 The Botulinum Journal (TBJ)
ISSN (Online): 1754-7326 - ISSN (Print): 1754-7318
Click to download TBJ leaflet Abstracting/Indexing Services and Journal Lists
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are a unique group of proteins, with extreme biological activities in areas such as toxins, therapeutics, and cosmetics. There are only about a couple of hundred cases of botulism globally. However, because of the extreme toxicity of the agent (about 100 billion times more toxic than cyanide, based on mouse lethal dose), it is estimated to be one of the most expensive food poisoning diseases.
Currently, there are seven serotypes (with additional subtypes) of BoNTs (A-G) known to be produced by different strains of anaerobic bacteria, Clostridium botulinum. Although there is little immuno-cross-reactivity and only less than 50% sequence homologies among various serotypes of BoNTs, their site of action, mode of action and target of action is remarkably similar, if not identical. Each of the BoNTs binds to the presynaptic region of nerve membrane at nerve-muscle junctions, translocates whole or a part of the toxin inside the nerve cells, and blocks the release acetylcholine, resulting in a flaccid muscle paralysis.
The combination of extreme toxicity, nerve as the site of action, and resulting physiologically action of muscular paralysis, has made the botulinum neurotoxin a molecule of elevated anxiety and curiosity. Its use has been attempted as a bioterror agent, a fully developed biological weapon for military use, and also as a therapeutic agent against numerous neuromuscular disorders, such as strabismus, blepherospasm, and torticollis, involving excessive release of neurotransmitters. More curiously, therapeutic botulinum neurotoxin preparations are being used for cosmetic purposes to remove frown lines and facial wrinkles.
Clostridium botulinum, therefore, has become a source of bioterror and beauty, both being pursued simultaneously for scientific development to counter the former while promoting the latter.
Botulinum neurotoxins produced by anaerobic bacteria of billions of years ago have targeted the most advanced biological system, the nervous system, in animals and humans. This presents an interesting scientific curiosity as to how these bacteria evolved to target the nervous system. Genetically, botulinum neurotoxins are produced as part of a gene cluster which has a common regulatory factor for the expression of the whole gene cluster, and the proteins form a stable complex, which is critically important to the food poisoning and bioweapon role of this agent. This complex is also used as the therapeutic product because of its naturally stable formulation.
Biochemically, botulinum neurotoxins present a very unique group of macromolecules, with a clear division of domains involved in the 4-step mode of action. The C-terminal third of the molecule is involved in recognition and binding of the neurotoxin to its target membranes through receptors, and the N-terminal third acts a metal-endopeptidase inside the nerve cells. The middle third of the molecule integrates itself into membrane to form a pore which used by the endopeptidase for entry into the cell. Thus, botulinum neurotoxins provide an example of a very rich molecule for biochemical and biophysical understanding of its structure-function.
Finally, because of the effectiveness of the botulinum neurotoxin against many neuromuscular disorders, including migraine headaches and Parkinson’s disease, and its potential for use against many non-neuronal disorders, there is a wide scope for a biotechnologically derived molecule for further drug development.
The Botulinum Journal provides an international forum and refereed authoritative source of information encompassing varied fields, including microbiology, biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, proteomics, genomics, pharmacology, toxicology, drug development related to different forms and types of botulinum neurotoxins, and also Clostridium botulinum.
 Objectives
The objectives of TBJ are to disseminate knowledge, provide a learned reference in the field, and establish channels of communication amongst academic, medical, and public health research experts, pharmaceutical industry, cosmetic industry, policy makers and executives in industry, commerce and investment institutions. TBJ will provide a forum to exchange scholarly ideas relevant to health, science, application, and regulatory issues related to the botulinum neurotoxin and Clostridium botulinum. Readership
- Professionals in medicine, pharmaceutical industry, and in cosmetic industry
- Academics involved and interested in teaching and research in the fundamental as well as applied aspects of botulinum and Clostridium botulinum
- Government researchers involved in developing countermeasures against botulinum threat, and involved in safe use of botulinum as therapeutics
- Industry researchers interested in developing new products based on botulinum neurotoxin
- Policy makers related to the biodefense, homeland security, public safety, and regulatory compliance
- General public interested in the use of botulinum-based pharmaceuticals and comeceuticals
Contents
TBJ publishes original and review papers, commentaries, technical reports, analytical models, mathematical simulations, case studies, conference reports, book reviews, notes, managerial and policy issues, and news. Contribution may be by submission or invitation, and suggestions for special issues and publications are welcome. Subject Coverage
The following are the list of topics (but not limited to) that would be considered for publication in TBJ:
- Origin and microbiology
- Genomics and structure
- Mode of action
- Biochemistry and host response
- The botulism disease and treatment, including case studies and epidemiology
- Diagnostics
- Botulinum as a weapon and the protection
- Characterization and antidote developments
- Basis of therapeutic uses of botulinum
- Diseases under treatment
- Research on currently available pharmaceutical products
- New application and development of therapeutics
- Botulinum as a cosmeceutical
Specific Notes for Authors
Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. (N.B. Conference papers may
only be submitted if the paper was not originally copyrighted and if it has
been completely re-written).
