Involvement of nontoxic protein in botulinum toxin complex on digestive injury in botulism food poisoning

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08475
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including mycology)
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Principal Investigator: WATANABE Toshihiro 東京農業大学, 生物産業学部, 教授 (80175695)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SAGANE Yoshimasa 東京農業大学, 生物産業学部, 教授 (00624660) ; NIWA Koichi 東京農業大学, 生物産業学部, 教授 (20301012) ; MUTOH Shingo 鎌倉女子大学, 家政学部, 講師 (20749890) ; SUZUKI Tomonori 東京農業大学, 生命科学部, 准教授 (90453836)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ボツリヌス食中毒 / 細胞毒性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) causes muscle paralysis. Botulism food poisoning may cause gastrointestinal disorders and vascular lesions, and the cause of these symptoms is unclear. On the other hand, BoNT associates non-toxic proteins and forms a toxin complex. In this study, for the first time, we demonstrated that a nontoxic protein complex shows cytotoxicity, accompanied by formation of vacuoles within the cytoplasm, to rat small intestinal epithelial cells. In this study, furthermore, it was revealed that the nontoxic protein complex of botulinum toxin forms vacuoles within the cell by a mechanism different from other vacuolating toxins. The results of this research are expected to lead to the elucidation of the mechanism of botulism intoxication, which is still unclear.

Free Research Field

タンパク質化学