Publications

smallpox vaccine policy: the national debate.	as a result of the 2001 anthrax attacks, the u.s. government is trying to forge a plan to handle something much worse: an outbreak of smallpox due to terrorist activity. here's a look at where the debate stands today.	2002	12416388
sleuth without a badge.		2002	12416443
a novel class of self-sufficient cytochrome p450 monooxygenases in prokaryotes.	the bacillus cytochrome p450 bm3 integrates an entire p450 system in one polypeptide and represents a convenient prokaryotic model for microsomal p450s. this self-sufficient class ii p450 is also present in actinomycetes and fungi. by genome analysis we have identified additional homologues in the pathogenic species bacillus anthracis and bacillus cereus, and in ralstonia metallidurans. this analysis also revealed a novel class of putative self-sufficient p450s, p450 pfor, comprising a class i p ...	2002	12419614
biological terrorism against animals and humans: a brief review and primer for action.		2002	12420822
science education: put your lab in a different class.		2002	12422180
terrorism. guarding against biological agents.		2002	12422379
[bioterrorism: the role of veterinarians in detection and prevention].	the fear of terrorist attacks has increased since the events of 11 september 2001 in new york. in the weeks following the terrorist attack, letters containing anthrax spores were received at various locations in the usa. this shows that bioterrorism is possible and that is necessary to be prepared for the potential release of biological agents. such agents can be distributed not only via the air and drinking water but also via household pets. the aim of terrorist attacks, namely, the disruption ...	2002	12425213
structural analysis and evidence for dynamic emergence of bacillus anthracis s-layer networks.	surface layers (s-layers), which form the outermost layers of many bacteria and archaea, consist of protein molecules arranged in two-dimensional crystalline arrays. bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, responsible for anthrax, synthesizes two abundant surface proteins: sap and ea1. regulatory studies showed that ea1 and sap appear sequentially at the surface of the parental strain. sap and ea1 can form arrays. the structural parameters of s-layers from mutant strains (e ...	2002	12426331
anthrax, mek and cancer.	the mek family of protein kinases plays key roles in regulating cellular responses to mitogens as well as environmental stress. inappropriate activation of these kinases contributes to tumorigenesis. in contrast, anthrax lethal factor, the principal virulence factor of anthrax toxin, has been demonstrated to selectively inactivate meks. in this article we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of molecular aspects of the pathogenesis of anthrax, emphasizing the potential role of mek s ...	2002	12429903
biological terrorism: understanding the threat, preparation, and medical response.	the thought of an outbreak of disease caused by the intentional release of a pathogen or toxin in an american city was alien just 10 years ago. many people believed that biological warfare was only in the military's imagination, perhaps to be faced by soldiers on a far-away battlefield, if at all. the "anthrax letters" and the resulting deaths from inhalation anthrax have changed that perception. the national, state, and local governments in the united states are preparing for what is now called ...	2002	12429949
the prophylaxis and treatment of anthrax.	bacillus anthracis infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation depending on the mode of infection. anthrax is a zoonotic disease but the inhalation form can also be used as a biological warfare agent. the recent mail spread outbreak of bioterrorism-related infections in the usa prompted the introduction of specific guidelines by the usa centers for disease control and prevention. postexposure prophylaxis is indicated to prevent inhalational anthrax, and therapy ...	2002	12431866
in-vitro characterisation of the phagocytosis and fate of anthrax spores in macrophages and the effects of anti-pa antibody.	antibodies (abs) to the protective antigen (pa) component of the anthrax toxins have anti-spore as well as anti-toxin activities. anti-pa antisera and purified anti-pa abs enhance the phagocytosis by murine-derived macrophages (mqs) of spores of the ames and sterne strains and retard the germination of extracellular spores in vitro. the fate after phagocytosis of untreated and anti-pa-treated spores was further studied in culture medium that supported phagocytosis without stimulating spore germi ...	2002	12435060
