Figure 8. BoNT/A1 lethality in mice is prevented by rapid post-exposure treatment with Ad/VNA-BoNTA.

A 10 LD₅₀ dose of BoNT/A1 was administered by intraperitoneal injection to groups of five mice. Mice were then administered 3×10¹⁰ vp of Ad/VNA-BoNTA by intravenous injection at 5 minutes, 1.5, 3 or 4.5 hours later. A control group was given a mock treatment (PBS alone) 5 minutes following intoxication (dashed line). Symptoms of BoNT/A intoxication and survival were monitored and are shown as a survival curve for each group. The mock treated group is represented by a dashed line. An asterisk indicates a significant difference (p<0.05) from the control group. Surviving mice all showed moderate to severe abdominal breathing symptoms of botulism before recovering. In a prior study using the same doses, mice treated immediately following BoNT/A challenge with Ad/VNA-BoNTA, unlike those treated with Ad/VNA-control (0% survival after 24 hours), were fully protected and did not display any symptoms of botulism.