly sensitive and specific detection of neutralizing serum antibodies

Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotypes A and B are widely used as pharmaceuticals to treat various neurological disorders and in cosmetic applications. The major adverse effect of these treatments has been resistance to treatment after multiple injections. Currently, patients receiving BoNT therapies and patients enrolled in clinical trials for new applications and/or new formulations of BoNTs are not routinely monitored for the formation of neutralizing antibodies, since no assay other than the mouse protection procedure is commercially available that reliably tests for the presence of such antibodies. This report presents a highly sensitive and specific neuronal cell-based assay that provides sensitive and specific detection of neutralizing antibodies to BoNT/A.     

Plasmid encoded neurotoxin genes in Clostridium botulinum serotype A subtypes

Clostridium botulinum, an important pathogen of humans and animals, produces botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), the most poisonous toxin known. We have determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and Southern hybridizations that the genes encoding BoNTs in strains Loch Maree (subtype A3) and 657Ba (type B and subtype A4) are located on large (approximately 280 kb) plasmids. This is the first demonstration of plasmid-borne neurotoxin genes in Clostridium botulinum serotypes A and B. The finding of BoNT type A and B genes on extrachromosomal elements has important implications for the evolution of neurotoxigenicity in clostridia including the origin, expression, and lateral transfer of botulinum neurotoxin genes.     

Organization and regulation of the neurotoxin genes in Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani

Botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins are structurally and functionally related 150 kDa proteins that are potent inhibitors of neuroexocytosis. Botulinum neurotoxin associates with non-toxic proteins to form complexes of various sizes. The botulinum neurotoxin and non-toxic protein genes are clustered in a DNA segment called the botulinum locus. This locus is probably located on a mobile or degenerate mobile element, which accounts for the various genomic localizations (chromosome, plasmid, phage) in different Clostridium botulinum types. The botulinum neurotoxin and non-toxic protein genes are organized in two polycistronic operons (ntnh-bont and ha operons) transcribed in opposite orientations. The gene that separates the two operons of the botulinum locus in C. botulinum A encodes a 21 kDa protein BotR/A, which is a positive regulator of the expression of the botulinum locus genes. Similarly, in Clostridium tetani, the gene located immediately upstream of the tetanus toxin gene, encodes a positive regulatory protein, TetR. BotR and TetR are possibly alternative sigma factors related to TxeR and UviA, which regulate C. difficile toxin and C. perfringens bacteriocin production, respectively. TxeR and UviA define a new sub-group of the sigma(70) family of RNA polymerase initiation factors. In addition, the C. botulinum genome contains predicted two-component system genes, some of which are possibly involved in regulation of toxinogenesis.     

Evaluation of lateral-flow Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin detection kits for food analysis

The suitability and sensitivity of two in vitro lateral-flow assays for detecting Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) in an assortment of foods were evaluated. Toxin extraction and preparation methods for various liquid, solid, and high-fat-content foods were developed. The lateral-flow assays, one developed by the Naval Medical Research Center (Silver Spring, MD) and the other by Alexeter Technologies (Gaithersburg, MD), are based on the immunodetection of BoNT types A, B, and E. The assays were found to be rapid and easy to perform with minimum requirements for laboratory equipment or skills. They can readily detect 10 ng/ml of BoNT types A and B and 20 ng/ml of BoNT type E. Compared to other in vitro detection methods, these assays are less sensitive, and the assessment of a result is strictly qualitative. However, the assay was found to be simple to use and to require minimal training. The assays successfully detected BoNT types A, B, and E in a wide variety of foods, suggesting their potential usefulness as a preliminary screening system for triaging food samples with elevated BoNT levels in the event of a C. botulinum contamination event.     

