Publications

the probability of severe disease in zoonotic and commensal infections.	cross-species transfers of pathogens (zoonoses) cause some of the most virulent diseases, including anthrax, hantavirus and q fever. zoonotic infections occur when a pathogen moves from its reservoir host species into a secondary host species. similarly, commensal infections often have a primary reservoir location within their hosts' bodies from which they rarely cause disease symptoms, but commensals such as neisseria meningitidis cause severe disease when they cross into a different body compa ...	2001	12123298
problem of timely diagnosis in anthrax meningitis.	anthrax continues to remain a problem in parts of india. meningitis is often a complication encountered among cases with cutaneous anthrax. we have encountered a dozen cases of anthrax meningitis in our hosptal in the past decade. a sudden unexplained rise in cases in the past two years with hundred percent mortality stresses the need for rapid confirmatory diagnosis. most of the cases admitted with central nervous system involvement had a provisional diagnosis of conditions other than anthrax m ...	2002	12126347
co-immunisation with a plasmid dna cocktail primes mice against anthrax and plague.	the protective antigen (pa) of bacillus anthracis and the v antigen of yersinia pestis are potent immunogens and candidate vaccine sub-units. when plasmid dna encoding either pa or v antigen was used to immunise the balb/c mouse, a low serum igg titre was detected (log (10)1.0 or less) which was slightly increased by boosting with plasmid dna. however, when mice immunised with plasmid dna were later boosted with the respective recombinant protein, a significant increase in titre (up to 100-fold) ...	2002	12126905
antibodies to squalene in recipients of anthrax vaccine.	we previously reported that antibodies to squalene, an experimental vaccine adjuvant, are present in persons with symptoms consistent with gulf war syndrome (gws) (p. b. asa et al., exp. mol. pathol 68, 196-197, 2000). the united states department of defense initiated the anthrax vaccine immunization program (avip) in 1997 to immunize 2.4 million military personnel. because adverse reactions in vaccinated personnel were similar to symptoms of gws, we tested avip participants for anti-squalene an ...	2002	12127050
bacillus anthracis as an agent of bioterrorism: a review emphasizing surgical treatment.	to familiarize surgeons with the specific complications of cutaneous, gastrointestinal, inhalation, and systemic infection with bacillus anthracis, which may require surgical treatment.	2002	12131080
child safety. a perspective on bioterrorism.		2002	12132419
effect of the lower molecular capsule released from the cell surface of bacillus anthracis on the pathogenesis of anthrax.	bacillus anthracis enters the body as an endospore, and encapsulation and toxin production occur after germination. capsule is proposed to be an antiphagocytic factor, and toxin induces cytokine production for systemic shock. the dep gene, adjacent to the cap region for the encapsulation, degrades the high-molecular weight capsule (h-capsule) to the lower-molecular weight capsule (l-capsule), which releases into the culture supernatant. this study analyzed the biological function of the cap-dep ...	2002	12134259
more on anthrax exposure case report.		2002	12138949
screening inhibitors of anthrax lethal factor.	the disease anthrax is caused by lethal factor, an enzyme component of the toxin produced by the spore-forming bacterium bacillus anthracis. here we describe substrate molecules for this factor that offer a means for high-throughput screening of potential inhibitors for use in anthrax treatment. our assay should help to answer the urgent call for new and specific therapies to combat this pathogen after its recent emergence as a terrorist bioweapon.	2002	12140548
[anthrax in hungary in the first half of the 19th century].		2002	12140864
[problem of bioterrorism under modern conditions].	it is practically impossible to discuss the problem of bioterrorism (bt) and to develop effective programs of decreasing the losses and expenses suffered by the society from the bt acts without evaluation of the threat and prognosis of consequences based on research and empiric data. stained international situation following the act of terrorism (attack on the usa) on september 11, 2001, makes the scenarios of the bacterial weapon use (the causative agents of plague, smallpox, anthrax, etc.) by ...	2002	12141033
from the centers for disease control and prevention. public health dispatch: update: cutaneous anthrax in a laboratory worker-texas, 2002.		2002	12141318
peptide toxins directed at the matrix dissolution systems of cancer cells.	growth and spread of tumors requires a variety of membrane and extracellular proteases to modify membrane integrins, dissolve the surrounding matrix and release critical growth factors from both the tumor cell surface and surrounding structures. the two major protease systems involved in this process are the matrix metalloproteases and the serine proteases. genes and gene products for both protease systems are overexpressed in a variety of neoplasms. thus, these enzymes serve as excellent target ...	2002	12141918
