How tetanus toxin attacks nerve cells
Molecular mechanism of tetanus neurotoxin pathogenesis
Researchers will find how tetanus toxin travels into the spinal cord and blocks inhibitory nerves, to help people affected by tetanus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252872 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists will map how tetanus toxin binds to host proteins and determine the detailed shape of those toxin–protein complexes using X-ray crystallography. They will track toxin and host-factor movement in compartmentalized neuronal cell cultures with imaging and biochemical assays. The team will test genetically modified mice to see which host factors control toxin trafficking and how that changes disease signs. Together these lab and animal experiments aim to reveal the steps the toxin uses to reach and disable spinal cord neurons.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This laboratory-focused project does not enroll patients; it uses cell cultures and genetically modified mice rather than clinical volunteers.
Not a fit: People needing immediate clinical care for tetanus are unlikely to receive direct or immediate benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for treatments or prevention strategies that reduce tetanus-related paralysis.
How similar studies have performed: Related biochemical, structural, and mouse-model approaches have been informative for other bacterial neurotoxins, but the exact route TeNT takes into the spinal cord remains largely unresolved.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dong, Min — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dong, Min
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.