Publications

pa63 channel of anthrax toxin: an extended beta-barrel.	anthrax toxin consists of three protein components: protective antigen (pa), lethal factor (lf), and edema factor (ef). pa(63), generated by protease "nicking" of whole pa, is responsible for delivering the toxin's catalytic fragments (lf and ef) to the target cell's cytosol. in planar bilayer membranes, trypsin-nicked pa makes cation-selective voltage-gated channels with a pore diameter of > or =12 a. the channels are presumed to be heptameric "mushrooms", with an extracellular "cap" region and ...	2002	11814336
acog committee opinion number 268, february 2002. management of asymptomatic pregnant or lactating women exposed to anthrax. american college of obstetricians and gynecologists.	anthrax infections are diagnosed by isolating bacillus anthracis from body fluids or by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of persons suspected to have the disease. it is recommended that asymptomatic pregnant and lactating women who have been exposed to a confirmed environmental contamination or a high-risk source as determined by the local department of health (not the women's health care provider) receive prophylactic treatment. a variety of antimicrobial regimens are available. altho ...	2002	11814522
calyculin a sensitive protein phosphatase is required for bacillus anthracis lethal toxin induced cytotoxicity.	previous studies have shown that the bacillus anthracis lethal toxin can induce both necrosis and apoptosis in mouse macrophage-like j774a.1 cells depending on both the toxin concentration and the phosphatase activity. in this study several protein kinase or phosphatase inhibitors were employed to evaluate the hypothesis that the lethal toxin induces cell death via protein phosphorylation processes. pretreatment with a serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor calyculin a (300 nm) could inhibit abo ...	2002	11815854
[bioterrorism: a new problem of public health].		2001	11816235
[the abcs on anthrax for health personnel].	the purpose of this series of articles is to present to health personnel an updated summary on bioterrorism associated agents. in this first article an updated summary on anthrax is presented. emphasis has been placed on the characteristics of cases which occurred during october in the united states of america and on the experience of governmental agencies of that country to face the emergency. measures implemented in mexico are described as well. the authors are convinced that the best arm agai ...	2001	11816237
the mayor, his troops, and the health of a city.		2001	11816774
anthrax. profile of a killer.		2001	11817276
anthrax vaccine: immunogenicity and safety of a dose-reduction, route-change comparison study in humans.	anthrax vaccine adsorbed (ava), an effective countermeasure against anthrax, is administered as six subcutaneous (sq) doses over 18 months. to optimize the vaccination schedule and route of administration, we performed a prospective pilot study comparing the use of fewer ava doses administered intramuscularly (im) or sq with the current schedule and route. we enrolled 173 volunteers, randomized to seven groups, who were given ava once im or sq; two doses, 2 or 4 weeks apart, im or sq; or six dos ...	2002	11818160
anthrax vaccine efficacy in golden syrian hamsters.	the efficacy of a licensed human anthrax vaccine (anthrax vaccine adsorbed, ava) was tested in golden syrian hamsters against a virulent bacillus anthracis spore challenge. groups of golden syrian hamsters were vaccinated at either 0 and 4 weeks or 0, 4 and 8 weeks, then challenged subcutaneously (s.c.) at 10 weeks with spores of various b. anthracis isolates. although elisa and toxin neutralization assays demonstrated high titers, none of the ava-vaccinated hamsters were protected from challeng ...	2002	11818161
inhalational anthrax after bioterrorism exposure: spectrum of imaging findings in two surviving patients.	the radiographic and computed tomographic (ct) findings in two patients with documented inhalational anthrax resulting from bioterrorism exposure are presented. chest radiographs demonstrated mediastinal widening, adenopathy, pleural effusions, and air-space disease. chest ct images revealed enlarged hyperattenuating mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes and edema of mediastinal fat. chest ct findings are helpful for making the initial diagnosis. to the authors' knowledge, the spectrum and follow-up ...	2002	11818592
anthrax: ent manifestations and current concepts.	in light of recent events, anthrax has once again taken center stage in the world of science and the world in which we live. because patients with anthrax may initially present to otolaryngology clinics, it is important for the otolaryngologist to know how to diagnose and treat this entity. this article will present current information on epidemiology, microbiology, pathogenesis/clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment with a particular interest in the head and neck region.	2002	11821758
antibodies for defense against biological attack.		2002	11821846
pinpointing anthrax-toxin inhibitors.		2002	11821849
