The agent of deciphered botulism

2000/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

The bacterium Clostridium botulinum causes botulism, a very serious and deadly disease. The disease is usually due to the ingestion of poorly sterilized preserves, so the body, including respiratory devices, suffers paralysis and the patient dies drowned. In the United States, there has been a boom against botulism when it manages to decipher the structure of the bacteria. They have investigated how toxin is associated with nerve cells and how it blocks neurotransmitters, and although they have not yet clarified how the bacteria crosses the cell membrane, the anti-botulism vaccine can be on the way. At the same time, they have found the bacteria therapeutic functions such as treating involuntary contractions of the muscles.