C tetani causes paralysis by cleaving SNARE proteins (e.g. synaptobrevin) and preventing the release of inhibitor neurotransmitters (e.g. GABA and glycine).
C botulinum causes paralysis by inhibiting ACh release at the neuromuscular junction.
To prevent from getting these confused (like I do sometimes): Think about why botulinum toxin is used in botox and not tetanus. Because we want the action to only work at the NMJ (so we want to inhibit ACh release at NMJ). If we used tetanus, something tells me it wouldn't work the same ~yikes~.
submitted by โlsmarshall(465)
Synaptobrevin is the target of tetanospasmin (tetanus toxin); muscle spasms are characteristic. Only other answer you might consider is Acetylcholinesterase since he is a farmer and buzzwords often carry us to the promised land... but symptoms of a cholinergic storm are absent.