[anthrax].	anthrax is a serious bacterial infection sustained by bacillus anthracis and occurring in most mammals, especially grazing herbivors, but it can also involve humans when bacterial endospores enter the body through abrasions in the skin or by inhalation or ingestion. human disease results from contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, while there are no known cases of human-to-human transmission. the most common form of human anthrax is the cutaneous infection, usually curabl ...	2001	11822090
anthrax q & a.		2002	11822179
anthrax: what you should know.		2002	11822180
life goes on.		2002	11823095
anthrax. 'borrowed immunity' may save future victims.		2002	11823609
from the centers for disease control and prevention. evaluation of bacillus anthracis contamination inside the brentwood mail processing and distribution center--district of columbia, october 2001.		2002	11824387
[anthrax as biological weapon].		2001	11826774
quickening the pace of anthrax research: three advances point towards possible therapies.	anthrax toxin is the dominant virulence factor of bacillus anthracis and drugs blocking its action could therefore have therapeutic benefit. three recent papers suggest new ways to inhibit the toxin. identification of the cell surface toxin receptor could lead to the design of binding competitors and receptor decoys. determination of the crystal structure of the lethal factor protease will facilitate ongoing efforts to develop protease inhibitors as therapies. finally, the susceptibility of cert ...	2002	11827799
on the front line.		2002	11829170
cutaneous anthrax: a concise review.	with the growing threat of bioterrorism, it has become important for clinicians to recognize the clinical manifestations of diseases spread in this manner. the aim of this article is to provide readers with a complete and detailed understanding of anthrax, with a specific concentration on the cutaneous manifestations and a concentrated review of the treatment and current information known about bacillus anthracis.	2002	11829175
experts focus on infective agents of bioterrorism.		2002	11829676
staying healthy. a public mess.		2002	11833132
staying healthy. playing chicken with our antibiotics. overtreatment is creating dangerously resistent germs.		2002	11833133
our love affair with antibiotics: how will it end?		2002	11833828
biological warfare and bioterrorism.		2002	11834562
structure of two iron-binding proteins from bacillus anthracis.	bacillus anthracis is currently under intense investigation due to its primary importance as a human pathogen. particularly important is the development of novel anti-anthrax vaccines, devoid of the current side effects. a novel class of immunogenic bacterial proteins consists of dodecamers homologous to the dna-binding protein of escherichia coli (dps). two dps homologous genes are present in the b. anthracis genome. the crystal structures of these two proteins (dlp-1 and dlp-2) have been deter ...	2002	11836250
anthrax: a primary care physician's perspective.	anthrax is a disease caused by bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming rod. it is also used as a biological weapon. the primary care physician will be the public's first line of defense in the event of a widespread anthrax exposure and will play a crucial role providing postexposure prophylaxis. understanding the disease process will allow the primary care physician to play an essential role in protecting and educating the public. accurate diagnosis and quick treatment will s ...	2002	11837339
symptoms associated with anthrax exposure: suspected "aborted" anthrax.	anthrax is a naturally occurring organism with a low incidence of infection. there are no known cases of human-to-human transmission. bioterrorism-related anthrax in the united states has been seen in three high-risk groups: (1) postal workers, (2) politicians and their staffs, and (3) the press. it appears as though the bioterrorism-related anthrax cases of fall 2001 have been transmitted through the us postal service. the authors present a case in which a person at high risk for anthrax exposu ...	2002	11837340
from the centers for disease control and prevention. additional options for preventive treatment for exposed persons to inhalational anthrax.		2002	11838446
not every truth is good. the dangers of publishing knowledge about potential bioweapons.		2002	11839688
anthrax: the hunt narrows.		2002	11840859
absence of mycoplasma contamination in the anthrax vaccine.		2002	11840996
anthrax-related panic is more dangerous than the disease.		2002	11841857
protecting against bacillus anthracis.		2002	11842520
a cure for anthrax?		2002	11844555
amino acid- and purine ribonucleoside-induced germination of bacillus anthracis deltasterne endospores: gers mediates responses to aromatic ring structures.	specific combinations of amino acids or purine ribonucleosides and amino acids are required for efficient germination of endospores of bacillus anthracis deltasterne, a plasmidless strain, at ligand concentrations in the low-micromolar range. the amino acid l-alanine was the only independent germinant in b. anthracis and then only at concentrations of >10 mm. inosine and l-alanine both play major roles as cogerminants with several other amino acids acting as efficient cogerminants (his, pro, trp ...	2002	11844758
