MedWorm: Anthrax

Anthrax Susceptibility Varies Between Individuals

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Susceptibility to anthrax toxin is a heritable genetic trait that may vary tremendously among individuals, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Among 234 people studied, the cells of three people were virtually insensitive to the toxin, while the cells of some people were hundreds of times more sensitive than those of others. The findings may have important implications for national security, as people known to be more resistant to anthrax exposure could be effective first-line responders in times of crises... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Total Decontamination Cost of the Anthrax Letter Attacks

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:01:23 +0100

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science)

Vulnerability to Anthrax Varies Widely: Study

The Doctors Lounge - Infections — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0100

It suggests that genes might make some people safer in bioterrorism attack (Source: The Doctors Lounge - Infections)

Vulnerability to Anthrax Varies Widely

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:00:00 +0100

It suggests that genes might make some people safer in bioterrorism attack Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Page: Anthrax (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

One in 100 people 'can naturally resist HIV, malaria, leprosy and hepatitis'

the Mail online | Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:13:19 +0100

The findings came after Stanford University research into anthrax found susceptibility to the acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis varied from person to person. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

[Book Review] Have We “Met the Enemy”?

Science: Current Issue — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:34:11 +0100

Guillemin describes the aftermath of and investigation into the fall 2001 anthrax letters.Author: David A. Relman (Source: Science: Current Issue)

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Infantile systemic hyalinosis associated with a putative splice‐site mutation in the ANTXR2 gene

Clinical And Experimental Dermatology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We report an Indian child with ISH in whom we identified a homozygous acceptor splice site mutation, IVS2–4G>A. In silico analysis of this sequence showed that it changed predicted cryptic splicing, leading to out‐of‐frame transcripts and little, if any, functional protein. Mutations in the ANTXR2 gene can also cause juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF). Although there are currently no effective treatments for ISH or JHF, identification of pathogenetic mutations in the ANTXR2 gene makes DNA‐based prenatal diagnosis feasible for subsequent pregnancies. (Source: Clinical And Experimental Dermatology)

Serum albumin disrupts cryptococcus neoformans and bacillus anthracis extracellular vesicles

Cellular Microbiology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryFor both pathogenic fungi and bacteria, extracellular vesicles have been shown to contain many microbial components associated with virulence, suggesting a role in pathogenesis. However, there are many unresolved issues regarding vesicle synthesis and stability, including the fact that vesicular packaging for extracellular factors involved in virulence must also have a mechanism for vesicle unloading. Consequently, we studied the kinetics of vesicle production and stability using [1‐14C] palmitic acid metabolic labeling and dynamic light scattering techniques. Cryptococcus neoformans vesicles were produced throughout all stages of fungal culture growth and they were stable once isolated. Density gradient analysis revealed that only a portion of the vesicle population carried crypt...

MSU technology spin-out company to market portable biohazard detection

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Michigan State University) A new company formed around Michigan State University nanotechnology promises to move speedy detection of deadly pathogens and toxins from the laboratory directly to the field. Food contamination and other biohazards present a growing public health concern, but laboratory analysis consumes precious time. The company, nanoRETE, will develop and commercialize an inexpensive test for handheld biosensors to detect a broad range of threats such as E. coli, Salmonella, anthrax and tuberculosis. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Three probable cases of cutaneous anthrax in autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia, June 2011.

Euro Surveill — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:06:03 +0100

Authors: Durić P, Cosić G, Rajčević S, Petrovic V, Tomković M, Subić Z, Dimitrić M PMID: 22264812 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Euro Surveill)

Inhibition of anthrax lethal factor: lability of hydroxamate as a chelating group.

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Li F, Chvyrkova I, Terzyan S, Wakeham N, Turner R, Ghosh AK, Zhang XC, Tang J Abstract The metalloprotease activity of lethal factor (LF) from Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) is a main source of toxicity in the lethality of anthrax infection. Thus, the understanding of the enzymatic activity and inhibition of B. anthracis LF is of scientific and clinical interests. We have designed, synthesized, and studied a peptide inhibitor of LF, R9LF-1, with the structure NH(2)-(D: -Arg)(9)-Val-Leu-Arg-CO-NHOH in which the C-terminal hydroxamic acid is commonly used in the inhibitors of metalloproteases to chelate the active-site zinc. This inhibitor was shown to be very stable in solution and effectively inhibited LF in kinetic assays. However, its protection on murine macrophages ...

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Detecting anthrax in the mail by coherent Raman microspectroscopy [Applied Physical Sciences]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this report, we show the collection of spatial information through a turbid medium by coherent Raman microspectroscopic imaging. In particular, the technique is capable of identifying anthrax endospores inside a sealed paper envelope. (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

Effect of the Mammalian Arginase Inhibitor 2(S)-Amino-6-Boronohexanoic Acid on Bacillus anthracis Arginase.

Current Microbiology — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we explore the inhibitory effect of ABH against B. anthracis arginase and its potential for future development, as an effective therapeutic agent against microbial infection. We found that ABH is an inhibitor of bacterial arginase in several different endospore strains of B. anthracis. Further, ABH inhibits neither the phagocytosis of these endospores nor the up-regulation of NOS 2 concomitant with secretion of NO•. These findings set the stage to determine how efficacious ABH will be in promoting NO•-mediating killing of B. anthracis. PMID: 22271269 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Microbiology)

Coatings Capable of Germinating and Neutralizing Bacillus anthracis Endospores

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:46:53 +0100

ACS Applied Materials & InterfacesDOI: 10.1021/am201362u (Source: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces)

Comparative analysis of virulence factors secreted by Bacillus anthracis Sterne at host body temperature

Letters in Applied Microbiology — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Several putative virulence factors and known factors responsible for sporulation were differentially regulated, including CodY, pXO1‐130 and BA1952, revealing insights into temperature cues in the B. anthracis secretome.Significance and Impact of the Study: This study identified temperature‐regulated proteins. Further studies aimed at understanding the physical and functional roles of these proteins in infection and control by elevated temperatures will contribute to detection, diagnostics and prophylaxis.© 2012 The Authors Letters in Applied Microbiology © 2012 The Society for Applied Microbiology (Source: Letters in Applied Microbiology)

Anthrax Vaccine Shows Promise in Monkeys

The Doctors Lounge - Infections — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Research is part of U.S. military's anti-bioterrorism efforts (Source: The Doctors Lounge - Infections)

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Rapid detection methods for Bacillus anthracis in environmental samples: a review.

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Irenge LM, Gala JL Abstract Bacillus anthracis is a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, which causes anthrax, an often lethal disease of animals and humans. Although the disease has been well studied since the nineteenth century, it has witnessed a renewed interest during the past decade, due to its use as a bioterrorist agent in the fall of 2001 in the USA. A number of techniques aimed at rapidly detecting B. anthracis, in environmental samples as well as in point-of-care settings for humans suspected of exposure to the pathogen, are now available. These technologies range from culture-based methods to portable DNA amplification devices. Despite recent developments, specific identification of B. anthracis still remains difficult because of its phenotypic and genotypic...

GC/MS Method for Positive Detection of Bacillus anthracis Endospores

Analytical Chemistry — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:33:56 +0100

Analytical ChemistryDOI: 10.1021/ac202606x (Source: Analytical Chemistry)

Pharmacological inhibition of the ClpXP protease increases bacterial susceptibility to host cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides and cell-envelope active antibiotics.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: McGillivray SM, Tran DN, Ramadoss NS, Alumasa JN, Okumura CY, Sakoulas G, Vaughn MM, Zhang DX, Keiler KC, Nizet V Abstract The ClpXP protease is a critical bacterial intracellular protease that regulates protein turnover in many bacterial species. Here we identified a pharmacological inhibitor of the ClpXP protease, F2, and evaluated its action in Bacillus anthracis and Staphylococcus aureus. We found that F2 exhibited synergistic antimicrobial activity with cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides and antibiotics that target the cell well and/or cell membrane such as penicillin and daptomycin in B. anthracis and drug resistant strains of S. aureus. ClpXP inhibition represents a novel therapeutic strategy to simultaneously sensitize pathogenic bacteria to host defenses and phar...

HIV vaccine candidates generate in vitro T cell response to putative epitopes in Chinese-origin rhesus macaques.

Vaccine — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Liao Q, Strong AJ, Liu Y, Liu Y, Meng P, Fu Y, Touzjian N, Shao Y, Zhao Z, Lu Y Abstract The Indian rhesus macaque is the established animal model for HIV infection and vaccine research. Growing evidence suggests that the more readily available Chinese rhesus macaque may be a more relevant option. As increasing numbers of novel Chinese rhesus MHC alleles are reported, we decided to explore potential HIV vaccine epitopes in this model. We immunized forty Chinese rhesus macaques with three different HIV vaccine candidates either individually or following a prime/boost strategy. We used ELISPOT to measure immune response in vitro to HIV-1 p24C and HIV-1 gp160 peptide libraries. We identified five putative epitopes with associations to HLA-I alleles including HLA*B-2705 and HL...