passive antibody administration (immediate immunity) as a specific defense against biological weapons.	the potential threat of biological warfare with a specific agent is proportional to the susceptibility of the population to that agent. preventing disease after exposure to a biological agent is partially a function of the immunity of the exposed individual. the only available countermeasure that can provide immediate immunity against a biological agent is passive antibody. unlike vaccines, which require time to induce protective immunity and depend on the host's ability to mount an immune respo ...	2002	12141970
age as a risk factor for cutaneous human anthrax: evidence from haiti, 1973-1974.		2002	12141982
bioterriorism: from threat to reality.	the fears and predictions of attacks with biological weapons, which were increasing at the close of the twentieth century, were transformed into reality not long after september 11, 2001, when several anthrax-laden letters were sent through the u.s. postal system. the attack challenged our medical preparedness and scientific understanding of the epidemiology of biothreat agents. it is fortunate that this was not a massive aerosol release that could have exposed hundreds of thousands. rapid diagn ...	2002	12142472
cutaneous anthrax of the hand and its reconstruction with a reverse-flow radial forearm flap.	bacillus anthracis infection can lead to necrosis in tissues and may manifest as a fatal disease in human beings. the authors present a patient with a large area of skin necrosis on the dorsum of the hand that was reconstructed with a reverse flow-through radial forearm flap, and they discuss the relevant literature. to the authors' knowledge, this is the first published report of such extensive necrosis resulting from anthrax limited to the extensor retinaculum of the hand.	2002	12142604
anthrax toxin characterization.	the anthrax toxin comprises three proteins. when they work together, they can kill humans, especially after spores of the bacteria have been inhaled. one anthrax protein, called protective antigen (pa), chaperones the two other toxins into human or animal cells and shields them from the body's immune system. the second, lethal factor (lf), destroys the white blood cells that hosts send in defence. the third toxin molecule, edema factor (ef), hijacks the signaling system in the body. this disrupt ...	2002	12143109
[the belle and the bete: diary of a disease].	from the diary of the shooting of la belle et la bête, the author studies the skin disease from which jean cocteau had to suffer, and the various treatments which were proposed to him.	2002	12143846
the impact of anthrax attacks on the american public.	incidents involving anthrax (bacillus anthracis) through the mail in 4 metropolitan areas have raised concerns about the public's response nationally and locally.	2002	12145561
a cutaneous sore with black eschar in a cowhide worker.		2002	12147375
detection of bacillus anthracis dna by lightcycler pcr.	anthrax is a zoonotic disease that is also well recognized as a potential agent of bioterrorism. routine culture and biochemical testing methods are useful for the identification of bacillus anthracis, but a definitive identification may take 24 to 48 h or longer and may require that specimens be referred to another laboratory. virulent isolates of b. anthracis contain two plasmids (px01 and px02) with unique targets that allow the rapid and specific identification of b. anthracis by pcr. we dev ...	2002	12149348
large-scale screening of nasal swabs for bacillus anthracis: descriptive summary and discussion of the national institutes of health's experience.	in october 2001, a letter containing a large number of anthrax spores was sent through the brentwood post office in washington, d.c., to a united states senate office on capitol hill, resulting in contamination in both places. several thousand people who worked at these sites were screened for spore exposure by collecting nasal swab samples. we describe here a screening protocol which we, as a level a laboratory, used on very short notice to process a large number of specimens (3,936 swabs) in o ...	2002	12149367
hacking your way through the jungle.		2002	12149799
management of asymptomatic pregnant or lactating women exposed to anthrax.	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	12150144
trends in drug prescriptions among elderly residents of ontario in the weeks after september 11, 2001.		2002	12150668