war against anthrax.		2001	11844866
bioterrorism update: "maintain a high index of suspicion".		2002	11845657
anthrax: safe treatment for children.	information regarding the treatment of anthrax infection is scarce in adults and is even more limited in children. children, however, may be at a greater risk for developing an infection and systemic disease if exposed to anthrax than adults. the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) recommends the use of doxycycline or ciprofloxacin for prophylaxis and treatment in children. doxycycline currently is not indicated for use in children < 8 years old, due to staining of teeth and inhibit ...	2002	11847958
[anthrax as biological weapon and hospital infection control routines].		2002	11851275
fatal inhalational anthrax with unknown source of exposure in a 61-year-old woman in new york city.	a 61-year-old woman who was a new york city hospital employee developed fatal inhalational anthrax, but with an unknown source of anthrax exposure. the patient presented with shortness of breath, malaise, and cough that had developed 3 days prior to admission. within hours of presentation, she developed respiratory failure and septic shock and required mechanical ventilation and vasopressor therapy. spiral contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest demonstrated large bilateral pleural ef ...	2002	11851577
fatal inhalational anthrax in a 94-year-old connecticut woman.	we describe the 11th case of bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax reported in the united states. the presenting clinical features of this 94-year-old woman were subtle and nondistinctive. the diagnosis was recognized because blood cultures were obtained prior to administration of antibiotics, emphasizing the importance of this diagnostic test in evaluating ill patients who have been exposed to bacillus anthracis. the patient's clinical course was characterized by progression of respiratory ...	2002	11851578
cutaneous anthrax associated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and coagulopathy in a 7-month-old infant.	a 7-month-old infant with cutaneous anthrax developed severe systemic illness despite early treatment with antibiotics. the infant displayed severe microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with renal involvement, coagulopathy, and hyponatremia. these findings are unusual with cutaneous anthrax, but have been described in illness resulting from spider toxin and may delay correct diagnosis. the systemic manifestations of the disease persisted for nearly a month despite corticosteroid therapy, but resolve ...	2002	11851579
bioterrorism preparedness and response: clinicians and public health agencies as essential partners.		2002	11851584
[human anthrax outbreak due to cow anthrax in iwate prefecture].		2002	11852469
anthrax and other microbial threats.		2001	11852629
vaccines for adults in an age of terrorism.	vaccines are an effective, safe, and relatively inexpensive means of preventing infection; thus, they are important tools for fighting biological terrorism. two diseases, anthrax and smallpox, for which vaccines are not available to the general public are discussed. three other vaccines--tetanus toxoid, influenza vaccine, and hepatitis b vaccine--generally recommended for adults, may be in short supply as a result of recent acts of terrorism.	2002	11852666
bioterrorism: a primer for 2002.	the often anticipated, sometimes dismissed, threat of biological terrorism became a reality in the united states in the fall of 2001 with cases of cutaneous and inhalation anthrax. as the public health sector is rapidly focusing on enhancing awareness and preparedness, this overview is intended as a primer for clinicians. the more probable events, their most prominent characteristics, and currently available management strategies are summarized. the biowarfare characteristics of plague, tularemi ...	2002	11852669
biological warfare: implications for antimicrobial use.	biological warfare is intended to incapacitate a large number of individuals at a single exposure, creating epidemic-type disease, death, and social chaos. the organisms with potential for immediate use as bacteriologic weapons are bacillus anthracis, brucella melitensis, yersinia pestis, and vibrio cholera, all necessitating antibiotic therapy for a cure. it is reasonable, therefore, to assume that a biological attack, or even a hoax, would requiure thousands of individuals over a large area to ...	2002	11853654
risk of deliberately induced anthrax outbreak.		2002	11853840
a recombinant carboxy-terminal domain of the protective antigen of bacillus anthracis protects mice against anthrax infection.	the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of overlapping regions of the protective antigen (pa) polypeptide, cloned and expressed as glutathione s-transferase fusion proteins, have been assessed. results show that protection can be attributed to individual domains and imply that it is domain 4 which contains the dominant protective epitopes of pa.	2002	11854261