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Anthrax capsule vaccine protects monkeys from lethal infection

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases) Vaccination with the anthrax capsule -- a naturally occurring component of the bacterium that causes the disease -- protected monkeys from lethal anthrax infection, according to US Army scientists. The study, which appears in the Jan. 20th print edition of the journal VACCINE, represents the first successful use of a non-toxin vaccine to protect monkeys from the disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Bacillus anthracis-derived edema toxin (ET) counter-regulates movement of neutrophils and macromolecules through the endothelial paracellular pathway

BMC Microbiology - Latest articles — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: We conclude that ET decreases IL-8-driven TEM of PMNs across HMVEC-L monolayers independent of cAMP/PKA activity. (Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles)

Bounds on the Effect of Vaccine Induced Immune Response on Outcome

The International Journal of Biostatistics — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:51:04 +0100

A major goal of vaccine development is the identification of immune responses that are responsible for vaccine efficacy. In theory, modest vaccines could be successfully improved by increasing such immune responses. And for a vaccine with a great benefit in one population, inducing such immune response in a different population could help one conclude the vaccine would have great benefit there. Such identification is tricky because the immune response to vaccination can only be measured in the vaccine group and thus immune responses might only be identifying individuals with a constitutional ability to remain uninfected, rather than being causal. Define the vaccine induced immune response as X(1). The value X(1) is a potential outcome; it is measured directly in vaccinees but unobserved in...

Health-related quality of life in the anthrax vaccination program for workers in the laboratory response network.

Vaccine — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: These results do not favor an association between receipt of AVA and an altered health related quality of life over a 30-month period. PMID: 22230591 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Binding and cell intoxication studies of anthrax lethal toxin.

Molecular Biology Reports — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Vuyisich M, Sanders CK, Graves SW Abstract Anthrax lethal toxin (LT) is a major virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis. The vast majority of the anthrax toxin-related literature describes the assembly of LT as a cell-dependent process. However, some reports have provided evidence for the existence of a fully assembled LT, either in vitro or in the bloodstream of anthrax-infected animals. To follow up on this work, we present studies on fully-assembled LT. We first demonstrate facile and cell-free assembly and purification of LT. We then show that fully assembled LT binds an anthrax toxin receptor with almost 100-fold higher affinity than the protective antigen (PA) alone. Quantitative cell intoxication assays were used to determine the LD(50) (lethal dose 50) for LT. The c...

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Three probable cases of cutaneous anthrax in autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia, June 2011

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

Rapid Sample Preparation Method of Bacillus Spores in Powdery and Environmental Matrices based on Filtration Separation.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Isabel S, Boissinot M, Charlebois I, Fauvel CM, Shi LE, Lévesque JC, Paquin AT, Bastien M, Stewart G, Leblanc E, Sato S, Bergeron MG Abstract Suspicious powders and other samples need to be analyzed frequently for biothreat agents by authorities to assess environmental safety. Numerous nucleic acid detection technologies have been developed to detect and identify biowarfare agents in a timely fashion. Extracting microbial nucleic acids from a wide variety of powdery and environmental samples to obtain a quality level adequate for these technologies still remains a technical challenge. We aimed to develop a rapid and versatile method to separate bacteria from these samples and then extract their microbial DNA. Bacillus atrophaeus subspecies globigii was used as a simulant ...

Abbott setback hits Emergent beyond just revenue

bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:00:09 +0100

This year was supposed to be a big one for Emergent BioSolutions Inc. and oncology. Cancer drugs represent Emergent’s best hope of becoming more than just a federal biodefense contractor. And TRU-016, a compound the biotech acquired last year, represents the brightest prospect of that new front. That’s why the news Wednesday that Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) — Emergent’s big-pharma partner in developing and commercializing TRU-016 — plans to wind down that program is so damaging. Damaging because of lost potential milestone payments, but also — and perhaps more importantly — because it will hinder Emergent’s goal of diversifying its revenues beyond the anthrax vaccine BioThrax... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)

Molecular epidemiological study of Bacillus anthracis isolated in Mongolia by multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis for 8 loci (MLVA-8).

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:27:37 +0100

In this study, 29 isolates obtained from animals and various regions in Mongolia from 2001 to 2007 were analyzed by performing multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis for 8 loci (MLVA-8) to understand the genetic relationship between the Mongolian B. anthracis isolates. We found that all the Mongolian isolates can be classified into A3 cluster along with the Japanese and the Chinese B. anthracis isolates. Our data revealed that MLVA-8 is useful for studying the molecular epidemiology of the Mongolian B. anthracis isolates and would help characterize B. anthracis infections in Mongolia. PMID: 21788715 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases)

AAP calls attention to unique needs of children in anthrax attack [NEWS AND FEATURES]

AAP News — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: AAP News)

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Spectroscopic, catalytic and binding properties of Bacillus subtilis NO synthase-like protein: Comparison with other bacterial and mammalian NO synthases.

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:28:14 +0100

Authors: Salard-Arnaud I, Stuehr D, Boucher JL, Mansuy D Abstract Genome sequencing has shown the presence of genes coding for NO-synthase (NOS)-like proteins in bacteria. The roles and properties of these proteins remain unclear. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to characterize the recombinant NOS-like protein from Bacillus subtilis (bsNOS) in its ferric and ferrous states in the presence of various Fe(III)- and Fe(II)-heme-ligands and of a series of l-arginine (l-arg) analogs. BsNOS exhibited several spectroscopic and binding properties in common with Bacillus anthracis NOS (baNOS) that were clearly different from those of tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B)-free mammalian NOS oxygenase domains (mNOS(oxys)) and of Staphylococcus aureus NOS (saNOS). Interestingly, bsNOS and baNOS that do no...

US government urges scientists to censor findings on new strain of bird flu

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:11:00 +0100

Scientists warn that redacting information from new research on H5N1 virus could hinder the discovery of a vaccineMoves by the US government to restrict the publication of papers describing potentially dangerous new strains of bird flu could do more harm than good by hampering progress towards a vaccine, scientists warn.The US biosecurity watchdog has asked two leading scientific journals, Science and Nature, to remove sensitive details from the papers amid fears the research might fall into the hands of bioterrorists. But scientists involved in the research discussed their experiments at public conferences earlier this year, leading some experts to doubt whether redacting the papers will have much effect."There is a cause for concern, but to restrict publication now is shutting the stable...

When it comes to bird flu, nature is the greatest bioterrorist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:48:53 +0100

I hope that fear of terrorism will not lead to the suppression of valuable research about engineering the H5N1 virusA few months ago, Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier made what he hoped would be a low-key announcement at a conference on influenza in Malta. After a series of painstaking experiments, Fouchier announced he had achieved the holy grail of influenza research: engineering the H5N1 bird flu virus so that it could pass easily between mammals. The "airborne" virus had been created, Fouchier explained, not by using sophisticated, lab-based genetic technology but by the relatively low-tech method of passaging H5N1 repeatedly through ferrets.The significance of the discovery was not lost on the assembled delegates. If ferrets could be infected this way, then so could humans. Fouchier had ...

When it comes to bird flu, nature is the greatest bioterrorist | Mark Honigsbaum

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:48:53 +0100

Phase 1 Study of a Recombinant Mutant Protective Antigen of Bacillus anthracis.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bellanti JA, Lin FY, Chu C, Shiloach J, Leppla SH, Benavides GA, Karpas A, Moayeri M, Guo C, Robbins JB, Schneerson R Abstract A Phase 1 study of a recombinant mutant Protective Antigen (rPA) vaccine was conducted in 186 healthy adults aged 18 to 45 years. Volunteers were randomized to receive one of three formulations of rPA (formalin-treated, alum-adsorbed or both) in 10 or 20 μg dosages each, or the licensed vaccine, AVA. Three injections were given at 2 months intervals and a 4(th) one year after the third. Vaccinees were examined once at 48-72 hours following each injection at the clinic. Adverse reactions were recorded in diaries for 7 days. Sera were collected before each injection, one week post-1(st), 2 weeks post-3(rd) and -4(th) and one year post the 4(th). Ser...