issues in preparedness for biologic terrorism: a perspective for critical care nursing.	although the use of microorganisms as weapons is as old a practice as war itself, the sense of our collective vulnerability to these agents has seldom been as great. the events of late 2001 demonstrated that the united states is vulnerable to terrorist attack carried out by highly motivated, organized, funded, and trained individuals. it is our collective good fortune that the perpetrator of the anthrax mailings was not bent on destruction of the scale witnessed on september 11, 2001. because ac ...	2002	12151997
[species of the bacillus strain: macroscopic and microscopic morphology].	between october 2001 and january 2002, the microbiology group of the instituto nacional de salud processed 705 envelopes under suspicion of harboring anthrax spores. we present photographs of cultures and slides prepared from them of bacillus species to be used as reference material for the accurate macroscopic and microscopic identification of the agent found in samples.	2002	12152475
observations and comments on the september 11 attacks on the united states, an african american physician's perspective.		2002	12152931
cutaneous anthrax in turkey: a review of 32 cases.	anthrax, caused by the gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium bacillus anthracis, is rarely seen in industrialized nations but is common in developing countries. cutaneous anthrax accounts for 95% of cases and usually develops on exposed sites. this study reviews the clinical and laboratory findings of 32 patients diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax over a 4-y period in the eastern part of turkey. all patients had a history of direct contact with infected animals. the patients, aged 6-7 ...	2002	12160166
searching for clues.		2002	12160625
bioterrorism. student charged with possessing anthrax.		2002	12161620
three-dimensional structure and molecular mechanism of novel enzymes of spore-forming bacteria.	bacillus and clostridium species are spore-forming bacilli that cause serious diseases in livestock and in humans. an important pathogen in this group of organisms is bacillus anthracis is which is the causative agent of anthrax. the biochemical properties, structure, function, and mechanism of catalysis of the novel spore germination protease (gpr) that degrades small, acid soluble proteins (sasp) protecting spore's dna against damage and a novel, cofactor independent phosphoglycerate mutase (i ...	2002	12165756
deleterious effects of electron beam radiation on allergen extracts.	the recent threat to the public posed by the dissemination of bacillus anthracis through the us postal system has resulted in increased security measures, including electron beam irradiation for the sterilization of some mail. the deleterious effects of electron beam radiation on biological products are not fully understood.	2002	12170260
[tetracyclines and ciprofloxacin as treatment for children and pregnant or lactating women in the era of biological terror].	many forms of bacteria, such as anthrax, can be used as biological weapons. according to the cdc guidelines, ciprofloxacin or doxycycline is recommended for antimicrobial prophylaxis against anthrax for 60 days. since october 8, approximately 32,000 persons with potential exposure to anthrax have initiated antimicrobial prophylaxis, mainly with ciprofloxacin. children and pregnant and lactating women are likely to be among the increasing number of persons receiving ciprofloxacin or doxycycline a ...	2002	12170543
[bioterrorism].	the terror attacks of the september 11, 2001 in the u.s.a followed by the proliferation of anthrax using mail in some us cities and abroad, demonstrated the complex, devastating and harmful nature of terror activity. the use of weapons of mass destruction (wmd) in terrorist activities is a reality as is the use of biological weapons (bw) in bioterrorism. cyberterrorism is another form of non-conventional terrorism. the health care system throughout all its different components and layers--public ...	2002	12170546
[national preparedness for biological mass casualty event: between the devil and the deep blue sea].	species of plants and animals, as well as nations of human beings were extinguished throughout the prehistory and history of this planet. one of the possible explanations for this phenomenon is a large scale epidemic of viral, bacterial or fungal infections. one well-documented example was the smallpox epidemic among native indians of south america following the european invasion. deliberate dissemination of disease was used as a weapon during the middle ages when corpses of plague casualties we ...	2002	12170548
[characteristics of anthrax: its description and biblical name--shehin].	the illness known as anthrax is very rare in the west. in developing countries relatively significant numbers of cases are found, particularly in animals. however, biological terrorist acts could cause it to spread. in hebrew, the illness is now called gahelet or gameret. the purpose of this paper is to examine whether the illness is described in the bible, and if so, to present that description and provide a broader survey of the features of this illness. the word gahelet appears in the bible, ...	2002	12170553