All papers are refereed through a double blind process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Submission of
Papers web-page.
You may send one copy in the form of an MS Word file attached to an e-mail (details of file formats in Author
Guidelines) to Prof. Bal Ram Singh
Please include in your submission the title of the Journal
Editors and Members of the Editorial Board
Editor Prof. Bal Ram Singh
Director, Botulinum Research Center
University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
285 Old Westport Road
Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
USA
tbj@umassd.edu Associate Editors Michael Adler
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense
3100 Ricketts Point Road
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5400
USA Joseph Jankovic
Professor of Neurology; Director, Parkinson’s Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic
Baylor College of Medicine
Department of Neurology
The Smith Tower, Suite 1801
6550 Fannin
Houston, TX77030
USA Editorial Board Members Roger AokiRo
Allergan
2525 Dupont Drive
Irvine, CA 92612-1599
USA Gary E. BorodicGa
Harvard Medical School
Department of Ophthalmology
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, MA 02114
USA Axel BrungerAx
Stanford University
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
J.H. Clark Center, Room E300-C
318 Campus Drive
Stanford, CA 94305-5432
USA Ram Kumar DhakedRa
Scientist
Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE)
Biotechnology Division
DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Jhansi Road
Gwalior-474002
INDIA J. Oliver DollyJ.
SFI Research Professor; Director
Dublin City University
International Centre for Neurotherapeutics
Research & Engineering Building
Dublin 9
IRELAND Kim D. JandaKi
Scientist
Scripps Research Institute
Department of Chemistry
10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd.
La Jolla CA 92037
USA Eric A. JohnsonEr
Food Research Institute
Department of Bacteriology
1925 Willow Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1187
USA James KellerJa
Food and Drug Administration
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
Office of Vaccines Research and Review
29 Lincoln Dr. HFM 434
Bethesda MD 20892
USA Frank LebedaFr
USAMRIID
Integrated Toxicology Division
1425 Porter Avenue
Ft. Detrick, MD 20701-5011
USA Charles B. MillardCh
Director, Division of Biochemistry
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
503 Robert Grant Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
USA Nigel P. MintonNi
Professor of Applied Molecular Microbiology
University of Nottingham
Centre for Biomolecular Sciences
School of Molecular Medical Sciences
University Park
Nottingham NG7 2RD
UK Austen Peter MooreAu
The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust
Lower Lane
Liverpool, L9 7LJ
UK K. OgumaK.
Okayama University Medical School
Department of Bacteriology
2-5-1 Shikata-cho
Okayama 700-8558
JAPAN George OylerGe
Synaptic Research LLC
1448 South Rolling Road
Baltimore, MD 21227
USA Mike PeckMi
Institute of Food Research
Norwich Research Park, Colney
Norwich NR4 7UA
UK Andy PickettAn
Ipsen Biopharm Limited
Ash Road
Wrexham LL13 9UF
UK Bernard PoulainBe
Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences
UMR7168-LC2 CNRS-Université L. Pasteur
Dept. Neurotransmission et Sécrétion Neuroendocrine
5, rue Blaise Pascal
F-67084 STRASBOURG cedex
FRANCE Dorothea SesardicDo
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, NIBSC
Blanche Lane
South Mimms
Potters Bar EN6 3QG
UK Shashi K. SharmaSh
US Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety Applied and Nutrition
5100 Paintbranch Parkway
HFS-302, Room # 4E 023
College Park, MD 20740
USA Clifford ShoneCl
Health Protection Agency
Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response
Porton Down
Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG
UK Leonard A. SmithLe
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick
Frederick, MD 21702-5011
USA Subramanyam SwaminathanSu
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Biology Department
50 Bell Avenue
Upton, NY 11973
USA
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