In module 4, you have learned about the nervous system, sensory systems, locomot

Question

In module 4, you have learned about the nervous system, sensory systems, locomotion, and reproduction in animals. These systems help animals sense their surroundings and respond to changing environmental conditions and maintain their populations. This activity is intended to help you connect these concepts to relevant real-world examples and to reflect on your learning.

1. Animals often secrete toxins in order to defend themselves against predators and other threats in their environment. Your task is to describe the systemic as well as cellular effects of the deadliest neurotoxin you can find using any textbook, library and/or web resources. What evidence (for example, a description of comparison to the effects of other neurotoxins) convinced you of the potency of this neurotoxin? Include any interesting stories or cases that you might have come across during your search. (4 points)

2. Describe one biological concept that was novel or significant to you from this module. (1 point)

Explanation / Answer

Ans.1 : Botulinum toxin is one of the deadliest neurotoxin found in nature. It is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulism, an illness caused by botulinum toxin, can cause respiratory failure and prove deadly. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromuscular junction and thus causes paralysis. Following a high-affinity interaction with a protein receptor on the synaptic membrane, botulinum neurotoxin enter the neuron and causes a sustained inhibition of synaptic transmission.

The potency of the neurotoxin is due to its property of inhibiting signalling pathway of neurons which in turn proves to be lethal.

Case : A food-poisoning incident caused by Clostridium botulinum toxin A in Japan

Food poisoning caused by Clostridium botulinum toxin A occurred in Japan. Eleven (31%) of 36 patients from 14 different areas died of botulism. Most of the patients had eaten commercial fried lotus-rhizome solid mustard without heating. The food, which implicated one of the special local products used for gifts in Kumamoto, was found to have been produced by a manufacturer in Kumamoto prefecture. In Fukuoka prefecture, two of three patients died on days 4 and 8 after eating the food; they had typical symptoms of botulism. A total of 42 packages of the food bought as gifts was collected from different districts in Fukuoka prefecture for examination for both organism and toxin. Thirteen of these (31%) were contaminated with the organism, and in 11 (26%) a small amount of toxin A had been produced.

Ans.2 : From this module a significant biological concept come across that all the biological processes are under control of our nervous system and any dysfunction of nervous system can proves to be fatal.

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