[anthrax--an overview at 2002].	background: bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is well known in human history as a major cause of disease in domestic and wild animals and as a rare condition in humans. for the last seventy years, anthrax was developed and occasionally stored as an agent of biological weapon arsenal in numerous countries. the incubation period in humans is 1-6 days and the disease may be present as three distinct clinical syndromes: cutaneous, inhalational, and gastrointestinal disease. the maj ...	2002	12170557
hypersensitivity pneumonitis following anthrax vaccination.	a case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (hp) following anthrax vaccination is described. the patient is a 39-year-old, previously healthy man on active duty in the us marine corps, in whom a urticaral skin rash and progressive dyspnea on exertion developed following subcutaneous anthrax vaccination. a diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia was made from transbronchial lung biopsy samples after evaluation excluded multiple infectious and collagen vascular etiologies. this ...	2002	12171861
characterization of a repetitive element polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction chromosomal marker that discriminates bacillus anthracis from related species.	to identify a chromosomal marker with signature nucleotides specific for bacillus anthracis.	2002	12174044
clostridium perfringens iota toxin: characterization of the cell-associated iota b complex.	clostridium perfringens type e iota toxin consists of two unlinked proteins designated as iota a (ia; molecular mass approximately 47 kda), an adp-ribosyltransferase and iota b (ib; molecular mass approximately 81 kda) which binds to the cell surface and facilitates ia entry into the cytosol. by western-blot analysis, ib incubated with vero cells at 37 degrees c generated a cell-associated, sds-insoluble oligomer of ib (molecular mass>220 kda) within 15 s, which was still evident 110 min after w ...	2002	12175336
dna complexed structure of the key transcription factor initiating development in sporulating bacteria.	sporulation in bacillus species, the ultimate bacterial adaptive response, requires the precisely coordinated expression of a complex genetic pathway, and is initiated through the accumulation of the phosphorylated form of spo0a, a pleiotropic response regulator transcription factor. spo0a controls the transcription of several hundred genes in all spore-forming bacilli including genes for sporulation and toxin regulation in pathogens such as bacillus anthracis. the crystal structure of the effec ...	2002	12176382
medusa's head in bloody csf.		2002	12177359
anthrax meningoencephalitis.	to review reported cases of anthrax meningoencephalitis and describe the clinical findings, diagnostic test results, treatment, and outcome over the past 50 years.	2002	12177364
ciprofloxacin: a warning for clinicians.		2002	12181866
anthrax edema toxin requires influx of calcium for inducing cyclic amp toxicity in target cells.	the anthrax edema toxin comprises two proteins: protective antigen and edema factor. anthrax protective antigen binds to the receptors on the surface of target cells and facilitates the entry of edema factor into these target cells. edema factor (ef) is an adenylate cyclase that catalyzes the synthesis of cyclic amp (camp) in the cytosol of the host cells. in this study, we examined the requirement of extracellular calcium for anthrax edema toxin-induced toxicity in host cells. the camp response ...	2002	12183546
biodefense. peering into the shadows: iraq's bioweapons program.		2002	12183606
aluminum-containing vaccine associated adverse events: role of route of administration and gender.	anthrax vaccine, adsorbed (ava) is a vaccine containing aluminum hydroxide that is administered as six subcutaneous (s.q.) doses over 18 months. it is the only aluminum hydroxide licensed for s.q. administration. to optimize the vaccination schedule and route of administration, a prospective pilot study comparing the use of fewer doses administered intramuscularly (i.m.) as well as s.q. with the licensed schedule and route was performed. data from that study on injection site reactions were extr ...	2002	12184365
denaturing hplc for identifying bacteria.	denaturing hplc (dhplc) is used in a wide variety of genetic applications. here we introduce a new application for this technique, the identification of bacteria. we combined the capability of dhplc to detect sequence variation with the principles of rrna genotyping analysis to develop a high-throughput method of identifying microorganisms. thirty-nine bacterial species from a broad spectrum of genera were tested to determine if dhplc could be usedfor identification. most (36 of 39) species of b ...	2002	12188191
