Commentary: Is the scare of the new botulinum serotype over?. (2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singh, Bal Ram
• Is Part Of: Botulinum journal. Volume 3:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2015
• Subjects: antitoxins -- biothreats -- botulinum neurotoxins -- BoNT -- nomenclature -- botulinum serotype -- Clostridium botulinum -- botulism -- biosecurity; Botulinum toxin -- Periodicals; Clostridium botulinum -- Periodicals; Drug development -- Periodicals; 615.9529364
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-7318

Abstract

The highly toxic nature of botulinum neurotoxins and their placement in category A biothreat agents list under tier 1 biosecurity regulations always attract public attention about any possibility of a new form of this agent. Last time, a new type of botulinum neurotoxin (type G) was discovered was over 40 years ago, and that was not even known to cause human botulism epidemiologically. Therefore, when a novel botulinum neurotoxin was isolated from an infant botulism case in California, it became a major concern for the public health and biothreat agencies. There has been controversy among the scientists about its nomenclature. The scientific debate has been robust, and although the novel neurotoxin is now confirmed to be a hybrid of types A and F botulinum neurotoxins, the issue of calling it a new serotype (H) remains unsettled.