Review on Clostridium botulinum and its toxin typing methods

Since van Ermengem isolated and reported that the spore-forming Clostridium botulinum caused human poison in 1897, researchers found that there are 7 types of Clostridium botulinum in nature through serum neutralization methods. Subsequently, serological methods were also used to discover Clostridium botulinum that can produce bivalent toxins such as Ab, Ba, AB, Af and Bf. With the gradual maturity and improvement of gene sequencing technology, whole-genome sequencing by extracting Clostridium botulinum genomic DNA can not only identify the genetic composition of different serotypes of botulinum toxin, but also carry out typing studies at the nucleic acid or protein molecular level. Compared with serum neutralization methods, these newly emerging typing techniques and methods can not only solve the problems encountered in serological classification, but also quickly and accurately identify and track food or drug poisoning caused by Clostridium botulinum and the application of corresponding medications. In addition, different typing methods provide new tools and ideas for the identification and use of Clostridium botulinum strains and the development of new toxins.