contaminants in feed for food-producing animals.	outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (bse) and food borne microbial infections, dioxin contaminated animal products, the presence of veterinary drug residues, microbial resistance to antibiotics, mycotoxins, agricultural and industrial chemicals, etc. are serious concerns for the food industry in many countries. since the direct links between feed safety and safety of foods of animal origin are obvious, feed production and manufacture should be considered as an integral part of the food ...	2002	12189948
anthrax case provokes doubt among experts.		2002	12192379
virus deals anthrax a killer blow.		2002	12192391
a bacteriolytic agent that detects and kills bacillus anthracis.	the dormant and durable spore form of bacillus anthracis is an ideal biological weapon of mass destruction. once inhaled, spores are transported by alveolar macrophages to lymph nodes surrounding the lungs, where they germinate; subsequent vegetative expansion causes an overwhelming flood of bacteria and toxins into the blood, killing up to 99% of untreated victims. natural and genetically engineered antibiotic-resistant bacilli amplify the threat of spores being used as weapons, and heighten th ...	2002	12192412
profile: barbara hatch rosenberg. unconventional detective bears down on a killer.		2002	12193766
anthrax.		2002	12194458
amplification of irrelevant sequence from bacillus subtilis using a primer set designed for detection of the pag gene of bacillus anthracis.		2002	12195055
leutech.	leutech is a sterile, lyophilised kit-packaged diagnostic system containing murine anti-cd15 igm monoclonal antibody proprietary radiolabelled with technetium 99m ((99m) tc) for infection imaging. after intravenous injection of leutech, diagnostic imaging can be obtained within 1h with conventional planar gamma camera techniques. leutech binds to neutrophils in vivo at the infection site. leutech is a fast (1h to obtain image), convenient (one-step injection), safe, effective (bright, clear imag ...	2002	12196046
[biological security confronting bioterrorism].	a review is made on biosecurity at both local and global level in relationship with bioterrorism as a real threat and its control and prevention. the function of the network of high security laboratories around the world able to make immediate diagnosis, research on vaccines, fundamental and urgent epidemiological studies, conform a steady basis to control natural infections and also the possible bioterrorism attacks.	2002	12197209
informed consent in the military: fighting a losing battle against the anthrax vaccine.		2002	12197468
inhalation of anthrax: gross autopsy findings.		2002	12197510
bioterrorism: how serious is the threat?		2002	12197866
bacillus anthracis and antibacterial agents.	anthrax is one of the oldest threats to humankind, and remains endemic in animals in many parts of the world. human cases are infrequent, and some result from biological warfare. this review summarizes the current knowledge on the antibacterial activity of available antibiotics. for potential use in the most severe cases of anthrax, antibacterials need to exhibit potent in vitro activity, intracellular bioactivity, and suitable locations in lymph nodes. in animal models, it has been shown that d ...	2002	12197869
anthrax in europe: its epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and role in bioterrorism.	in the 2001 bioterrorist attack in the united states, in which at least 22 cases of anthrax occurred, there was initial uncertainty as to whether the index case was acquired from natural sources, and many of the additional cases posed diagnostic challenges to clinicians unfamiliar with the disease. the existence in europe of terrorist groups with demonstrated violent tendencies suggests europe is not immune to bioterrorist attack, and the same epidemiological and clinical confusion could happen ...	2002	12197870
anthrax, tularemia, plague, ebola or smallpox as agents of bioterrorism: recognition in the emergency room.	bioterrorism has become a potential diagnostic consideration in infectious diseases. this article reviews the clinical presentation and differential diagnosis of potential bioterrorist agents when first presenting to the hospital in the emergency room setting. the characteristic clinical features of inhalation anthrax, tularemic pneumonia, plague pneumonia, including laboratory and radiographic finding, are discussed. ebola vieus and smallpox are also discussed as potential bioterrorist-transmit ...	2002	12197871
a procedure for differentiating between the intentional release of biological warfare agents and natural outbreaks of disease: its use in analyzing the tularemia outbreak in kosovo in 1999 and 2000.	the events of 11 september and the subsequent anthrax outbreaks in the usa have opened the world's eyes to the threat posed by terrorist groups, criminal organizations and lone operators who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. the open or covert use of pathogens and toxins as biological warfare agents can no longer be ruled out. against this background, the appearance of an unusual disease must be studied in order to clarify whether it is a natural or artificially caused occurrence. thi ...	2002	12197873
