Bashing Botulism: Scientists Sleuth World's Most Powerful Toxins

摘要

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, botulism symptoms include drooping eyelids, slurred speech, blurred or double vision, dry mouth, and, of course, weakening and paralysis of muscles. Only active toxin-not heat-inactivated toxin-can cut the peptides. [...] the fluorescence-which can be measured easily and with high sensitivity-is an excellent indication of the activity level of the toxin.