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US asks scientific journals to censor bird flu studies

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:41:00 +0100

US requests scientific journals publish redacted versions of studies on a version of bird flu that could spread to humansThe US government has asked the scientific journals Nature and Science to censor data on a laboratory-made version of bird flu that could spread more easily to humans, fearing it could be used as a potential weapon. The US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity asked the two journals to publish redacted versions of studies by two research groups that created forms of the H5N1 avian flu that could easily jump between ferrets - typically considered a sign the virus could spread quickly among humans. The journals are objecting to the request, saying it would restrict access to information that might advance the cause of public health. The request was a first for th...

In situ gastrointestinal protection against anthrax edema toxin by single-chain antibody fragment producing lactobacilli

BMC Biotechnology - Latest articles — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: We have developed lactobacilli expressing a neutralising scFv fragment against the PA antigen of the anthrax toxin, which can provide protection against anthrax toxins both in vitro and in vivo. Utilising engineered lactobacilli therapeutically for neutralising toxins in the gastrointestinal tract can potential be expanded to provide protection against a range of additional gastrointestinal pathogens. The ability of lactobacilli to colonise the gastrointestinal tract may allow the system to be used both prophylactically and therapeutically. (Source: BMC Biotechnology - Latest articles)

Validation and long term performance characteristics of a quantitative enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human anti-PA IgG.

Journal of Immunological Methods — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The objective of the AVRP was to determine the feasibility of reducing the number of priming series and booster doses of the licensed Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA) (BioThrax®; Emergent BioSolutions, Lansing, MI) and changing the route of administration from subcutaneous (SC) to intramuscular (IM) (Marano et al., 2008). In this paper we report the validation and long term performance characteristics of the assay during its six year application in the AVRP (2002-2008). The critical features are 1) extensive validation of the assay using two standard reference sera; 2) long term stability and 3) consistency of the data for quantitative analysis of human long term anti-PA IgG responses. The reportable value (RV) of the assay was expressed as anti-PA IgG concentration (μg/ml). Accuracy of th...

Comparative analysis of the responses of related pathogenic and environmental bacteria to oxidative stress.

Microbiology — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tu WY, Pohl S, Summpunn P, Hering S, Kerstan S, Harwood CR Abstract Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is exposed to host-mediated antibacterial activities, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), during the early stages of its disease process. The ability to resist these host-mediated insults is an essential characteristic of a successful pathogen while it is generally assumed that non-pathogenic environmental bacteria succumb to these antimicrobial activities. In order to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms that pathogens use to resist host-mediated oxidative stress, we have compared the oxidative stress responses of B. anthracis and B. subtilis, a well-studied environmental bacterium. Among the four putative catalases encoded by B. anthracis we ...

What Is Anthrax?

eMedicineHealth.com — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0100

(Source: eMedicineHealth.com)

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Ecological Niche Modelling of the Bacillus anthracis A1.a sub-lineage in Kazakhstan

BMC Ecology - Latest articles — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our analysis supports careful consideration of the taxonomic resolution of data used to create ecological niche models. Further investigations into the environmental affinities of individual lineages and sub-lineages of B. anthracis will be useful in understanding the ecology of the disease at large and small scales. With model based predictions serving as approximations of disease risk, these efforts will improve the efficacy of public health interventions for anthrax prevention and control. (Source: BMC Ecology - Latest articles)

In vitro antimicrobial studies of silver carbene complexes: activity of free and nanoparticle carbene formulations against clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions The four SCCs described here, including their development as NP therapies, show great promise for treating a wide variety of bacterial and fungal pathogens that are not easily killed by routine antimicrobial agents. (Source: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy)

Impact of Spores on the Comparative Efficacies of Five Antibiotics For the Treatment of Bacillus anthracis in an In Vitro Hollow Fiber Pharmacodynamic Model.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Spores have a profound impact on the rate and extent of kill of BA. Against spore-forming BA, the five antibiotics killed the total (spore and vegetative) bacterial population at similar rates (within 1 log(10)CFU/mL of each other). However, bactericidal antibiotics killed vegetative BA faster than bacteriostatic drugs. Since only vegetative-phase BA produce the toxins that may kill the infected host, the rate and mechanism of kill of an antibiotic may determine its overall in vivo efficacy. Further studies are needed to examine this important observation. PMID: 22155821 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy)

Botulinum toxin: Therapeutic agent to cosmetic enhancement to lethal biothreat.

Anaerobe — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Katona P Abstract The clinical effects of Clostridium botulinum and its extremely potent neurotoxin have been known for two centuries. The disease threat and the clinical uses are now well established. What's changed is the potential for botulinum neurotoxin to be used as a biological threat agent. The recent upsurge of illegal trafficking of reagent-grade toxin could, if bought in large enough quantities, be as serious a threat as other biothreat agents such as anthrax and smallpox, which have received much more attention. Fortunately, effective countermeasures are available. PMID: 22178572 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Anaerobe)

New Discovery Bonds To Anthrax Spores, Not Just Anthrax Bacteria

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0100

A new study has shown previously unseen details of an anthrax bacteriophage - a virus that infects anthrax bacteria - revealing for the first time how it infects its host, and providing an initial blueprint for how the phage might someday be modified into a tool for the detection and destruction of anthrax and other potential bioterror agents. The bacteriophage, known as Bacillus anthracis spore-binding phage 8a (or SBP8a, for short), is too small to be seen with a conventional light microscope... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Two cases of infection with Bacillus anthracis, Romania, October 2011.

Euro Surveill — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:00:02 +0100

Authors: Popescu R, Pistol A, Miltaru L, Caplan D, Cucuiu R, Popovici F PMID: 22114977 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Euro Surveill)

Pharmathene presents Anthrax anti-toxin study results

Drug Development Technology — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

PharmAthene has announced the results of a Phase I clinical study of Valortim, a fully human monoclonal antibody, used as both post-exposure prophylaxis and therapeutic treatment for anthrax infection. (Source: Drug Development Technology)

Small Molecule Inhibitors of Anthrax Toxin‐Induced Cytotoxicity Targeted Against Protective Antigen

Chemical Biology and Drug Design — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractTwo molecular scaffolds were designed using the CAVEAT molecular design package to inhibit the oligomerization of protective antigen (PA63), a key protein component of anthrax toxin. The inhibitors were designed to prevent heptamerization of PA63 by mimicking key residues of PA63 needed for the intermolecular interactions that stabilize the heptamer. Using the scaffolds identified by CAVEAT, seven candidate inhibitors were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit anthrax toxin‐induced cytotoxicity, with three of the agents demonstrating modest inhibition in murine J774A.1 macrophage cells. (Source: Chemical Biology and Drug Design)

Small Molecule Inhibitors of Anthrax Toxin–induced Cytotoxicity Targeted Against Protective Antigen

Chemical Biology and Drug Design — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Two molecular scaffolds were designed using the CAVEAT molecular design package to inhibit the oligomerization of protective antigen (PA63), a key protein component of anthrax toxin. The inhibitors were designed to prevent heptamerization of PA63 by mimicking key residues of PA63 needed for the intermolecular interactions that stabilize the heptamer. Using the scaffolds identified by CAVEAT, seven candidate inhibitors were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit anthrax toxin–induced cytotoxicity, with three of the agents demonstrating modest inhibition in murine J774A.1 macrophage cells.Structure‐based design methods were used to identify structures that mimic the key protein–protein interactions of the protective antigen (PA63) heptameric prepore of anthrax toxin. Seven...

Researchers reveal SBP8a configurations

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston) A new study has shown previously unseen details of an anthrax bacteriophage -- a virus that infects anthrax bacteria -- revealing for the first time how it infects its host, and providing an initial blueprint for how the phage might someday be modified into a tool for the detection and destruction of anthrax and other potential bioterror agents. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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The dark sides of capillary morphogenesis gene 2

The EMBO Journal AOP — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Julie Deuquet, Ekkehart Lausch, Andrea Superti-Furga & F Gisou van der Goot (Source: The EMBO Journal AOP)

Unusual epidemic events: A new method of early orientation and differentiation between natural and deliberate epidemics

Public Health — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This new scoring system may be useful for public health institutions and federal civil and military officials responsible for bio-attack investigations. (Source: Public Health)

Priority Preparedness Issues

Journal of Emergency Nursing: JEN — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

September 2011 is a month to recognize and reflect upon the 10-year anniversaries of the September 11, 2001, and East Coast anthrax attacks and the 6-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. These tragedies remind us of the harsh reality of foreign and domestic terrorism within the United States and the destructive capability of natural hazards such as hurricanes. The scarce medical resources available for victims of Hurricane Katrina made the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's 2005 “Crisis Standards of Care” concepts a reality as several New Orleans area hospitals sought to provide the best care possible in the worst circumstances. The anniversaries of these catastrophes provide benchmarks for gauging our past preparedness level, current status, and opportunities for the futur...

