USING BOTULINUM NEUROTOXINS TO DEFINE ESSENTIAL PRESYNAPTIC FUNCTIONS IN NEURONS

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 了解微生物病原体如何破坏关键细胞功能的确切机制不仅可以成功治疗感染，还可以为科学家提供强大的工具来探索基本的细胞过程。在这个项目中，我们将研究一组细菌毒素是如何  肉毒神经毒素  导致神经元退化。目标是揭示BoNT靶向的突触前功能，这对于维持轴突的完整性和神经元的存活至关重要。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Understanding the precise mechanism of how microbial pathogens disrupt critical cellular function leads not only to successful treatment of infections, but also gives scientists powerful tools to probe fundamental cellular processes. In this project, we will investigate how a group of bacterial toxins  botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs)  induces degeneration of neurons. The goal is to uncover the presynaptic function, targeted by BoNTs, that is essential for maintaining the integrity of axons and survival of neurons.