Recombinant proteins that trigger production of antibodies recognizing botulinum neurotoxin while not possessing sequences of this toxin

► Phage displays were used as a source of mimetics of BoNT/A epitopes. ► Among identified sequences are those that mimic linear and those that mimic structural epitopes. ► Mimetics were recognized by anti-BoNT/A, even when incorporated into a new carrier protein. ► Hybrids carrying mimetics allow to separate anti-BoNT/A serum into mono-epitope specific pools. ► The hybrid carrying multiple mimetics triggered production of antibodies that recognized BoNT/A.