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bioRxiv · 10.1101/228098

Botulinum-neurotoxin-like sequences identified from an Enterococcus sp. genome assembly

Williamson, C. H.·Smith, T. J.·Foley, B. T.·Hill, K.·Keim, P.·Sahl, J. W.
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Abstract

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are produced by diverse members of the Clostridia and result in a flaccid paralysis known as botulism. Exploring the diversity of BoNTs is important for the development of therapeutics and antitoxins. Here we describe a novel, bont-like gene cluster identified in a draft genome assembly for Enterococcus sp. 3G1_DIV0629 by querying publicly available genomic databases. The bont-like gene is found in a gene cluster similar to known bont gene clusters. Protease and binding motifs conserved in known BoNT proteins are present in the newly identified BoNT-like protein; however, it is currently unknown if the BoNT-like protein described here is capable of targeting neuronal cells resulting in botulism.

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Williamson, C. H., Smith, T. J., Foley, B. T., Hill, K., Keim, P., Sahl, J. W.. 2017-12-04. Botulinum-neurotoxin-like sequences identified from an Enterococcus sp. genome assembly. https://doi.org/10.1101/228098

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