The story of Clostridium botulinum: from food poisoning to Botox
Patricia T Ting and Anatoli Freiman
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.4-3-258
Clin Med May 2004 Patricia T Ting
University of Calgary Medical School, Calgary, Canada
BScAnatoli Freiman
McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
MDAbstract
In the last fifty years, Clostridium botulinum has become notorious for its ability to produce the deadly botulinum neurotoxins. While botulinum toxin A, better known as Botox™, is universally recognised by the public as a cosmetic enhancement tool, the botulinum neurotoxins are commonly used off-label for many medical conditions in ophthalmology, neurology and dermatology. The versatility of these botulinum toxins has made Clostridium botulinum one of the most widely known bacterial pathogens in medical history. This article outlines the discovery of botulinum toxins through to their present day applications in medicine.
- © 2004 Royal College of Physicians
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Clostridium botulinum: from food poisoning to Botox
Patricia T Ting, Anatoli Freiman
Clinical Medicine May 2004, 4 (3) 258-261; DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.4-3-258
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