A Review of Zoonotic Disease Surveillance Supported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center

Zoonoses and Public Health — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryThe Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC), Division of Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System conducts disease surveillance through a global network of US Department of Defense research laboratories and partnerships with foreign ministries of agriculture, health and livestock development in over 90 countries worldwide. In 2010, AFHSC supported zoonosis survey efforts were organized into four main categories: (i) development of field assays for animal disease surveillance during deployments and in resource limited environments, (ii) determining zoonotic disease prevalence in high‐contact species which may serve as important reservoirs of diseases and sources of transmission, (iii) surveillance in high‐risk human populations which are more likely to ...

Identification of a lead small-molecule inhibitor of anthrax lethal toxin by using fluorescence-based high-throughput screening.

BMB Reports — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Wei D, Bu Z, Yu A, Li F Abstract Inhalational anthrax is caused by B. anthracis, a virulent sporeforming bacterium which secretes anthrax toxins consisting of protective antigen (PA ), lethal factor (LF ) and edema factor (EF ). LF is a Zn-dependent metalloprotease and is the main determinant in the pathogenesis of anthrax. Here we report the identification of a lead small-molecule inhibitor of anthrax lethal factor by screening an available synthetic small-molecule inhibitor library using fluorescence-based high-throughput screening (HTS ) approach. Seven small molecules were found to have inhibitory effect against LF activity, among which SM157 had the highest inhibitory activity. All theses small molecule inhibitors inhibited LF in a noncompetitive inhibition mode. SM15...

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Anthrax Attack, US Government Agrees $2.5 Million Payout, But Does Not Admit Fault

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0100

The family of Florida photo editor, Robert Stevens, who died following an anthrax attack, is to receive a payout of $2.5 million from the US government. According to court filings, Maureen Stevens will no longer pursue other claims. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2003, claimed government negligence because it did not stop somebody at U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, from creating weapons-grade anthrax in letters used to kill five people, including Stevens. The anthrax attack also made 17 other people ill... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Association of the ANTXR2 gene polymorphism and ankylosing spondylitis in Chinese Han.

Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: ANTXR2 might not be a susceptibility gene of AS in Chinese Han. PMID: 22118297 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology)

Injectional anthrax: a new twist on an old disease: Category: Clinical lesson

Journal of Infection — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:05:46 +0100

Anthrax is one of the oldest diseases of grazing animals and had been responsible for the deaths of hundreds and thousands of livestock prior to the 20th Century when effective veterinary and human public health programs brought it under control. Robert Koch first identified the bacteria that causes anthrax in 1875 and his experiments with this microbe helped elucidate the role of microbes in causing illness. (Source: Journal of Infection)

Susan D. Jones, Death in a Small Package: A Short History of Anthrax

Social History of Medicine — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Social History of Medicine)

Detection of anthrax toxin genetic sequences by the solid phase oligo-probes

Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our results suggest that this assay can be adapted for the rapid detection of minuscule amounts of the anthrax spores that are aerosolized in the case of a bioterrorism attack. This detection system does not require polymerase chain reaction (PCR) step and can be more specific than the antibody method. This method can also detect genetically engineered anthrax. Since, the antibody method is so specific to the protein epitope that bioengineered versions of anthrax may not be detected. (Source: Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology)

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Lipoprotein biosynthesis by prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase is required for efficient spore germination and full virulence of Bacillus anthracis

Molecular Microbiology — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryBacterial lipoproteins play a crucial role in virulence in some Gram‐positive bacteria. However, the role of lipoprotein biosynthesis in Bacillus anthracis is unknown. We created a B. anthracis mutant strain altered in lipoproteins by deleting the lgt gene encoding the enzyme prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase, which attaches the lipid anchor to prolipoproteins. 14C‐palmitate labelling confirmed that the mutant strain lacked lipoproteins, and hydrocarbon partitioning showed it to have decreased surface hydrophobicity. The anthrax toxin proteins were secreted from the mutant strain at nearly the same levels as from the wild‐type strain. The TLR2‐dependent TNF‐α response of macrophages to heat‐killed lgt mutant bacteria was reduced. Spores of the lgt mutant germi...

Persistent Inhibition of Oxygen-Induced Retinal Neovascularization by Anthrax Lethal Toxin [Retina]

Investigative Ophthalmology — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. Correlation among pericyte coverage, deep vascular plexus growth, and hypoxia after LeTx treatment indicate immature vessels in a hypoxic environment are preferentially sensitive to LeTx-mediated MKK inhibition. The persistence of VEGF without concomitant induction of neovascular growth or revascularization of vaso-obliterated zones suggests MKK inhibition causes an inability of the cells that are present, or a failure to recruit cells able, to respond to proangiogenic stimuli. These results indicate the inhibition of MKK signaling presents a novel strategy for the inhibition of vascular retinopathies such as OIR and ROP. (Source: Investigative Ophthalmology)

A Decade of Spore-Forming Bacterial Infections Among European Injecting Drug Users: Pronounced Regional Variation.

American Journal of Public Health — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hope VD, Palmateer N, Wiessing L, Marongiu A, White J, Ncube F, Goldberg D Abstract The recent anthrax outbreak among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Europe has highlighted an ongoing problem with severe illness resulting from spore-forming bacteria in IDUs. We collated the numbers of cases of 4 bacterial illnesses (botulism, tetanus, Clostridium novyi, and anthrax) in European IDUs for 2000 to 2009 and calculated population rates. Six countries reported 367 cases; rates varied from 0.03 to 7.54 per million people.Most cases (92%) were reported from 3 neighboring countries: Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom. This geographic variation needs investigation. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print November 17, 2011: e5-e8. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300314). P...

cAMP Signaling by Anthrax Edema Toxin Induces Transendothelial Cell Tunnels, which Are Resealed by MIM via Arp2/3-Driven Actin Polymerization.

Cell Host and Microbe — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Maddugoda MP, Stefani C, Gonzalez-Rodriguez D, Saarikangas J, Torrino S, Janel S, Munro P, Doye A, Prodon F, Aurrand-Lions M, Goossens PL, Lafont F, Bassereau P, Lappalainen P, Brochard F, Lemichez E Abstract RhoA-inhibitory bacterial toxins, such as Staphylococcus aureus EDIN toxin, induce large transendothelial cell macroaperture (TEM) tunnels that rupture the host endothelium barrier and promote bacterial dissemination. Host cells repair these tunnels by extending actin-rich membrane waves from the TEM edges. We reveal that cyclic-AMP signaling produced by Bacillus anthracis edema toxin (ET) also induces TEM formation, which correlates with increased vascular permeability. We show that ET-induced TEM formation resembles liquid dewetting, a physical process of nucleation...

Anthrax Vaccine Antigen-Adjuvant Formulations Completely Protect New Zealand White Rabbits against Challenge with Bacillus anthracis Ames Strain Spores.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Peachman KK, Li Q, Matyas GR, Shivachandra SB, Lovchik J, Lyons RC, Alving CR, Rao VB, Rao M Abstract In an effort to develop an improved anthrax vaccine that shows high potency, five different anthrax protective antigen (PA)-adjuvant vaccine formulations that were previously found to be efficacious in a nonhuman primate model were evaluated for their efficacy in a rabbit pulmonary challenge model using Bacillus anthracis Ames strain spores. The vaccine formulations include: PA adsorbed to Alhydrogel®, PA encapsulated in liposomes containing monophosphoryl lipid A, stable liposomal PA oil-in-water emulsion, and PA displayed on bacteriophage T4 by the intramuscular route and PA mixed with E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin administered by the needle-free transcutaneous route....

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Effects by anthrax toxins on hematopoiesis: A key role for cytokines as mediators.

Cytokine — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study examined the effects of anthrax toxin on hematopoiesis and determined roles for cytokines. Anthrax holotoxin toxin is three components: protective antigen (PA) binds to the target cell and mediates the entry of lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF). Anthrax toxin dramatically inhibits signaling in immune cells. We first identified the cell subsets that interacted with the protective antigen (PA) and then studied the effects on hematopoietic progenitors in clonogenic assays: granulocytic-monocytic (CFU-GM) and late erythroid (CFU-E). Multi-color immunofluorescence with FITC-PA indicated its interaction with early and late myeloid cells. Clonogenic assays, in the presence or absence of holotoxin and individual toxin proteins resulted in significant suppression by hologenic toxi...