anthrax toxin: a tripartite lethal combination.	anthrax is a severe bacterial infection that occurs when bacillus anthracis spores gain access into the body and germinate in macrophages, causing septicemia and toxemia. anthrax toxin is a binary a-b toxin composed of protective antigen (pa), lethal factor (lf), and edema factor (ef). pa mediates the entry of either lf or ef into the cytosol of host cells. lf is a zinc metalloprotease that inactivates mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inducing cell death, and ef is an adenylyl cyclase imp ...	2002	12435580
antimicrobial susceptibilities of diverse bacillus anthracis isolates.	a test of 25 genetically diverse isolates of bacillus anthracis was conducted to determine their susceptibility to seven clinically relevant antimicrobial agents. etest strips (ab biodisk, solna, sweden) were used to measure the mics for the isolates. using the national committee for clinical laboratory standards mic breakpoints for staphylococci, three isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin and five were found to be resistant to cefuroxime. the penicillin-resistant isolates were nega ...	2002	12435686
search for potential vaccine candidate open reading frames in the bacillus anthracis virulence plasmid pxo1: in silico and in vitro screening.	a genomic analysis of the bacillus anthracis virulence plasmid pxo1, aimed at identifying potential vaccine candidates and virulence-related genes, was carried out. the 143 previously defined open reading frames (orfs) (r. t. okinaka, k. cloud, o. hampton, a. r. hoffmaster, k. k. hill, p. keim, t. m. koehler, g. lamke, s. kumano, j. mahillon, d. manter, y. martinez, d. ricke, r. svensson, and p. j. jackson, j. bacteriol. 181:6509-6515, 1999) were subjected to extensive sequence similarity search ...	2002	12438358
maintaining a vigilance for foreign animal diseases.	the incursion of foot-and-mouth disease (fmd) into the united kingdom in february 2001 served as a wakeup call for north american agriculture. as the livestock health crisis in the united kingdom progressed, it became increasingly evident that the united states, canada, and mexico were also susceptible to an incursion of a foreign animal disease. the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001, and the subsequent anthrax mailings reaffirmed the fact that the united states is vulnerable to an infecti ...	2002	12442572
dealing with the dangers of fear: the role of risk communication.	among the many lessons of the homeland terrorist attacks of 2001 was that fear has powerful public health implications. people chose to drive instead of flying, thereby raising their risk of injury or death. thousands took broad-spectrum antibiotics to prevent possible anthrax infections, thereby accelerating antimicrobial resistance. such potentially harmful actions were taken by people seeking a sense of safety because they were afraid. this essay argues for greater emphasis on risk communicat ...	2002	12442846
public health and national security: the critical role of increased federal support.	protecting the public's health historically has been a state and local responsibility. however, the growing threat of bioterrorism has highlighted the importance of a strong public health infrastructure to the nation's homeland security and has focused increased attention on the preparedness of the public health system. as a result, federal public health funding has increased exponentially since the anthrax attacks of late 2001, and congress has passed sweeping new federal legislation intended t ...	2002	12442847
david satcher takes stock [interview by fitzhugh mullan].		2002	12442850
expression of protective antigen in transgenic plants: a step towards edible vaccine against anthrax.	protective antigen (pa) is the most potent molecule for vaccination against anthrax. in the present study, we have successfully integrated protective antigen gene in nuclear genome of tobacco plants by agrobacterium mediated leaf-disc transformation method. expression of protective antigen gene was detected by immunoblot analysis using antisera raised against purified pa. a distinct band of approximately 83kda lighted up in the protein extracted from transformed plants while there was no such ba ...	2002	12445805
case definitions for diseases under national surveillance: addition of diseases associated with potential bioterrorist agents.		2002	12448885
