The title of the study says it all and is quite descriptive. It reflects enough about the content.
Scientists have identified botulinum neurotoxin A to be able to sneak into the cells. Botulinum neurotoxin A is a potentially harmful toxin of the bacteria for the humans. It can cause life threatening infection.
According to the author, this new finding will help in the development of new kind of treatment against this toxin. Well, though toxin has been found to sneak into the cell, it does not mean, it will help a lot in the making of new treatment. Possibility could be there that such sort of treatments may prove risky. This botulinum toxin is also called as Botox. Botox has numerous clinical and health role. Actually, author is of the view that this finding will help them to work in a way, which let them solves issue related to the use of clinically approved Botox. This could be great if this really happens. But possibilities are there, since botulism neurotoxin is still a dangerous toxin, which can lead to paralysis of the body. It leads to paralysis by entering into the neurons and binding to nerve endings. By doing so it prevents the release of neurotransmitters that correspond with muscles, thus muscle paralysis ensues (Foster et al., 2001).
A team of researchers at the University of Texas and the University of Wisconsin-Madison has written in the present online edition of Science, report that Botox combine with a protein recognized as SV2 to gain access into neurons. By making use of SV2, it gets entered into the cell. It is indeed a wonderful finding and a good explanation by the scientists that how botox gains entry into the cell.
This is basically a press release, so we cannot comment what kind of study approach or study design has been used by the researchers. It is a blend of different studies. It is believed that standard procedural or methodological protocol has been utilised in performing the experiment on the botulism neurotoxin.
The article also tells that scientist have discovered a protein without of it, Botox was not able to wreak havoc. According to them botox A has ability to lasts longer in the neurons. While some particular attributes of Botox makes it useful in the clinic, but also it may have a principally dangerous risk as a biological weapon.
The approach of all the scientists is good. It is hoped that these findings will open new doors for the benefit of humans. The article is quite interesting. It covers both the good and bad aspects of the toxins. Good aspects have been however highlighted more. But we cannot deny that the article has demonstrated the way, this toxin can lead to the death of the human. The think which is lacking is that they have not mentioned for which particular treatment, they are doing this experiment. Though, they mentioned that this will help in making new treatment against it, but what kind of treatment either medical or surgical. It is felt that it should be expanded here.
There is still a need of many more research to prove these findings. All these findings should be studied again so to reach some conclusion about their validity (Phillip, 1986). Overall, different studies have been provided precisely and concisely.
References
Phillips, L.R.F., (1986). A Clinician’s Guide to the Critique and Utilization of Nursing Research. Appleton-Century-Crofts: Norwalk, CT
Foster L, et al. (2001). Botulinum toxin A and chronic low back: A randomized, double-blind study. Neurology, 56(10), 1290-1293.
