Title: RNA aptamer as potential antidote against botulism: an in vivo report

Authors: Pavithra Janardhanan; Easwaran Ravichandran; Shuowei Cai

Addresses: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 20747, USA ' Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 20747, USA ' Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 20747, USA

Abstract: Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most toxic substances to mankind, and yet, there are no therapeutics available to reverse the paralysis, the deadly symptom of botulism caused by BoNTs. Here we report that RNA aptamer, selected through in vitro process against light chain of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) showed in vivo protection efficacy against botulism. Our results showed that RNA aptamer not only accelerated the recovery of local paralysis induced by BoNT/A through mouse exercise wheel assay, but also significantly delayed the time-to-death through mouse protection assay, and rescued one mouse (out of six) completely intoxicated by BoNT/A. Our results demonstrated the potential using RNA aptamer as antidote against deadly botulism.

Keywords: botulinum neurotoxins; BoNT; botulism antidote; therapeutics; RNA aptamer; Clostridium botulinum; local paralysis.

DOI: 10.1504/TBJ.2015.078135

The Botulinum Journal, 2015 Vol.3 No.1, pp.41 - 54

Published online: 04 Aug 2016 *

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