Botulinum Neurotoxins (BoNTs) are a diverse and fascinating family of bacterial toxins that cause the disease botulism in humans and animals. They are also utilized to treat a growing list of neurological conditions ranging from muscle spasms to chronic pain. 

The Dong lab seeks to understand the molecular and cellular basis for BoNT actions, to improve and expand the therapeutic application of these toxins, and to broaden our understanding of the fundamental cellular processes targeted by these bacterial toxins. We are also interested in basic questions of cell biology in neurons including synaptic vesicle exocytosis/trafficking and cytoskeleton remodeling in neurons.

Our current studies focus on toxin-receptor interactions and the cellular mechanism of BoNT-induced neurodegeneration. We are also investigating basic questions in cell biology of neurons, particularly (1) synaptic vesicle exocytosis/recycling, with a focus on the functional role of the major vesicle proteins SV2 and synaptotagmin; (2) actin cytoskeleton remodeling in neurons, with a focus on the newly defined ROCO kinases in regulating cytoskeleton, and their roles in neuronal development, axon regeneration, synaptic plasticity, and neurodegenerative diseases. To address these questions, we utilize a variety of cell lines and primary cultured rodent neurons as cell models, and we employ a range of biochemical and cell biological approaches including protein engineering, crystal structural studies, imaging, electrophysiology, and genetically modified mouse models.