the structure and function of novel proteins of bacillus anthracis and other spore-forming bacteria: development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic agents.	the overall goal of this review is to summarize the current body of knowledge about the structure and function of major proteins of bacillus anthracis and/or similar spore-forming organisms. b. anthracis is a key spore-forming biological threat agent, as well as human and animal gram-positive bacterial pathogen. the structural information described here is limited to approximately the last 5 years. this information is then related to the role of the selected proteins in pathogenesis and in the p ...	2002	12449428
learning as we go: public health, one year later.		2002	12449917
induction of hepatitis c virus-specific cytotoxic t lymphocytes in mice by immunization with dendritic cells transduced with replication-defective recombinant adenovirus.	we studied the potential of dendritic cells (dcs) in priming hepatitis c virus (hcv)-specific cytotoxic t lymphocytes (ctls) in mice. recombinant adenovirus expressing hcv core (adex1sr3st) was employed to express core in dcs. core-specific ctls are effectively elicited by injecting adex1sr3st-transduced dcs, whereas injection of adex1sr3st does not result in effective priming. further, adex1sr3st-transduced dcs more efficiently prime core-specific ctls than adex1sr3st-transduced macrophages, or ...	2002	12450696
bile stress response in listeria monocytogenes lo28: adaptation, cross-protection, and identification of genetic loci involved in bile resistance.	bile is one of many barriers that listeria monocytogenes must overcome in the human gastrointestinal tract in order to infect and cause disease. we demonstrated that stationary-phase cultures of l. monocytogenes lo28 were able to tolerate concentrations of bovine, porcine, and human bile and bile acids well in excess of those encountered in vivo. strain lo28 was relatively bile resistant compared with other clinical isolates of l. monocytogenes, as well as with listeria innocua, salmonella enter ...	2002	12450822
broadband 10-300 ghz stimulus-response sensing for chemical and biological entities.	by illuminating the sample with a broadband 10-300 ghz stimulus and coherently detecting the response, we obtain reflection and transmission spectra of common powdered substances, and compare them as a starting point for distinguishing concealed threats in envelopes and on personnel. because these samples are irregular and their dielectric properties cannot be modulated, however, the spectral information we obtain is largely qualitative. to show how to gain quantitative information on biological ...	2002	12452568
diversity among french bacillus anthracis isolates.	while outbreaks of animal anthrax zoonoses still regularly occur in france, little is known about the epidemiology links between them. we have used the eight-locus multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis typing technique against a collection of 50 bacillus anthracis isolates from france. there were eight distinct genotypes belonging to two dissimilar genetic clusters. regional strain patterns were observed, with the b2 genotypes prevalent in southern france and the a1a genotypes found ...	2002	12454180
hospitals review plans in wake of latest threats.		2002	12455485
more bioterrorism.		2002	12456930
anthrax x-rayed: new opportunities for biodefence.	bacillus anthracis, the agent responsible for inhalation anthrax, exerts its lethal effects via the production of anthrax toxin (protective antigen, lethal factor and oedema factor); anthrax kills because the toxin overwhelms the patient before innate host defence systems have a chance to eradicate the invaders. structural studies on these three components provide a starting point for the design of novel drugs to neutralize toxin action, yielding a valuable adjunct to conventional antibiotic tre ...	2002	12457764
use of anthrax vaccine in response to terrorism: supplemental recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices.	in december 2000, the advisory committee on immunization practices (acip) released its recommendations for using anthrax vaccine in the united states. because of recent terrorist attacks involving the intentional exposure of u.s. civilians to bacillus anthracis spores and concerns that the current anthrax vaccine supply is limited, acip developed supplemental recommendations on using anthrax vaccine in response to terrorism. these recommendations supplement the previous acip statement in three a ...	2002	12458919
hospital preparedness for chemical and biological incidents in hong kong.	the risk of mass exposure to toxic substances has increased steadily during the twentieth century due to the expansion of industry and the deliberate development and use of agents of chemical warfare. although hong kong is considered a relatively safe place, hoax anthrax attacks have occurred since 17 october 2001. people who have been seriously injured by hazardous materials have a greater chance of recovery without complications when appropriate emergency treatments are provided. recognition a ...	2002	12459601