[role of hormonal factors in pulmonary angiopathy development during anthrax-silicosis].	the article represents results of radionuclide study of hormonal levels and pulmonary microcirculation in anthracosilicosis. the authors discuss mechanisms underlying influence of vasoactive hormones on pulmonary microcirculation. the authors revealed relationships between hormonal and vascular disorders in anthracosilicosis.	2002	11855301
from the centers of disease control and prevention. evaluation of postexposure antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent anthrax.		2002	11855386
attacking anthrax.		2002	11857900
response to bioterrorism. us anthrax incidents led to scares in scotland.		2002	11858179
response to bioterrorism. screening for agents of bioterrorism increases terror.		2002	11858180
response to bioterrorism. anthrax issue underlines need for infection specialists trained at bedside.		2002	11858182
uncoupling of the cholera toxin-g(m1) ganglioside receptor complex from endocytosis, retrograde golgi trafficking, and downstream signal transduction by depletion of membrane cholesterol.	to induce toxicity, cholera toxin (ct) must first bind ganglioside g(m1) at the plasma membrane, enter the cell by endocytosis, and then traffic retrograde into the endoplasmic reticulum. we recently proposed that g(m1) provides the sorting motif necessary for retrograde trafficking into the biosynthetic/secretory pathway of host cells, and that such trafficking depends on association with lipid rafts and lipid raft function. to test this idea, we examined whether ct action in human intestinal t ...	2002	11859071
microbial genomics. tigr begins assault on the anthrax genome.		2002	11859162
analytical chemistry. new test could speed bioweapon detection.		2002	11859167
public health. is safe mail worth the price?		2002	11859178
array-based electrical detection of dna with nanoparticle probes.	a dna array detection method is reported in which the binding of oligonucleotides functionalized with gold nanoparticles leads to conductivity changes associated with target-probe binding events. the binding events localize gold nanoparticles in an electrode gap; silver deposition facilitated by these nanoparticles bridges the gap and leads to readily measurable conductivity changes. an unusual salt concentration-dependent hybridization behavior associated with these nanoparticle probes was expl ...	2002	11859188
the microbiology laboratory's role in response to bioterrorism.	bioterrorism has existed since before the 14th century; however, the specter of such an attack is much greater today than ever before. technical expertise in microbiology and molecular testing, combined with the rapidity of worldwide air travel, has ensured that no geographic area would be untouched in a widespread attack. clinical microbiology laboratories will play a pivotal role in the detection of attacks involving weapons of mass destruction.	2002	11860302
traditions, anthrax, and children.	anthrax is sporadically seen in turkey, especially among people who live in rural areas and who come in contact with animals. two siblings with cutaneous anthrax are described in this report. a week before their admission to the hospital, contaminated cow's blood was smeared on their foreheads as part of a traditional ritual. both children were successfully treated with crystalline penicillin. in developing countries, traditions such as blood smearing may be an important factor in the transmissi ...	2002	11860568
the space race and biodefense: lessons from nasa about big science and the role of medical informatics.	the events that followed the launch of sputnik on oct 4, 1957, provide a metaphor for the events that are following the first bioterroristic case of pulmonary anthrax in the united states. this paper uses that metaphor to elucidate the nature of the task ahead and to suggest questions such as, can the goals of the biodefense effort be formulated as concisely and concretely as the goal of the space program? can we measure success in biodefense as we did for the space project? what are the existin ...	2002	11861624
anthrax vaccine offered, but not recommended, as option to treat infection.		2002	11862627
desktop boost to anthrax studies.		2002	11864578
evaluation of inhalational anthrax.		2002	11866635
evaluation of inhalational anthrax.		2002	11866636
apoptosis and melanogenesis in human melanoma cells induced by anthrax lethal factor inactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase.	lethal factor, the principal virulence factor of bacillus anthracis, inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase (mapk) signaling by proteolytically cleaving mapk kinases. edema factor, another component of anthrax toxin, is an adenylate cyclase, which increases intracellular camp. inhibition of mapk signaling with either anthrax lethal toxin (letx) or small molecule mapk kinase inhibitors triggers apoptosis in human melanoma cells. normal melanocytes do not undergo apoptosis in response to mapk i ...	2002	11867750
anthrax attack in the usa.		2001	11871791
bush moves to tighten security around scientific research.		2002	11872544
the agenda shifts to health care protection.		2002	11873441
bacillus anthracis infection in irradiated mice: susceptibility, protection, and therapy.		2002	11873486
