The protein family of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) encompassing seven established and three recently discovered serotypes (BoNT/A-G; BoNT/HA, X and eBoNT/J), as well as numerous variants thereof, the so-called subtypes, feature an extremely high toxicity of a LD50 of 1 ng/kg body weight. The high toxicity is achieved by neuron-specific binding with a dual binding interaction with a glycolipid, a ganglioside decorated by polysialic acids, and with a membrane protein localized in synaptic vesicles.

The detection of BoNTs using in vitro methods requires the extraction of the toxins from complex matrices to reduce signals from interfering components. The goal of the project is the development of a novel capture protein which is not antibody-based, and which will bind the botulinum neurotoxin with high specificity and affinity.