Preparation and characterization of cobalt-substituted anthrax lethal factor.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research communications — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Säbel CE, Carbone R, Dabous JR, Lo SY, Siemann S Abstract Anthrax lethal factor (LF) is zinc-dependent endopeptidase involved in the cleavage of mitogen-activated protein kinases near their N-termini. The current report concerns the preparation of cobalt-substituted LF (CoLF) and its characterization by electronic spectroscopy. Two strategies to produce CoLF were explored, including (i) a bio-assimilation approach involving the cultivation of LF-expressing Bacillus megaterium cells in the presence of CoCl(2), and (ii) direct exchange by treatment of zinc-LF with CoCl(2). Independent of the method employed, the protein was found to contain one Co(2+) per LF molecule, and was shown to be twice as active as its native zinc counterpart. The electronic spectrum of CoLF suggest...

Two cases of infection with Bacillus anthracis, Romania, October 2011

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

Differential Effect of Linezolid and Ciprofloxacin on Toxin Production by Bacillus anthracis In an In Vitro Pharmacodynamic System.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Ciprofloxacin and linezolid reduced the total Sterne population at similar rates. However, the BA population was primarily spores with ciprofloxacin therapy and was primarily vegetative bacteria with linezolid therapy. Toxin production was detected for at least 5 hours with ciprofloxacin therapy but was never detected with linezolid treatment. Linezolid may have an advantage over ciprofloxacin for the treatment of BA infections. PMID: 22064542 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy)

[News & Analysis] Bioterror Research: Panel Endorses Anthrax Vaccine Study in Children

Science: Current Issue — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:26:03 +0100

Last week, the full National Biodefense Science Board voted 12–1 in favor of a clinical trial of the anthrax vaccine in children, assuming its ethics are approved by a review board.Author: Jennifer Couzin-Frankel (Source: Science: Current Issue)

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A chelating-bond breaking and re-linking technique for rapid re-immobilization of immune micro-sensors.

Biomedical Microdevices — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study proposes and develops a method for rapidly regeneration of antibody on a resonant micro-cantilever sensor. A nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) derivative is synthesized with cystine and bromoacetic acid, then added with 2-mercaptoethanol to prepare a mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on Au (111) surface of the cantilever. Ni(2+) ions are thereafter chelated on the mixed SAM to form a breakable and re-linkable chelating-bond layer. Repeatable cycles of antibody immobilization and erasing are experimentally validated with a detectable marker of synthesized biotinylated poly peptides harboring six histidine residues (named as His-Bio). Two distinguished pathogenic microbial, Escherichia. coli O157:H7 and Bacillus Anthracis, are detected with the rapidly regenerated sensor. The E. coli...

Preventing the Next Anthrax Attack

AAAS — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:00:20 +0100

Ten Years After Deadly Anthrax Mailings, AAAS Event Explores Lingering Questions Ten years after anthrax sent by mail left five dead, a retrospective at AAAS explored questions about a researcher implicated in the attack and challenges of improved security. (Source: AAAS)

US to test anthrax vaccine in children... maybe

New Scientist - Health — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:18:09 +0100

An ethical review will decide whether or not the US tests its anthrax vaccine in the nation's children (Source: New Scientist - Health)

The Bacillus anthracis arylamine N-acetyltransferase ((BACAN)NAT1) that inactivates sulfamethoxazole, reveals unusual structural features compared with the other NAT isoenzymes

FEBS Letters — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We report the presence of an unexpected extra loop in the structure of Bacillus anthracis NAT1 enzyme. ► The extra loop may contribute to the shape of the active-site and to cofactor binding. ► Endogenous CoA cocrystallized with B. anthracis NAT1. ► We discuss the divergence in the mode of binding and location of CoA in NAT enzymes.Abstract: Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes that biotransform arylamine drugs. The Bacillus anthracis (BACAN)NAT1 enzyme affords increased resistance to the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole through its acetylation. We report the structure of (BACAN)NAT1. Unexpectedly, endogenous coenzymeA was present in the active site. The structure suggests that, contrary to the other prokaryotic NATs, (BACAN)NAT1 possesses a 14-residue...

The Challenges of Leadership in the New Era of Health Care

Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The first new era of health care for radiology began in 1895, at which time physicians were marveling at the recent discovery of the tubercle bacillus, the ability to vaccinate against anthrax, and the treatment of diphtheria with antitoxin. The tetanus bacillus and malaria parasite had recently been isolated, and the thermometer, laryngoscope, and ophthalmoscope had come into widespread use. In December of that year, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen forever changed the practice of medicine with his discovery of the x-ray, and the next new era of health care was born []. (Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR)

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The Munich Outbreak of Cutaneous Cowpox Infection: Transmission by Infected Pet Rats.

Acta Dermato-Venereologica — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We report here clinical aspects of 8 patients from the Munich area who had purchased infected pet rats from a local supplier. Pet rats are a novel potential source of local outbreaks. The morphologically distinctive skin lesions are mostly restricted to the patients' necks, reflecting the infected animals' contact pattern. Individual lesions vaguely resemble orf or Milker's nodule, but show marked surrounding erythema, firm induration and local adenopathy. Older lesions develop eschar, leaving slow-healing, deep ulcerative defects after eschar separation. Severe flu-like illness may be present in the acute phase. Smallpox-vaccinated patients tend to develop less severe reactions and heal more quickly. The differential diagnosis may include other localized orthopoxvirus infections, herpes s...

Deal reached in U.S. 2001 anthrax death suit

Reuters: Health — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:15:14 +0100

MIAMI (Reuters) - The widow of a Florida tabloid photo editor who was the first of five people to die in 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States has reached a settlement with the U.S. government in her wrongful death damages lawsuit against it, according to a court filing. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Unethical to test anthrax vaccine in kids? What panel says

Health News: CBSNews.com — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:41:37 +0100

National Biodefense Science Board gave government its recommendation Friday (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Key To Anthrax Defense Could Be Natural Killer Cells

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0100

One of the things that makes inhalational anthrax so worrisome for biodefense experts is how quickly a relatively small number of inhaled anthrax spores can turn into a lethal infection. By the time an anthrax victim realizes he or she has something worse than the flu and seeks treatment, it's often too late; even the most powerful antibiotics may be no help against the spreading bacteria and the potent toxins they generate. Now, though, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have found new allies for the fight against anthrax... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Deal reached in U.S. 2001 anthrax death suit: filing

Reuters: Health — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:29:37 +0100

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Suitability of Commercial Transport Media for Biological Pathogens under Nonideal Conditions

Clinical and Developmental Immunology — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:52:59 +0100

This study evaluates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) transport media based on sample recovery, viability, and quality of nucleic acids and peptides for nonpathogenic strains of Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, in addition to ricin toxin. Samples were stored in COTS, PBST, or no media at various temperatures over an extended test period. The results demonstrate that COTS media, although sufficient for the preservation of nucleic acid and proteinaceous material, are not capable of maintaining an accurate representation of biothreat agents at the time of collection. (Source: Clinical and Developmental Immunology)

Serum amyloid A protects murine macrophages from lethal toxin-mediated death.

Cellular Immunology — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Rose K, Long P, Shankar M, Ballard JD, Webb CF Abstract Lethal toxin, a key virulence factor produced by Bacillus anthracis, induces cell death, in part by disrupting numerous signaling pathways, in mouse macrophages. However, exposure to sublethal doses of lethal toxin allows some cells to survive. Because these pro-survival signaling events occur within a few hours after exposure to sublethal doses, we hypothesized that acute phase proteins might influence macrophage survival. Our data show that serum amyloid A (SAA) is produced in response to lethal toxin treatment. Moreover, pre-treatment of macrophages with exogenous SAA protected macrophages from lethal toxin-mediated death. Exogenous SAA activated the p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAP) kinase pathway, while ...