nuclear, biological, and chemical combined injuries and countermeasures on the battlefield.	the armed forces radiobiological research institute (afrri) has developed a research program to determine the major health risks from exposure to ionizing radiation in combination with biological and chemical warfare agents and to assess the extent to which exposure to ionizing radiation compromises the effectiveness of protective drugs, vaccines, and other biological and chemical warfare prophylactic and treatment strategies. afrri's defense technology objective md22 supports the development of ...	2002	11873528
patient safety alert. anthrax outbreak forces closer focus on patient safety.		2002	11873646
anthrax meningitis: case report and review.	we report a case of meningitis caused by bacillus anthracis. although this agent appears to be a rare pathogen, it should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of haemorrhagic meningitis cases owing to the high mortality rate associated with it.	2002	11874170
emergency preparedness: the world trade center and singapore airline disasters.		2002	11874787
bioterrorism becomes one of the hottest us research fields.		2002	11875468
man bites dog.		2002	11875510
anthrax.	anthrax is caused by bacillus anthracis, an encapulated and spore-forming bacillus. the disease is usually contracted through uptake of spores that remain viable in the contaminated soil for many years. anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivorous animals and is uncommon in humans who may get the infection through contact with contaminated animals or their products. anthrax spores germinate after entering the body through skin abrasions (cutaneous anthrax) or by inhalation (inhalation anthrax) ...	2002	11876121
anthrax inhalation and lethal human infection.		2002	11879895
anthrax inhalation and lethal human infection.		2002	11879896
bioterrorism and physicians.		2002	11881175
[the anthrax bacterium--a biological masterpiece with deadly potential].		2002	11881219
patient information sheet: anthrax.		2002	11883057
distinguishing influenza-like illness from inhalational anthrax.		2002	11883060
prevention of inhalational anthrax in the u.s. outbreak.		2002	11884746
responding to anthrax.		2001	11885187
from the centers for disease control. status of us department of defense preliminary evaluation of the association of anthrax vaccination and congenital anomalies.		2002	11885583
the incompatibility between the plcr- and atxa-controlled regulons may have selected a nonsense mutation in bacillus anthracis.	bacillus anthracis, bacillus thuringiensis and bacillus cereus are members of the bacillus cereus group. these bacteria express virulence in diverse ways in mammals and insects. the pathogenic properties of b. cereus and b. thuringiensis in mammals results largely from the secretion of non-specific toxins, including haemolysins, the production of which depends upon a pleiotropic activator plcr. in b. anthracis, plcr is inactive because of a nonsense mutation in the plcr gene. this suggests that ...	2001	11886551
genetic relationships of bacillus anthracis and closely related species based on variable-number tandem repeat analysis and box-pcr genomic fingerprinting.	variable-number tandem repeats (vntr) analysis and box-repeat-based pcr (box-pcr) genomic fingerprinting were performed on 25 bacillus strains to investigate the genetic relatedness of bacillus anthracis to the closely related species. based on vntr analysis, all b. anthracis strains could be assigned to (vntr)(4), which is the most commonly found type in the world. interestingly, a (vntr)(2) was also observed in bacillus cereus kctc 1661 and with an exact match to the tandem repeats found in b. ...	2002	11886745
the plain lawyer's guide to bioterrorism.		2001	11887760
cdc chief koplan quits "the best job in public health".		2002	11888602
homeopathy and infectious disease: controversies raised by the recent foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax outbreaks.		2002	11890431
discovery of the anthrax toxin: the beginning of studies of virulence determinants regulated in vivo.	anthrax kills many animal species. it was used to prove koch's postulates in 1876. soon after that the classical bacterial toxins were produced in vitro, but up to 1950, a lethal toxin had not been demonstrated in either anthrax bacilli or filtrates from laboratory cultures. the cause of death had been an enigma for seventy years. during the 1950's, a toxin was recognized by examining bacteria and their products obtained from guinea pigs dying of anthrax. the toxin was found in their plasma and ...	2002	11890538
tnf receptor 1, il-1 receptor, and inos genetic knockout mice are not protected from anthrax infection.	anthrax produces at least two toxins that cause an intense systemic inflammatory response, edema, shock, and eventually death. the relative contributions of various elements of the immune response to mortality and course of disease progression are poorly understood. we hypothesized that knockout mice missing components of the immune system will have an altered response to infection. parent strain mice and knockouts were challenged with ld95 of anthrax spores (5 x 10(6)) administered subcutaneous ...	2002	11890668