Botulinum toxin By: james and alan. The most poisonous substance known to man Produced by the common bacteria Clostridium botulinum Cause of Botulism.

Botulinum toxin

By: james and alan

The most poisonous substance known to man

• Produced by the common bacteria Clostridium botulinum

• Cause of Botulism• 75 millionths of a gram to kill a person• 1kg could kill entire human population• Different types (A-G)• Used for Botox :D!

The Bacteria

• Found in the soil of many countries• Very heat resistant (>200°F)• Obligate Anaerobe• Flourishes in oxygen free environments of

canned food and other food products• Killed by a pressurized boil or other intense

heat

Different Types

• Types A-G• All except C and D are toxic to humans• C and D are poisonous to animals• Type A predominates the soil of North and South

America• Type B is found in deep soil• Type E is found in water and is prevalent in aquatic

sediments in Norway and Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, the Baltic coast of Poland and Russia.

Botulism

• Caused by eating contaminated food, or having a contaminated wound.

• Causes depression of muscles, leading to Double vision, drooping of eyelids, loss of facial expression and swallowing problems.

• In more advanced stages, it can cause weakness of arms and legs, depressed breathing and respiratory failure, which causes paralysis, comas, and death.

Botulism Treatment

• The only drug currently available to treat infant botulism is Botulism Immune Globulin Intravenous-Human (BIG-IV or BabyBIG)

• Patients with severe cases must be on a ventilator for weeks, plus intensive medical and nursing care, due to the respiratory failure and paralysis that occur.

• There are two primary Botulinum Antitoxins available for treatment of wound and foodborne botulism.

Human Uses

• Used for Botox injections, and treatment of upper motor neuron syndrome, muscle spasms, excessive sweating, and migraine headaches.