biological weapons and bioterrorism preparedness: importance of public-health awareness and international cooperation.	biological weapons and biological terrorism have recently come into focus due to the deliberate release of bacillus anthracis via mail delivered in the usa. since the 1930s, biological weapons have been developed in a number of countries. in 1975, the biological and toxin weapons convention entered into force; this prohibits the use of these weapons and has been signed by a large majority of countries (144). unfortunately, several countries failed to respect this treaty. the soviet union continu ...	2002	12197874
problems associated with potential massive use of antimicrobial agents as prophylaxis or therapy of a bioterrorist attack.	in addition to the direct sanitary damage of a terrorist attack caused by biological weapons, the consequences of the massive stockpiling and consumption of antimicrobial agents in order to treat or prevent the disease under a potential epidemic due to pathogenic bacteria must also be considered. bacillus anthracis, francisella tularensis and yersinia pestis are the bacteria most likely to be used as terrorist weapons. tetracyclines, quinolones and aminoglycoside are the antibiotics of choice ag ...	2002	12197876
[in vitro selection and affinity function of the aptamers to bacillus anthracis spores by selex].	to obtain oligonucleotide aptamers, specifically binding to bacillus anthracis spores, and to find the relationship between the structures and the affinities, and to determine whether the aptamers can be used as a novel molecule for spore detection, a synthetic 35 mer random dna library was subjected to 18 rounds of selection by using selex (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) protocol against spores of bacillus anthracis vaccine strain a. 16r. the selected aptamers were c ...	2002	12198569
bacteria as agents of biowarfare. how to proceed when the worst is suspected.	recognition of an increasing incidence of uncommon pneumonias with a high mortality rate, clusters of cases, or a high incidence of pet illnesses or death should alert medical personnel to the possibility of terrorism with bacteriologic agents. prompt reporting of such unusual occurrences to the local health department is of paramount importance for early identification of cases, treatment initiation, and institution of preventive measures.	2002	12198754
cutaneous anthrax: an endemic outbreak in south india.	although human anthrax has become rare, endemic outbreaks still occur in tropical countries, parts of south america and europe. we report 23 cases of cutaneous anthrax due to an endemic outbreak of animal and human anthrax in south india. these patients were admitted to our hospital between july 1998 and july 2001. children outnumbered adults and most of them had lesions on the exposed sites. the majority of patients reported the death of infected animals in the neighbourhood without any direct ...	2002	12200984
a short history of biological warfare.	biological weapons have been used in war from the start of recorded history. this article reviews the history of the subject, including the outbreak of the black death and the use of smallpox against american indians. the new science of microbiology was misused from soon after its start and, despite the 1925 geneva protocol, the japanese experimented extensively on prisoners in china. the allies carried out extensive research during the second world war, notably the united kingdom into anthrax o ...	2002	12201085
macrophage apoptosis by anthrax lethal factor through p38 map kinase inhibition.	the bacterium bacillus anthracis causes the death of macrophages, which may allow it to avoid detection by the innate immune system. we found that b. anthracis lethal factor (lf) selectively induces apoptosis of activated macrophages by cleaving the amino-terminal extension of mitogen-activated protein kinase (mapk) kinases (mkks) that activate p38 mapks. because macrophages that are deficient in transcription factor nuclear factor kappab (nf-kappab) are also sensitive to activation-induced deat ...	2002	12202685
rapid and sensitive identification of pathogenic and apathogenic bacillus anthracis by real-time pcr.	bacillus anthracis spores have been shown to be an efficient biological weapon and their recent use in bioterrorist attacks has demonstrated the need for rapid and specific diagnostics. a taqman real-time pcr for identification of b. anthracis was developed, based on the two plasmids, px01 and px02, both of which are necessary for pathogenicity, as well as on the chromosomally encoded rpob gene. bacteria picked from colonies or pelleted from liquid cultures were directly inoculated into the pcr ...	2002	12204372
