Medical College of Wisconsin: Receives grant to study botulinum neurotoxins

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The Medical College of Wisconsin has received a two-year, $165,970 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study botulism, a disease that can weaken or paralyze skeletal muscle. The disease is caused by intoxication with botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), one of the most poisonous substances in the world.

Michael R. Baldwin, PhD., a postdoctoral fellow of microbiology and molecular genetics at the Medical College, is principal investigator for the grant.

Dr. Baldwin will identify and characterize the BoNT nerve cell receptor proteins to understand how BoNTs bind and enter into nerve cells. Using molecular modeling and bioinformatics to identify the receptors will provide opportunities for the development of therapies to fight against BoNT intoxication as well as improved clinical therapeutic methods that use BoNTs.