Botulinum Toxin aka The Miracle Poison

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It is known to be one of the most poisonous biological substances and is a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. Clostridium Botulinum a rod-shaped organism is known to grow best in low oxygen conditions. This bacteria form spores allowing them to stay dormant until it encounters a condition that cannot support its growth. Clostridium Botulinum produces eight antigenically distinguishable exotoxins (A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F, and G). All variations of this microorganism interfere with neural transmission by blocking the release of acetylcholine, the principal neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction, thus causing muscle paralysis (Dolly, 1997). Botulinum Toxin is very vital in the management of numerous medical conditions like headaches, hyper salivation, and spastic movement disorders. Botulinum Toxin is also used in cosmetology to correct lines, wrinkles and creases to the face, chin, neck, and chest to dermatological applications like hyperidrosis also known as “ abnormally excessive sweating” Injections with botulinum toxin are most times tolerated and side effects are minimal. A precise knowledge and understanding of the functional anatomy of the mimetic muscles is absolutely necessary to correctly use botulinum toxins in clinical practice (Dolly, 1997).
Botulinum toxin aka the “miracle poison, is one of the most poisonous substances known. (Munchau & Bhatia, 2000) It is a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore forming rod commonly found on plants, in soil, water and animals intestinal tracts. It was Scott (Scott, 1981) who was the first show the effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A in the management of crossed eyes in humans also known as “st...

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...ns with increasing effectiveness and duration of effects will further aid this expanding and interesting field.

Works Cited

Benedetto, A. (2011). Botulinum toxins in clinical aesthetic practice. New York Information Healthcare, 50-66.
Brin, M. (1997). Botulinum toxin: Chemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and immunology. Muscle Nerve Supply, 146-148.
Burgen, A., Dickens, F., & Zatman, L. (1949). The action of botulinum toxin on the neuro-muscular junction. The Journal of Physiology, 10-24.
Henderson, D., & Inglesby, T. (2002). Bioterrorism. Chicago: Michael Desposito.
Manchau, A. (2000). Regular Review: Uses of Botulinum Injection in Medicine Today. BMJ, 161-165.
Scott, A. (1981). Botulinum toxin injection of eye muscles to correct strabismus. Trans Am Opthalmol Soc, 734-770.
Sellin, L. (1985). The pharmacological mechanism of botulism. Trends Pharmacol Sci, 80-82.

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