decisions to be made on biologically 'sensitive' research.		2002	12205434
bioterrorism--a review.	with the turn of the new millennium, a new kind of warfare has evolved--bioterrorism. after the september 11, 2001 attacks on the world trade center, every country in the world is now living under the shadow of an unknown yet deadly enemy--biological weapons. every individual has suddenly become very vulnerable to this new weapon, which can strike anybody at any time without any warning. it is, therefore, important that we take a close look at this new weapon, so that we can take appropriate mea ...	2002	12206342
gln277 and phe554 residues are involved in thermal inactivation of protective antigen of bacillus anthracis.	protective antigen (pa) is the main component of all the vaccines against anthrax. the currently available vaccines have traces of other proteins that contribute to its reactogenicity. thus, purified pa is recommended for human vaccination. pa loses its biological activity within 48h at 37 degrees c and its thermolability has been a cause of concern as accidental exposure to higher temperatures during transportation or storage could decrease its efficacy. in the present study, we have used prote ...	2002	12207879
the story of anthrax from antiquity to the present: a biological weapon of nature and humans.		2002	12208620
biological warfare and the skin i: bacteria and toxins.		2002	12208622
a spotlight on anthrax.		2002	12208624
mapping of antibody responses to the protective antigen of bacillus anthracis by flow cytometric analysis.	knowledge of the target and functional capability of the antibody response against an antigen provides more specific and relevant information about protective immunity than measuring the total amount of antibody produced against an antigen.	2002	12210604
munumbicins, wide-spectrum antibiotics produced by streptomyces nrrl 30562, endophytic on kennedia nigriscans.	munumbicins a, b, c and d are newly described antibiotics with a wide spectrum of activity against many human as well as plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria, and a plasmodium sp. these compounds were obtained from streptomyces nrrl 3052, which is endophytic in the medicinal plant snakevine (kennedia nigriscans), native to the northern territory of australia. this endophyte was cultured, the broth was extracted with an organic solvent and the contents of the residue were purified by bioassay-guid ...	2002	12213914
mission impossible?		2002	12214206
new aspects in mass casualties.		2002	12215939
[germs employed as biological weapons].		2002	12215940
the alveolar macrophage: the trojan horse of bacillus anthracis.	bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, has a particular strategy for invading the host and crossing the alveolar barrier. b. anthracis survives within alveolar macrophages, after germination within the phagolysosome, then enters the external medium where it proliferates. recent data have shown that edema toxin and lethal toxin are the major genetic determinants mediating the survival of germinated spores within macrophages. here, recent advances in the analysis of b. anthracis patho ...	2002	12217505
gi anthrax: report of one case confirmed with autopsy.	bacillus anthraces is a non-motile, rod like, gram-positive and aerobic bacillus that produces central oval-shaped spores and characterized by rough, irregular and often comma-shaped colonies in blood agar. about 95% of human anthrax is cutaneous and 5% respiratory. gi anthrax, a very rare type, has been reported in less than 1% of all cases. we thus report a case of gi anthrax with autopsy findings.	2002	12218950
circle of suspicion.		2002	12219557
effect of bacillus anthracis lethal toxin on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.	lethal toxin (letx) plays a central role in anthrax pathogenesis, however a cytotoxicity of letx has been difficult to demonstrate in vitro. no cytolytic effect has been reported for human cells, in contrast to murine cell lines, indicating that cell lysis can not be considered as a marker of letx activity. we have recently shown that murine macrophage-like raw 264.7 cells treated with letx or infected with anthrax spores underwent changes typical of apoptotic death. here we demonstrate that cel ...	2002	12220662
introduction: anthrax history, disease and ecology.	the familiarity with the ancient disease anthrax from the second millennium b.c. through the second millennium a.d. is reviewed, providing the backdrop to the modern understanding of this disease as covered in the remainder of the volume. by means of an overview of the aetiology, ecology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathology and bacteriology of the naturally acquired disease, this opening chapter also lays down the groundwork for the subsequent state-of-the-art chapters.	2002	12224519
