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Tetanus and tetanus neurotoxin: From peripheral uptake to central nervous tissue targets
Author(s) -
Megighian Aram,
Pirazzini Marco,
Fabris Federico,
Rossetto Ornella,
Montecucco Cesare
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/jnc.15330
Subject(s) - tetanus , neurotoxin , central nervous system , peripheral , peripheral nervous system , clostridium tetani , tetanus antitoxin , neuroscience , nervous system , biology , immunology , medicine , vaccination , endocrinology
Abstract Tetanus is a deadly but preventable disease caused by a protein neurotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani . Spores of C. tetani may contaminate a necrotic wound and germinate into a vegetative bacterium that releases a toxin, termed tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT). TeNT enters the general circulation, binds to peripheral motor neurons and sensory neurons, and is transported retroaxonally to the spinal cord. It then enters inhibitory interneurons and blocks the release of glycine or GABA causing a spastic paralysis. This review attempts to correlate the metalloprotease activity of TeNT and its trafficking and localization into the vertebrate body to the nature and sequence of appearance of the symptoms of tetanus.