Submolecular recognition of the C-terminal domain of the heavy chain of botulinum neurotoxin type A by T cells from toxin-treated cervical dystonia patients

Highlights • We mapped proliferative responses of T cells from BoNT-treated patients with synthetic peptides covering the C-terminal half of BoNT/A H chain. • Responses of PBL to HC peptides varied among patients indicative of genetic control of the T cell responses. • 14 patients treated solely with BoNT/A recognized 2–13 (average 6.4) peptides/sample at Z > 3.0 level. • 36–57% of patients frequently recognized six peptides (855–873, 1023–1041, 1051–1069, 1093–1111, 1135–1153 and 1247–1265). • Some T cell recognition regions coincided with antibody recognition sites while others had no detectable antibodies directed to them.