Sequencing the botulinum neurotoxin gene and related genes in Clostridium botulinum type E strains reveals orfx3 and a novel type E neurotoxin subtype

Three Clostridium botulinum type E strains were sequenced for the botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) gene cluster, and 11 type E strains, representing a wide biodiversity, were sequenced for the bont/E gene. The total length of the BoNT/E gene cluster was 12,908 bp, and a novel gene (partial) designated orfx3, together with the complete orfx2 gene, was identified in the three type E strains for the first time. Apart from orfx3, the structure and organization of the neurotoxin gene cluster of the three strains were identical to those of previously published ones. Only minor differences (≤3%) in the nucleotide sequences of the gene cluster components were observed among the three strains and the published BoNT/E-producing clostridia. The orfx3, orfx2, orfx1, and p47 gene sequences of the three type E strains shared homologies of 81%, 67 to 76%, 78 to 79%, and 79 to 85%, respectively, with published sequences for type A1 and A2 C. botulinum. Analysis of bont/E from the 14 type E strains and 19 previously published BoNT/E-producing clostridia revealed six neurotoxin subtypes, with a new distinct subtype consisting of three Finnish isolates alone. The amino acid sequence of the subtype E6 neurotoxin differed 3 to 6% from the other subtypes, suggesting that these subtype E6 neurotoxins may possess specific antigenic or functional properties.     

Colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic assay for detection of botulinum neurotoxin type B

A rapid immunochromatographic assay was developed to detect botulinum neurotoxin type B (BoNT/B). The assay was based on the sandwich format using polyclonal antibody (Pab). The thiophilic gel purified anti-BoNT/B Pab was immobilized to a defined detection zone on a porous nitrocellulose membrane and conjugated to colloidal gold particles that served as a detection reagent. The BoNT/B-containing sample was added to the membrane and allowed to react with Pab-coated particles. The mixture was then passed along the porous membrane by capillary action past the Pab in the detection zone, which will bind the particles that had BoNT/B bound to their surface, giving a red colour within this detection zone with an intensity proportional to BoNT/B concentration. In the absence of BoNT/B, no immunogold was bound to the solid-phase antibody. With this method, 50 ng/ml of BoNT/B was detected in less than 10 min. The assay sensitivity can be increased by silver enhancement to 50 pg/ml. The developed BoNT/B assay also showed no cross reaction to type A neurotoxin (BoNT/A) and type E neurotoxin (BoNT/E).     

Rapid product analysis and increased sensitivity for quantitative determinations of botulinum neurotoxin proteolytic activity

The ultimate molecular action of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is a Zn-dependent endoproteolytic activity on one of the three SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins. There are seven serotypes (A-G) of BoNT having distinct cleavage sites on the SNARE substrates. The proteolytic activity is located on the N-terminal light chain (Lc) domain and is used extensively as the primary target toward therapeutic development against botulism. Here we describe an improved method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) whereby quantitative data were obtained in 1/10th the time using 1/20th the sample and solvent volumes compared with a widely used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. We also synthesized a VAMP (vesicle-associated membrane protein)-based peptide containing an intact V1 motif that was efficiently used as a substrate by BoNT/D Lc. Although serotype C1 cleaves the serotype A substrate at a bond separated by only one residue, we were able to distinguish the two reactions by UPLC. The new method can accurately quantify as low as 7 pmol of the peptide substrates for BoNT serotypes A, B, C1, and D. We also report here that the catalytic efficiency of serotype A can be stimulated 35-fold by the addition of Triton X-100 to the reaction mixture. Combining the use of Triton X-100 with the newly introduced UPLC method, we were able to accurately detect very low levels of proteolytic activity in a very short time. Sensitivity of the assay and accuracy and rapidity of product analysis should greatly augment efforts in therapeutic development.     

Improved detection of botulinum neurotoxin type A in stool by mass spectrometry

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most toxic substances known to humankind. Rapid and sensitive detection of BoNTs is necessary for timely clinical confirmation of the disease state in botulism. BoNTs cleave proteins and peptide mimics at specific sites. A mass spectrometry (MS)-based method, Endopep–MS, can detect these cleavages and has detection limits of 0.05–0.5 mouse LD₅₀ (U) in serum, depending on the BoNT serotypes. In this method, the products generated from cleavage of peptide substrates using antibody affinity-purified toxins are detected by MS. Nonspecific bound endogenous proteases or peptidases in stool can coextract with the toxin, cleaving the peptide substrates and reducing the sensitivity of the method. Here we report a method to reduce nonspecific substrate cleavage by reducing stool protease coextraction in the Endopep–MS assay.     

