What is Tetanus?

Tetanus is caused by the neurotoxin (tetanospasmin, TeNT) of Clostridium tetani, whose spores enter through wounds and produce toxin that causes severe muscle spasms.

It is not spread person-to-person and is vaccine-preventable (tetanus toxoid). Anti-tetanus-toxoid IgG ELISA is the standard measure of protective immunity and vaccine response.

Transmission & symptoms

Tetanus is caused by the neurotoxin (tetanospasmin) of Clostridium tetani, whose spores enter through wounds. The toxin blocks inhibitory neurotransmission, causing muscle rigidity and spasms (lockjaw). It is not spread person-to-person and is vaccine-preventable.

Diagnosis & serology

Immunity is measured as anti-tetanus-toxoid IgG, the correlate of protection, by ELISA. Toxin/toxoid antigen tools support antitoxin and vaccine research.

Research applications

Research tools cover tetanus-toxin neuronal targets (the SV2 receptor, synaptobrevin/VAMP2, synaptotagmin) and the inhibitory neurotransmitter systems (GABA, glycine receptors) it disrupts.