macrophage interactions.	b. anthracis virulence is the sum of the contributions of factors involved in toxicity, growth and persistence in the host. recent data has revealed that the interactions between b. anthracis and macrophage is central to the b. anthracis pathogenesis. this review presents and describes tactics by which b. anthracis not only overcomes and avoids macrophages but also perverts the host defense immune system and defense-related products to its advantage. the understanding of the complex network of s ...	2002	12224520
bacillus anthracis genetics and virulence gene regulation.	the bacillus anthracis genome consists of an approximately 5.3-mb chromosome and two plasmids, pxo1 (182 kb) and pxo2 (96 kb). genetic analysis has focused primarily on the structural genes for the anthrax toxin proteins, paga, lef, and cya, the biosynthetic genes for capsule synthesis, capb, capc, and capa, and a gene associated with depolymerization of capsule, dep. the three toxin genes are located at distinct loci on pxo1, while the cap and dep genes are arranged in an apparent operon on pxo ...	2002	12224521
bacillus anthracis evolution and epidemiology.	bacillus anthracis is a pathogen that is widely distributed around the globe. however, this great distribution is not accompanied by great genetic diversity. although subtle morphological and biochemical differences exist, the underlying genetic basis for this plasticity is not known. indeed, very few single nucleotide differences have been detected among isolates and the only documented high variable sequences are associated with variable number tandem repeated (vntr) sequences. the differences ...	2002	12224522
anthrax vaccines.	the only impetus for the development of new anthrax vaccines is to protect humans against the intentional use of bacillus anthracis as a bioterrorist or warfare agent. live attenuated vaccines against anthrax in domesticated animals were among the very first vaccines developed. this was followed by the development of nonliving component vaccines leading to the eventual licensure of protein-based vaccines for human use in the 1970s. this chapter will review the recent advances in developing prote ...	2002	12224523
structure and function of anthrax toxin.	anthrax toxin is a binary a-b toxin comprised of protective antigen (pa) and two enzymatic moieties, edema factor (ef) and lethal factor (lf). in the presence of a host cell-surface receptor, pa can mediate the delivery of ef and lf from the extracellular milieu into the host cell cytosol to effect toxicity. in this delivery, pa undergoes multiple structural changes--from a monomer to a heptameric prepore to a membrane-spanning heptameric pore. the catalytic factors also undergo dramatic structu ...	2002	12224524
bacillus anthracis cell envelope components.	bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive bacterium harboring a complex parietal architecture. the cytoplasmic membrane is surrounded by a thick peptidoglycan of the a1 gamma type. only one associated polymer, a polysaccharide composed of galactose, n-acetylglucosamine, and n-acetylmannosamine, is covalently linked to the peptidoglycan. outside the cell wall is an s-layer. two proteins can each compose the s-layer. they are noncovalently anchored to the cell wall polysaccharide by their slh n-termin ...	2002	12224525
risk analysis and risk management in an uncertain world.	the tragic attacks of september 11 and the bioterrorist threats with respect to anthrax that followed have raised a set of issues regarding how we deal with events where there is considerable ambiguity and uncertainty about the likelihood of their occurrence and their potential consequences. this paper discusses how one can link the tools of risk assessment and our knowledge of risk perception to develop risk management options for dealing with extreme events. in particular, it suggests ways tha ...	2002	12224739
the role of risk analysis in understanding bioterrorism.	recent events have made the domestic risk from bioterrorism more tangible. the risk management process so far, however, has not benefited from many of the contributions that analysts, communicators, and managers can make to the public discourse. risk professionals can contribute much to the understanding of and solutions to bioterrorist events and threats. this article will provide an overview of the bioterrorism problem and outline a number of areas to which members of the society for risk anal ...	2002	12224741
management of patients exposed to biologic weapons.		2002	12226595
bioterrorism--are you ready for the silent killer?	current biological threats to the united states have generated fear and panic among many, but nursing professionals who are educated about bioterrorism and its effects can answer questions confidently and calm fears when peers, family members, and friends ask about this issue. perioperative nurses can become ambassadors of confidence via their ability to project calm and thus stem the tide of panic and fear. this article explains the definition of bioterrorism, its history, biological agents and ...	2002	12227287