Improved detection of botulinum neurotoxin type A in stool by mass spectrometry

A novel electrochemical method, termed flash chronopotentiometry (FCP), is used to develop a rapid and sensitive method for detecting protease activities. In this method, an appropriate current pulse is applied across a polycation-selective polymer membrane to induce a strong flux of the polycationic peptides from the sample phase into the organic membrane of the electrode. During this current pulse, the cell potential (EMF) is monitored continuously, and is a function of the polypeptide concentration. The imposed current causes a local depletion of the polypeptide at the sample/membrane interface, which yields a drastic potential change in the observed chronopotentiogram at a characteristic time, called the transition time (τ). For a given magnitude of current, the square root of τ is directly proportional to the concentration of the polypeptide. Proteases cleave polypeptides into smaller fragments that are not favorably extracted into the membrane of the sensor. Therefore, a decrease in the transition time is observed during the proteolysis process. The degree of change in the transition time can be correlated to protease activity. To demonstrate this approach, the activities of trypsin and α-chymotrypsin are detected using protamine and synthetic polycationic oligopeptides that possess specific cleavage sites that are recognized by these proteases.     

Structure and biological activity of botulinum neurotoxin

Botulinum neurotoxin appears to undergo structural alterations after synthesis and also before it inhibits neurotransmitter release. Discussions and conjectures are presented in this context: 1. At what sites on the 150 kDa neurotoxin does posttranslational proteolytic processing occur? 2. Does neurotransmitter inhibition depend on separation of a segment of the neurotoxin from the rest of the molecule? 3. At what step in the intoxication pathway does activation of neurotoxin (enhanced lethality following limited proteolysis) manifest? 4. Can the receptor binding parameters (based on bovine brain synaptosome and lipid membrane), channel forming property (lipid bilayer membrane) and intracellular inhibitory activity (based on permeabilized chromaffin and PC 12 cells) provide clues to differences in the lethal potency between the neurotoxin serotypes? In addition, the following issues are considered: 5. The spontaneous fragmentation of isolated 50 kDa light chain, after its separation from 100 kDa heavy chain, 6. Effect of specific chemical modification of Arg, His, Lys, Trp, Tyr and Asp/Glu residues of types A, B and E neurotoxins on lethality and antigenicity, and 7. Development of second generation toxoids.     

Molecular evolution of antibody affinity for sensitive detection of botulinum neurotoxin type A

Botulism is caused by botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), the most poisonous substance known. Potential use of BoNT as a biothreat agent has made development of sensitive assays for toxin detection and potent antitoxin for treatment of intoxication a high priority. To improve detection and treatment of botulism, molecular evolution and yeast display were used to increase the affinity of two neutralizing single chain Fv (scFv) antibodies binding BoNT serotype A (BoNT/A). Selection of yeast displayed scFv libraries was performed using methods to select for both increased association rate constant (k(on)) and decreased dissociation rate constants (k(off)). A single cycle of error prone mutagenesis increased the affinity of the 3D12 scFv 45-fold from a K(D) of 9.43x10(-10)M to a K(D) of 2.1x10(-11)M. Affinity of the HuC25 scFv was increased 37-fold from 8.44x10(-10)M to 2.26x10(-11)M using libraries constructed by both random and site directed mutagenesis. scFv variable region genes were used to construct IgG for use in detection assays and in vivo neutralization studies. While IgG had the same relative increases in affinity as scFv, (35-fold and 81-fold, respectively, for 3D12 and HuC25) higher solution equilibrium binding constants were observed for the IgG, with the 3D12 K(D) increasing from 6.07x10(-11)M to 1.71x10(-12)M and the HuC25 K(D) increasing from 4.51x10(-11)M to 5.54x10(-13)M. Affinity increased due to both an increase in k(on), as well as slowing of k(off). Higher affinity antibodies had increased sensitivity, allowing detection of BoNT/A at concentrations as low as 1x10(-13)M. The antibodies will also allow testing of the role of affinity in in vivo toxin neutralization and could lead to the generation of more potent antitoxin.     

