Related to new research published in the January issue of Science Translational Medicine, Patrick McNutt, PhD, of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, was part of the research team that demonstrated a new “Trojan horse” approach that implements strong antidotal efficacy in treating lethal botulism in mice , guinea pigs and macas rhesus monkeys.
Furthermore, in a companion article, an independent team showed that concomitant drugs have strong efficacy in mice.
“This is one of those serendipitous moments in science where two groups, working independently, show similar results for a long-term problem,” McNutt said. “We are currently modifying this drug to enhance its therapeutic properties against botulism and to investigate whether the same approach can be replicated to treat other neuronal diseases.”
In 2010, Konstantin Ichtchenko (New York University School of Medicine) devised a novel ‘trojan horse’ strategy for treating botulism. This strategy is based on the use of a nontoxic form of BoNT to deliver therapeutic antibodies to paralyzed neurons, inhibiting toxin-type toxin activity and accelerating recovery from paralysis. Over the past decade, Konstantin has established collaborations with Patrick McNutt (Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine), Phil Band (Cytodel, Inc.) and Chuck Shoemaker (Tufts University) to develop this new drug and tried in several experimental models.
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are a family of bacterial toxins responsible for the clinical disease known as botulism. BoNTs work within zero limits to destroy proteins necessary for arousing muscle shortening, causing muscle paralysis that leads to respiratory arrest at lethal concentrations. BoNT is the most toxic substance known, with moderate lethal doses that are more than a million times lower than cyanide.
Due to its strength and length of action, the CDC is considered a Level 1 agent, reserved for the most dangerous public hazards. The same properties make BoNT a highly effective cosmic and therapeutic drug (e.g., BOTOX) with diverse clinical manifestations. Despite decades of effort, there are no contradictions for the impact of life-threatening botulism. This tape is mainly due to the fact that the poison hides within the nest terminus, where it is a challenging target for the delivery of therapeutic molecules.
###
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! they are not responsible for the accuracy of press releases posted to EurekAlert! by sending institutions or for using any information through the EurekAlert system.