botulismin

Botulismin is a term that appears in some older or less formal sources to refer to the botulinum toxin. In contemporary scientific usage, the term is largely replaced by botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). Botulinum neurotoxins are produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species. There are seven confirmed serotypes, BoNT/A through BoNT/G, with BoNT/A and BoNT/B most commonly associated with human disease.

The toxins are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that the light chain acts as to cleave SNARE proteins in peripheral cholinergic nerve terminals, blocking acetylcholine release and causing flaccid paralysis. The toxins are often present in a complex with non-toxic proteins, which can affect stability and intestinal passage.

Botulinum neurotoxins are extremely potent; exposure can lead to botulism, a life-threatening condition. Diagnosis is clinical, supported by laboratory confirmation; treatment includes administration of antitoxin, wound debridement when relevant, and intensive supportive care. In controlled medical settings, minute doses of BoNT are used therapeutically to treat muscle spasticity, dystonia, chronic migraine, overactive bladder, and cosmetic lines, under strict regulation.

Historical/alternate usage: The term botulismin is not standard in modern pharmacology or microbiology and may appear in older texts or as a misspelling. Readers should rely on the established term botulinum neurotoxin when referring to the toxin itself, and botulinum toxin complex when discussing the native forms produced by C. botulinum.