In vitro detection and quantification of botulinum neurotoxin type e activity in avian blood

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype E (BoNT/E) outbreaks in the Great Lakes region cause large annual avian mortality events, with an estimated 17,000 bird deaths reported in 2007 alone. During an outbreak investigation, blood collected from bird carcasses is tested for the presence of BoNT/E using the mouse lethality assay. While sensitive, this method is labor-intensive and low throughput and can take up to 7 days to complete. We developed a rapid and sensitive in vitro assay, the BoTest Matrix E assay, that combines immunoprecipitation with high-affinity endopeptidase activity detection by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to rapidly quantify BoNT/E activity in avian blood with detection limits comparable to those of the mouse lethality assay. On the basis of the analysis of archived blood samples (n = 87) collected from bird carcasses during avian mortality investigations, BoTest Matrix E detected picomolar quantities of BoNT/E following a 2-h incubation and femtomolar quantities of BoNT/E following extended incubation (24 h) with 100% diagnostic specificity and 91% diagnostic sensitivity.     

Substrate recognition of VAMP-2 by botulinum neurotoxin B and tetanus neurotoxin

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT; serotypes A-G) and tetanus neurotoxin elicit flaccid and spastic paralysis, respectively. These neurotoxins are zinc proteases that cleave SNARE proteins to inhibit synaptic vesicle fusion to the plasma membrane. Although BoNT/B and tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) cleave VAMP-2 at the same scissile bond, their mechanism(s) of VAMP-2 recognition is not clear. Mapping experiments showed that residues 60-87 of VAMP-2 were sufficient for efficient cleavage by BoNT/B and that residues 40-87 of VAMP-2 were sufficient for efficient TeNT cleavage. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis and kinetic analysis identified three regions within VAMP-2 that were recognized by BoNT/B and TeNT: residues adjacent to the site of scissile bond cleavage (cleavage region) and residues located within N-terminal and C-terminal regions relative to the cleavage region. Analysis of residues within the cleavage region showed that mutations at the P7, P4, P2, and P1' residues of VAMP-2 had the greatest inhibition of LC/B cleavage (> or =32-fold), whereas mutations at P7, P4, P1', and P2' residues of VAMP-2 had the greatest inhibition of LC/TeNT cleavage (> or =64-fold). Residues within the cleavage region influenced catalysis, whereas residues N-terminal and C-terminal to the cleavage region influenced binding affinity. Thus, BoNT/B and TeNT possess similar organization but have unique residues to recognize and cleave VAMP-2. These studies provide new insights into how the clostridial neurotoxins recognize their substrates.     

Neutralisation of specific surface carboxylates speeds up translocation of botulinum neurotoxin type B enzymatic domain

Botulinum neurotoxins translocate their enzymatic domain across vesicular membranes. The molecular triggers of this process are unknown. Here, we tested the possibility that this is elicited by protonation of conserved surface carboxylates. Glutamate-48, glutamate-653 and aspartate-877 were identified as possible candidates and changed into amide. This triple mutant showed increased neurotoxicity due to faster cytosolic delivery of the enzymatic domain; membrane translocation could take place at less acidic pH. Thus, neutralisation of specific negative surface charges facilitates membrane contact permitting a faster initiation of the toxin membrane insertion.     

Neutralization of botulinum neurotoxin by a human monoclonal antibody specific for the catalytic light chain

Background

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are a family of category A select bioterror agents and the most potent biological toxins known. Cloned antibody therapeutics hold considerable promise as BoNT therapeutics, but the therapeutic utility of antibodies that bind the BoNT light chain domain (LC), a metalloprotease that functions in the cytosol of cholinergic neurons, has not been thoroughly explored.

Methods and Findings

We used an optimized hybridoma method to clone a fully human antibody specific for the LC of serotype A BoNT (BoNT/A). The 4LCA antibody demonstrated potent in vivo neutralization when administered alone and collaborated with an antibody specific for the HC. In Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells, the 4LCA antibody prevented the cleavage of the BoNT/A proteolytic target, SNAP-25. Unlike an antibody specific for the HC, the 4LCA antibody did not block entry of BoNT/A into cultured cells. Instead, it was taken up into synaptic vesicles along with BoNT/A. The 4LCA antibody also directly inhibited BoNT/A catalytic activity in vitro.

Conclusions

An antibody specific for the BoNT/A LC can potently inhibit BoNT/A in vivo and in vitro, using mechanisms not previously associated with BoNT-neutralizing antibodies. Antibodies specific for BoNT LC may be valuable components of an antibody antidote for BoNT exposure.