Advisory Panel Urges U.S. to Conduct Controversial Anthrax Vaccine Trial in Children

ScienceNOW — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:42:46 +0100

An advisory board to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this afternoon... (Source: ScienceNOW)

No anthrax vaccine testing on children for now

USATODAY.com Health — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:03:53 +0100

The question is whether to do tests so doctors will know if children's immune systems respond to the shots well enough to signal protection. ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Test anthrax vaccine in kids? Feds mull thorny question

Health News: CBSNews.com — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:14:21 +0100

Panel considering whether to test now - or administer untested vaccine later in event of bioterror attack (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

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U.S. considers testing anthrax vaccine in kids

CTV Health — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:51:45 +0100

Concerned that terrorists might use anthrax in some future attack, the U.S. government is considering testing a vaccine on children to learn how well they respond to the shots. (Source: CTV Health)

Scientific Case Still Open On 2001 Anthrax Attacks

NPR Health and Science — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +0100

Army microbiologist Bruce Ivins, the FBI's prime suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks, died before his trial in an apparent suicide, and the case is now closed. John Dankosky and guests discuss new investigations that question whether scientific evidence against Ivins was conclusive enough to hold up in court.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us (Source: NPR Health and Science)

Federal Government Wants To Test Anthrax Vaccine On Children

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +0100

Terrorists could use the potentially deadly Anthrax bacteria on an attack against the United States, and there is plenty of vaccine stockpiled for use against this and other possible biological agents of warfare. However they have never been tested on children so the effectiveness and possible side effects of the vaccines are unknown in children. The Obama administration has asked the National Biodefense Science Board to meet today (Friday) to discuss this rather delicate and slightly shocking issue... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Gov't considers testing anthrax vaccine in kids

USATODAY.com Health — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:09:10 +0100

A government advisory panel is considering whether the anthrax vaccine should be tested in children. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Optical and electrochemical responses of an anthrax biomarker based on single-walled carbon nanotubes covalently loaded with terbium complexes

RSC - Chem. Commun. latest articles — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:59:24 +0100

Chem. Commun., 2011, Advance ArticleDOI: 10.1039/C1CC15857K, CommunicationChaoliang Tan, Qianming Wang, Cheng Cheng ZhangA carbon nanotube loaded with a terbium complex can detect calcium dipicolinate through fluorescence and electrochemical signals simultaneously.To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry (Source: RSC - Chem. Commun. latest articles)

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Natural killer cells could be key to anthrax defense

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston) Researchers have found new allies for the fight against anthrax. Known as natural killer cells, they're a part of the immune system normally associated with eliminating tumor cells and cells infected by viruses. But natural killer cells also attack bacteria -- including anthrax, according to a new study. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Docs Still at Front Line in Detecting Bioterrorism (with video)

MedPage Today Infectious Disease — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:48:14 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- A decade after the anthrax attacks of 2001, much has changed in the world of bioterrorism -- or has it? (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)

Anthrax Cleanup Decisions: Statistical Confidence or Confident Response

Environmental Science and Technology — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:17:31 +0100

Environmental Science & TechnologyDOI: 10.1021/es203479t (Source: Environmental Science and Technology)

New Developments in Vaccines, Inhibitors of Anthrax Toxins, and Antibiotic Therapeutics for Bacillus anthracis.

Current Medicinal Chemistry — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Beierlein JM, Anderson AC Abstract Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent responsible for anthrax infections, poses a significant biodefense threat. There is a high mortality rate associated with untreated anthrax infections; specifically, inhalation anthrax is a particularly virulent form of infection with mortality rates close to 100%, even with aggressive treatment. Currently, a vaccine is not available to the general public and few antibiotics have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of inhalation anthrax. With the threat of natural or engineered bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the limited population for whom the current drugs are approved, there is a clear need for more effective treatments against this deadly infection. A comprehensive review of curre...

Human Genome Sciences reports 3Q losses

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:19:10 +0100

Rockville-based Human Genome Sciences Inc. saw losses widen and its revenue dip by a third in the third quarter this year compared with the same period a year ago. The biotech brought in $34 million in third-quarter revenue compared with $50.8 million in revenue last year. Most of this year's quarterly revenue was from product sales, including $18.8 million from its first commercial drug, lupus treatment Benlysta, and $12 million from government sales of its anthrax drug. In the second quarter of this year, Human Genome Sciences reported $7... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

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U.S. decides on anthrax vaccine for kids

Health News - UPI.com — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:06:24 +0100

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The Obama administration is deciding whether U.S. children should be tested for an anthrax vaccine against a bioterrorism attack, officials say. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

U.S. to decide on anthrax vaccine for kids

Health News - UPI.com — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:06:24 +0100

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The Obama administration is mulling whether an anthrax vaccine meant to protect against a bioterrorism attack should be tested on U.S. children, officials say. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Anthrax attack: US makes plans for antibiotic deployment . . .

PharmacoEconomics and Outcomes News — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:52:37 +0100

(Source: PharmacoEconomics and Outcomes News)

Pathogen Genomics Has Become Dirt Cheap

Scientific American Topic - Medical Technology — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:24:08 +0100

“The human genome was sequenced, and in the process of moving that forward the technology that was developed was incredible. And because of their efforts in the human genome, that technology is available to folks like us.”Northern Arizona University’s Paul Keim at the ScienceWriters2011 conference. The ability to compare genomes is a powerful tool for identifying the origins of a natural disease outbreak or bioterrorism. Keim’s team examined the anthrax mailed to victims in the 2001 attacks and determined that it did not come from Iraq. [More] (Source: Scientific American Topic - Medical Technology)

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Anthrax! Deadly mail attack 10 years later (GRAPHIC IMAGES)

Health News: CBSNews.com — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:29:50 +0100

In aftermath of 9/11, America got unwanted lesson in microbiology and germ warfare (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Nine years' review on preseptal and orbital cellulitis and emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococus aureus in a tertiary hospital in India

Indian Journal of Ophthalmology — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This study has helped in identifying organisms which cause orbital infections, especially community-acquired MRSA. It indicates the need for modifying our empirical antimicrobial therapy, especially in orbital cellulitis. (Source: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology)

Sensitive Detection of Bacillus anthracis Spores by Immunocapture and Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Analytical Chemistry — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:19:25 +0100

Analytical ChemistryDOI: 10.1021/ac2020992 (Source: Analytical Chemistry)

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Science in anthrax letter case comes under attack

Los Angeles Times - Science — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Bruce E. Ivins, the chief suspect in the 2001 anthrax mailings, committed suicide before the FBI could present its case in court. Years later, some suspicions remain over results of the inquiry.FBI Agent Edward Montooth began worrying the moment he got the call early on the morning of July 27, 2008: The chief suspect in the deadly anthrax letter attacks of 2001 had just been rushed to a hospital. (Source: Los Angeles Times - Science)

Was the FBI's Science Good Enough to ID the Anthrax Killer?

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This story is a joint project with ProPublica, PBS Frontline and McClatchy . The story will air on Frontline on Oct. 11 . Check local listings. WASHINGTON -- In March 2007, federal agents convened an elite group of outside experts to evaluate the science that had traced the anthrax in the letters to a single flask at an Army lab in Maryland. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

New Challenge to FBI's Anthrax Investigation Lends An Ear to Tin

ScienceNOW — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:50:58 +0100

Where did the tin come from? Three scientists have raised that question in a... (Source: ScienceNOW)

Spotting Deadly Spores

Chemical and Engineering News — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:35:00 +0100

Pathogens: Technique based on mass spectrometry can find anthrax in milk and soil. (Source: Chemical and Engineering News)

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Ten years on from anthrax scare, analysis lags behind sequencing

Nature Medicine — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Nature Medicine 17, 1158 (2011). doi:10.1038/nm1011-1158b Author: Amber Dance (Source: Nature Medicine)

Identification of the bacterial protein FtsX as a unique target of chemokine-mediated antimicrobial activity against Bacillus anthracis [Microbiology]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Chemokines are a family of chemotactic cytokines that function in host defense by orchestrating cellular movement during infection. In addition to this function, many chemokines have also been found to mediate the direct killing of a range of pathogenic microorganisms through an as-yet-undefined mechanism. As an understanding of the molecular mechanism and microbial targets of chemokine-mediated antimicrobial activity is likely to lead to the identification of unique, broad-spectrum therapeutic targets for effectively treating infection, we sought to investigate the mechanism by which the chemokine CXCL10 mediates bactericidal activity against the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. Here, we report that disruption of the gene ftsX, which encodes the ...

Spotting Deadly Spores

Chemical and Engineering News — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Pathogens: Technique based on mass spectrometry can find anthrax in milk and soil (Source: Chemical and Engineering News)

Determination of post-culture processing with carbohydrates by MALDI-MS and TMS derivatization GC-MS.

Talanta — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 07:19:55 +0100

Authors: Wunschel DS, Wahl KL, Melville AM, Sorensen CM, Colburn HA, Valentine NB, Stamper CL Abstract Biological materials generally require stabilization to retain activity or viability in a dry form. A number of industrial products, such as vaccines, probiotics and biopesticides have been produced as dry preparations. The same methods and materials used for stabilizing commercial microbial products may be applicable to preserving biothreat pathogens in a dry form. This is a likely step that may be encountered when looking at samples from terrorism attempts since only spores, such as those from Bacillus anthracis, are inherently stable when dried. The stabilizers for microbial preparations generally include one or more small carbohydrates. Different formulations have been reporte...

