The disease caused by botulinum toxin is Botulism.

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Multiple Choice

The disease caused by botulinum toxin is Botulism.

Botulinum toxin causes botulism by blocking acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, producing a descending, symmetric flaccid paralysis. It does this by proteolytically cleaving SNARE proteins required for vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter exocytosis, so muscles can’t contract. Clinically, this leads to early bulbar symptoms and eye problems that progress to generalized weakness and can impair breathing. The toxin is produced by Clostridium botulinum and is often acquired from improperly canned foods or, in infants, honey. Other diseases listed are caused by different toxins: tetanus toxin causes spastic paralysis by inhibiting inhibitory neurotransmission, diphtheria toxin causes mucosal damage and pseudomembrane formation, and cholera toxin causes profuse watery diarrhea by increasing cAMP. Thus, the disease caused by botulinum toxin is botulism.

Botulinum toxin causes botulism by blocking acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, producing a descending, symmetric flaccid paralysis. It does this by proteolytically cleaving SNARE proteins required for vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter exocytosis, so muscles can’t contract. Clinically, this leads to early bulbar symptoms and eye problems that progress to generalized weakness and can impair breathing. The toxin is produced by Clostridium botulinum and is often acquired from improperly canned foods or, in infants, honey. Other diseases listed are caused by different toxins: tetanus toxin causes spastic paralysis by inhibiting inhibitory neurotransmission, diphtheria toxin causes mucosal damage and pseudomembrane formation, and cholera toxin causes profuse watery diarrhea by increasing cAMP. Thus, the disease caused by botulinum toxin is botulism.

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