Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of compounds of general formula (I) and (II) for the preparation of a drug for preventing and/or treating disorders caused by Shiga toxins and related toxins.

Abstract: A hybrid protein (GFP-TTC) comprising the non-toxic proteolytic C fragment of tetanus toxin fused to green fluorescent protein was used to analyze the functional synaptic organization of neural networks. When injected intramuscularly in vivo, the GFP-TTC hybrid protein binds to tetanus neurotoxin receptors and clusters very rapidly to the active neuromuscular junction. Membrane traffic by GFP-TTC at the pre-synaptic level of the neuromuscular junction is strongly and rapidly influenced by exogenously co-injecting neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF, NT-4, and GDNF, but not by NGF, NT-3, and CNTF. The membrane traffic, directly detected using GFP-TTC in vivo, permits methods of analyzing synaptic functioning as well as methods of modulating neuronal transport using neurotrophic factors and agonists or antagonists thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to means for in vivo delivery of a composition into the human or animal central nervous system or spinal cord, wherein the composition comprises a non-toxic, proteolytic fragment of tetanus toxoid in association with at least a molecule having a biological function, and said molecule is capable of in vivo retrograde axonal transport and transynaptic transport into the CNS or spinal cord of the human or animal. In a particular embodiment, the composition comprises a fragment C and a fragment B of tetanus toxoid or a fraction thereof of at least 11 amino acid residues. The composition can further comprise a fraction of fragment A of tetanus toxoid.

Abstract: A method for visualizing an active synapse wherein said method comprises: (a) exposing cells forming the active synapse to a biomarker comprising at least fragment C of tetanus toxin and a reporter protein; and (b) visualizing the biomarker; wherein the accumulation of the biomarker into dendritic spines of the cells allows visualization of an active synapse. Also, a method for screening molecules capable of modulating synapse activity is provided. A kit useful for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease comprises a biomarker comprising at least fragment C of tetanus toxin and a reporter protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to means for in vivo delivery of a composition into the human or animal central nervous system or spinal cord, wherein the composition comprises a non-toxic, proteolytic fragment of tetanus toxoid in association with at least a molecule having a biological function, and said molecule is capable of in vivo retrograde axonal transport and transynaptic transport into the CNS or spinal cord of the human or animal. In a particular embodiment, the composition comprises a fragment C and a fragment B of tetanus toxoid or a fraction thereof of at least 11 amino acid residues. The composition can further comprise a fraction of fragment A of tetanus toxoid.

Abstract: A hybrid protein (GFP-TTC) comprising the non-toxic proteolytic C fragment of tetanus toxin fused to green fluorescent protein was used to analyze the functional synaptic organization of neural networks. When injected intramuscularly in vivo, the GFP-TTC hybrid protein binds to tetanus neurotoxin receptors and clusters very rapidly to the active neuromuscular junction. Membrane traffic by GFP-TTC at the pre-synaptic level of the neuromuscular junction is strongly and rapidly influenced by exogenously co-injecting neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF, NT-4, and GDNF, but not by NGF, NT-3, and CNTF. The membrane traffic, directly detected using GFP-TTC in vivo, permits methods of analyzing synaptic functioning as well as methods of modulating neuronal transport using neurotrophic factors and agonists or antagonists thereof.