IOM spells out antibiotics strategy in an anthrax attack

American Medical News - HEALTH — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:59:38 +0100

A report examines how best to store medical countermeasures and whether people should keep them at home in case of exposure. (Source: American Medical News - HEALTH)

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Einstein Montefiore Bioethicist Helped Shape New Institute Of Medicine Report On Staging Antibiotics For Possible Anthrax Attack

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0100

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report last Friday that provides guidance to U.S. public health officials to develop plans to pre-position antibiotics that can be distributed to the general public in the case of a large-scale anthrax attack. Tia Powell, M.D., director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Bioethics and the Einstein Cardozo Masters of Science in Bioethics program, was vice-chair of the 16-member Committee Prepositioned Medical Countermeasures for the Public, which issued the report... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A Phase I Study Evaluating the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Valortim(R) (MDX-1303), a Fully Human Monoclonal Antibody against Bacillus Anthracis Protective Antigen, in Healthy Volunteers.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Riddle V, Leese P, Blanset D, Adamcio M, Meldorf M, Lowy I Abstract Valortim® (MDX-1303) is a fully human monoclonal antibody (hmAb) with a high affinity for Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA). Valortim binds to PA and interferes with the activity of the anthrax toxin; it was selected based on its superior functional activity in the toxin neutralization activity assay (TNA). Valortim has demonstrated efficacy in the post-exposure and therapeutic settings in New Zealand White rabbits, cynomolgus monkeys, and African green monkeys. This Phase I study sought to characterize the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and pharmacokinetics (PK)/pharmacodynamics (PD) of Valortim in healthy human subjects. Cohorts of 3 to 10 subjects were administered Valortim as either a ...

News From Annals Of Internal Medicine: Oct. 4, 2011

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 09:00:00 +0100

1. Key to Thwarting Bioterrorism Threat Lies in Clinicians' Ability To Recognize Signs Ten Years Later, Doctor Who Identified Anthrax Case Reflects on Lessons Learned October 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the anthrax attacks that led to one of the largest epidemiologic and criminal investigations in U.S. history. Following the September 11th attacks, was a bioterrorism attack that used the U.S... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Ultrasensitive detection of protein translocated through toxin pores in droplet-interface bilayers [Biochemistry]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We report the capture and subsequent direct detection of as few as 100 protein molecules that have translocated through anthrax toxin pores. The droplet-interface bilayer system offers new avenues of approach to the study of protein translocation. (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

Einstein Montefiore Bioethicist Helped Shape New Institute of Medicine Report on Staging Antibiotics for Possible Anthrax Attack

Einstein News — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:39:26 +0100

... go to einstein.yu.edu for full story (Source: Einstein News)

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Fluorescent europium-modified polymer nanoparticles for rapid and sensitive anthrax sensors.

Biosensors and Bioelectronics — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:46:59 +0100

Authors: Oh WK, Jeong YS, Song J, Jang J Abstract Novel fluorescent polyacrylonitrile nanoparticles were synthesized by microemulsion polymerization and Schiff base modification. By further modification with europium, the polyacrylonitrile nanoparticles could be used as a highly sensitive and rapid sensor for Bacillus anthracis spore detection in aqueous solution. The europium-modified polyacrylonitrile nanoparticles were readily combined with dipicolinic acid as a unique biomarker of B. anthracis, leading to high fluorescence emission. These nanoparticles enabled ratiometric detection without instrument-specific calibration due to the internal fluorescence reference. Additionally, the europium-modified polyacrylonitrile nanoparticle sensors exhibited a remarkable limit of detectio...

Probing biomolecular interaction forces using an anharmonic acoustic technique for selective detection of bacterial spores.

Biosensors and Bioelectronics — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:46:49 +0100

Authors: Ghosh SK, Ostanin VP, Johnson CL, Lowe CR, Seshia AA Abstract Receptor-based detection of pathogens often suffers from non-specific interactions, and as most detection techniques cannot distinguish between affinities of interactions, false positive responses remain a plaguing reality. Here, we report an anharmonic acoustic based method of detection that addresses the inherent weakness of current ligand dependant assays. Spores of Bacillus subtilis (Bacillus anthracis simulant) were immobilized on a thickness-shear mode AT-cut quartz crystal functionalized with anti-spore antibody and the sensor was driven by a pure sinusoidal oscillation at increasing amplitude. Biomolecular interaction forces between the coupled spores and the accelerating surface caused a nonlinear modul...

Community Storage Of Anthrax-Preventing Antibiotics Should Be Determined By State

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0100

As part of preparations for a possible large-scale anthrax attack, public health officials on the state and local levels should determine where and how anthrax-preventing antibiotics should be stored in their communities, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The report recommends that state, local, and tribal health officials work with the federal government to assess the benefits and costs of strategies that preposition antibiotics close to or in the hands of people who will need quick access to them should an attack occur... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Einstein Montefiore bioethicist helped shape report on anthrax attack antibiotic staging

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(Albert Einstein College of Medicine) The IOM released a report that provides guidance to US public health officials to develop plans to pre-position antibiotics that can be distributed to the general public in the case of a large-scale anthrax attack. Tia Powell, M.D., director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Bioethics and the Einstein Cardozo Masters of Science in Bioethics program, was vice-chair of the 16-member Committee Prepositioned Medical Countermeasures for the Public, which issued the report. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

The Anthrax Attacks 10 Years Later.

Annals of Internal Medicine — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bush LM, Perez MT Abstract Ten years ago, just weeks after the September 11 attacks, the United States experienced a deliberate act of bioterrorism. Through use of the U.S. postal service, anthrax spores were widely disseminated, including to homes, the Senate, and major newsrooms, resulting in morbidity and mortality and effectively disrupting our way of life and revealing our vulnerability. Even though such attacks had been the subject of much writing and had been planned for, detection of and the appropriate response to an attack with an agent from the so-called "Category 'A' List" had only been considered in theoretical terms. What transpired during the following difficult weeks, including how public health and federal government agencies performed, has been both prais...

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Anthrax Attack Plans Need to Be Handled Locally, Report Says

The Doctors Lounge - Infections — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:00:00 +0100

Institute of Medicine committee recommends local officials plan antibiotic distribution (Source: The Doctors Lounge - Infections)

Anthrax Attack Plans Need to Be Handled Locally, Report Says

MedlinePlus Health News — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:00:00 +0100

Institute of Medicine committee recommends local officials plan antibiotic distribution Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Anthrax, Disaster Preparation and Recovery (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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News from the National Academies — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:35:50 +0100

As part of preparations for a possible large-scale anthrax attack, public health officials at the state and local levels should determine where and how anthrax-preventing antibiotics should be stored in their communities, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The report provides guidance to state, local, and tribal health officials to evaluate how well they are served by existing anthrax preparedness measures, and whether adopting strategies for storing antibiotics in local stockpiles, workplace caches, or homes would be appropriate. However, the report discourages broad use of a home storage strategy for the general population due to possible antibiotic misuse and higher costs. (Source: News from the National Academies)

Community Storage of Anthrax-Preventing Antibiotics

News from the National Academies — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:35:50 +0100

10 Year Anniversary Of Anthrax Attacks In October, TFAH Statement

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100

With the 10th anniversary of the anthrax attacks in the United States coming up this October, Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director of the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) marked the occasion making the following statement: "All of us at the Trust for America's Health want to take this anniversary to remember those we lost and their loved ones and to commemorate the public health community and other responders who worked tirelessly and heroically to respond and protect us... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Community storage of anthrax-preventing antibiotics should be determined by state

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(National Academy of Sciences) As part of preparations for a possible large-scale anthrax attack, public health officials on the state and local levels should determine where and how anthrax-preventing antibiotics should be stored in their communities. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

An Attenuated Strain of Bacillus anthracis (CDC 684) has a Large Chromosomal Inversion and Altered Growth Kinetics

BMC Genomics - Latest articles — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: We propose two alternative hypotheses explaining the attenuated phenotype of this isolate. Hypothesis 1 suggests that the skewed ori / ter relationship in CDC 684 has altered its DNA replication and/or transcriptome processes resulting in altered growth kinetics and virulence capacity. Hypothesis 2 suggests that one or more of the single nucleotide polymorphisms in CDC 684 has altered the expression of a regulatory element or other genes necessary for virulence. (Source: BMC Genomics - Latest articles)

New Report Examines Gap in BioTerror Preparedness

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

TFAH and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently released "Remembering 9/11 and Anthrax: Public Health's Vital Role in National Defense," which examined the gaps in public health preparedness, including firsthand accounts from officials, clinicians and doctors. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

National validation study of a cellulose sponge-wipe processing method for use after sampling Bacillus anthracis spores from surfaces.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Rose LJ, Hodges L, O'Connell H, Noble-Wang J Abstract This work was initiated to address the gaps identified by Congress regarding validated biothreat environmental sampling and processing methods. Nine Laboratory Response Network (LRN) affiliated laboratories participated in a validation study of a cellulose sponge-wipe processing protocol for the recovery, detection, and quantification of viable Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores from steel surfaces. Steel coupons (645.16 cm(2)) were inoculated with 1-to 4-log(10) spores and then sampled with cellulose sponges (3M™ Sponge-Stick, St Paul, MN). Surrogate dust and background organisms were added to the sponges to mimic environmental conditions. Labs processed the sponges according to the provided protocol. Sensitivity, spec...

