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Updated: May 27, 2026

Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System Neurons
Published on: February 5, 2015
Bacterial toxins and the nervous system: neurotoxins and multipotential toxins interacting with neuronal cells
Michel R Popoff1, Bernard Poulain
1Institut Pasteur, Bactéries anaérobies et Toxines, 25 rue du Dr Roux, F-757254, PARIS cedex 15,France. mpopoff@pasteur.fr
Abstract:
Toxins are potent molecules used by various bacteria to interact with a host organism. Some of them specifically act on neuronal cells (clostridial neurotoxins) leading to characteristics neurological affections. But many other toxins are multifunctional and recognize a wider range of cell types including neuronal cells. Various enterotoxins interact with the enteric nervous system, for example by stimulating afferent neurons or inducing neurotransmitter release from enterochromaffin cells which result either in vomiting, in amplification of the diarrhea, or in intestinal inflammation process. Other toxins can pass the blood brain barrier and directly act on specific neurons.
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