Humidity control can compensate for the damage induced in protein crystals by alien solutions

Acta Crystallographica Section F — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The use of relative humidity control of protein crystals to overcome some of the shortcomings of soaking ligands (i.e. inhibitors, substrate analogs, weak ligands) into pre-grown apoprotein crystals has been explored. Crystals of PurE (EC 4.1.1.21), an enzyme from the purine-biosynthesis pathway of Bacillus anthracis, were used as a test case. The findings can be summarized as follows: (i) using humidity control, it is possible to improve/optimize the diffraction quality of crystals soaked in solutions of organic solvent (DMSO, ethanol) containing ligands/inhibitors; (ii) optimization of the relative humidity can compensate for the deterioration of the diffraction pattern that is observed upon desalting crystals grown in high salt; (iii) combining desalting protocols with the addition of P...

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Decade after anthrax attacks, worry over stockpile

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:31:44 +0100

Ten years after the anthrax attacks brought home the reality of bioterrorism, the nation has a stockpile of some basic tools to fight back against ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

BARDA funds Vaxin to develop anthrax vaccine

Pharmaceutical Technology — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:06:26 +0100

Vaxin, a clinical-stage vaccine development company, has been awarded a $21.7m contract by the Office of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for the development of the company's proprietary anthrax vaccine, AdVAV.Post to:Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon (Source: Pharmaceutical Technology)

Inhibition of the adenylyl cyclase toxin, edema factor, from Bacillus anthracis by a series of 18 mono- and bis-(M)ANT-substituted nucleoside 5′-triphosphates

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:46:58 +0100

Abstract Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax disease and exerts its deleterious effects by the release of three exotoxins, i.e. lethal factor, protective antigen and edema factor (EF), a highly active calmodulin-dependent adenylyl cyclase (AC). Conventional antibiotic treatment is ineffective against either toxaemia or antibiotic-resistant strains. Thus, more effective drugs for anthrax treatment are needed. Our previous studies showed that EF is differentially inhibited by various purine and pyrimidine nucleotides modified with N-methylanthraniloyl (MANT)- or anthraniloyl (ANT) groups at the 2′(3′)-O-ribosyl position, with the unique preference for the base cytosine (Taha et al., Mol Pharmacol 75:693 (2009)). MANT-CTP was the most potent EF inhibitor (K i, 100 nM)...

Determinants of Lytic Activity of Gram-positive Phage Lysins [Microbiology]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The recombinant lysins of lytic phages, when applied externally to Gram-positive bacteria, can be efficient bactericidal agents, typically retaining high specificity. Their development as novel antibacterial agents offers many potential advantages over conventional antibiotics. Protein engineering could exploit this potential further by generating novel lysins fit for distinct target populations and environments. However, access to the peptidoglycan layer is controlled by a variety of secondary cell wall polymers, chemical modifications, and (in some cases) S-layers and capsules. Classical lysins require a cell wall-binding domain (CBD) that targets the catalytic domain to the peptidoglycan layer via binding to a secondary cell wall polymer component. The cell walls of Gram-positive bacter...

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Anthrax sub-unit vaccine: The structural consequences of binding rPA83 to Alhydrogel®

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study also shows that informative structural characterisation is possible for adjuvant bound sub-unit vaccines. PMID: 21964315 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics)

The role of Bacillus anthracis RecD2 helicase in DNA mismatch repair.

DNA Repair — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Yang H, Yung M, Sikavi C, Miller JH Abstract DNA mismatch repair (MMR) systems can be classified as either MutH-dependent or MutH-independent. In bacteria, extensive studies have been conducted with the MutH-dependent MMR in Escherichia coli and its close relatives. The picture of MutH-independent MMR in other bacteria is less clear, as MMR components other than MutS and MutL have not been identified in the majority of bacteria. Bacillus anthracis is one of the MutH-less Gram(+) bacteria in the phylum of Firmicutes. We used papillation as a tool to search for B. anthracis new mutator strains and identified a spontaneous mutator that carries a minitransposon insertion in the BAS4289 locus. The mutational frequency and specificity exhibited in this mutant were comparable to ...

NrdH Mediates Active B. anthracis Mn-RNR [Microbiology]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In this study, we show that the properties of B. anthracis Mn-NrdF and Fe-NrdF are in general similar for interaction with NrdE and NrdI. Intriguingly, the enzyme activity of Mn-NrdF was approximately an order of magnitude higher than that of Fe-NrdF in the presence of the class Ib-specific physiological reductant NrdH, strongly suggesting that the Mn-NrdF form is important in the life cycle of B. anthracis. Whether the Fe-NrdF form only exists in vitro or whether the NrdF protein in B. anthracis is a true cambialistic enzyme that can work with either manganese or iron remains to be established. (Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry)

Heme Acquisition by the Five-NEAT Hemophore IsdX2 [Microbiology]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Pathogenic bacteria require iron to replicate inside mammalian hosts. Recent studies indicate that heme acquisition in Gram-positive bacteria is mediated by proteins containing one or more near-iron transporter (NEAT) domains. Bacillus anthracis is a spore-forming, Gram-positive pathogen and the causative agent of anthrax disease. The rapid, extensive, and efficient replication of B. anthracis in host tissues makes this pathogen an excellent model organism for the study of bacterial heme acquisition. B. anthracis secretes two NEAT hemophores, IsdX1 and IsdX2. IsdX1 contains a single NEAT domain, whereas IsdX2 has five, a novel property among hemophores. To understand the functional significance of harboring multiple, non-identical NEAT domains, we purified each individual NEAT domain of Is...

Bacillus anthracis Virulence Regulator AtxA: Oligomeric state, function, and CO2‐signaling

Molecular Microbiology — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

SummaryAtxA, a unique regulatory protein of unknown molecular function, positively controls expression of the major virulence genes of Bacillus anthracis. The 475‐amino acid sequence of AtxAreveals DNA‐binding motifs and regions similar to proteins associated with the phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS). We used strains producing native and functional epitope‐tagged AtxA proteins to examine protein‐protein interactions in cell lysates and in solutions of purified protein. Co‐affinity purification, non‐denaturing poly‐acrylamide gel electrophoresis, and bis(maleimido)hexane (BMH) cross‐linking experiments revealed AtxA homo‐multimers. Dimers were the most abundant species.BMH cross‐links available cysteines within 13Å. To localize interactio...

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Persistence of bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki in urban environments following spraying.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

PERSISTENCE OF BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS VAR. KURSTAKI IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS FOLLOWING SPRAYING. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 Sep 16; Authors: Van Cuyk S, Deshpande A, Hollander A, Duval N, Ticknor L, Layshock J, Gallegos-Graves L, Omberg KM Abstract Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) is applied extensively in North America to control the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar. As Btk shares many physical and biological properties with Bacillus anthracis, it is a reasonable surrogate for biodefense studies. A key question in biodefense is how long a biothreat agent will persist in the environment. There is some information in the literature on the persistence of Bacillus anthracis in laboratories and historical testing areas, and for Bacillus thuringiensis in agricultural settin...

Bacillus anthracis virulence regulator AtxA: oligomeric state, function and CO2‐signalling

Molecular Microbiology — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

SummaryAtxA, a unique regulatory protein of unknown molecular function, positively controls expression of the major virulence genes of Bacillus anthracis. The 475 amino acid sequence of AtxA reveals DNA binding motifs and regions similar to proteins associated with the phosphoenolpyruvate: carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS). We used strains producing native and functional epitope‐tagged AtxA proteins to examine protein–protein interactions in cell lysates and in solutions of purified protein. Co‐affinity purification, non‐denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and bis(maleimido)hexane (BMH) cross‐linking experiments revealed AtxA homo‐multimers. Dimers were the most abundant species. BMH cross‐links available cysteines within 13 Å. To localize interaction ...

Novel Anthrax Vaccine and Antitoxin Being Developed with Federal Support

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:39:07 +0100

Source: Dept. of Health and Human Services Related MedlinePlus Pages: Anthrax, Biodefense and Bioterrorism (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

News analysis: Remembering the health IT lessons that followed 9/11

Healthcare IT News — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:20:18 +0100

With the recent 10th anniversary of 9/11, there have been many personal and political remembrances of the events that scarred families and jarred the country that day. Health IT had its own significant events a decade ago, but they began about a week after 9/11 when letters with Anthrax in them were mailed. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News)