bactericidal activity of levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, penicillin, meropenem and rokitamycin against bacillus anthracis clinical isolates.	this study aimed to evaluate the bactericidal rates of levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, penicillin, meropenem and rokitamycin against seven isolates of bacillus anthracis clinically isolated between 1960 and 1970. after determination of mic and mbc, time-kill experiments were carried out. antimicrobial activity was evaluated at concentrations equal to 1 x, 2 x, 4 x and 8 x mic after 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h of incubation with the drugs. bactericidal activity was defined as a decrease in bacterial count o ...	2002	12461034
response to dr halsey & avec: analyze both forests and trees.		2002	12462140
national pharmaceutical stockpile drill analysis using xml data collection on wireless java phones.	this study describes an informatics effort to track subjects through a national pharmaceutical stockpile (nps) distribution drill. the drill took place in seattle on 1/24/2002. washington and the state department of health are among the first in the nation to stage a nps drill testing the distribution of medications to mock patients, thereby testing the treatment capacity of the plan given a post-anthrax exposure scenario. the goal of the public health informatics group at the university of wash ...	2002	12463848
why there hasn't been an anthrax outbreak.		2003	12465606
cell surface tumor endothelium marker 8 cytoplasmic tail-independent anthrax toxin binding, proteolytic processing, oligomer formation, and internalization.	the interaction of anthrax toxin protective antigen (pa) and target cells was assessed, and the importance of the cytosolic domain of tumor endothelium marker 8 (tem8) in its function as a cellular receptor for pa was evaluated. pa binding and proteolytic processing on the chinese hamster ovary cell surface occurred rapidly, with both processes nearly reaching steady state in 5 min. remarkably, the resulting pa63 fragment was present on the cell surface only as an oligomer, and furthermore, the ...	2003	12468536
sterilization of mail by means of an electron beam accelerator.		2002	12469598
anthrax: what every coder should know.		2002	12469669
bioterrorism talk.		2002	12469681
secondary aerosolization of viable bacillus anthracis spores in a contaminated us senate office.	bioterrorist attacks involving letters and mail-handling systems in washington, dc, resulted in bacillus anthracis (anthrax) spore contamination in the hart senate office building and other facilities in the us capitol's vicinity.	2002	12472327
dna sequence conservation between the bacillus anthracis pxo2 plasmid and genomic sequence from closely related bacteria.	complete sequencing and annotation of the 96.2 kb bacillus anthracis plasmid, pxo2, predicted 85 open reading frames (orfs). bacillus cereus and bacillus thuringiensis isolates that ranged in genomic similarity to b. anthracis, as determined by amplified fragment length polymorphism (aflp) analysis, were examined by pcr for the presence of sequences similar to 47 pxo2 orfs.	2002	12473162
from the centers for disease control and prevention. use of anthrax vaccine in response to terrorism: supplemental recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices.		2002	12476914
development of vaccines for bio-warfare agents.	there is a recognized need for the development of new vaccines (as well as other biologicals and drugs) to counteract the effects of a potential bio-terrorist or bio-warfare event in the u.s. domestic population and military forces. regulation of products to protect against potential bio-warfare agents poses unique challenges since the usual measures of efficacy that require exposure to natural disease may not currently be possible, for epidemiological and ethical reasons. to help to address thi ...	2002	12477312
exchange characteristics of calcium ions bound to anthrax protective antigen.	protective antigen (pa), the receptor-binding moiety of anthrax toxin, contains two calcium atoms buried within domain 1(') (amino acid residues 168-258). we showed that these ions are stably bound and exchange with free 45ca(2+) only slowly (t(1/2) approximately 4.0 h). dissociation is the rate-limiting step. pa(63), the heptameric prepore form of pa, showed a slightly higher exchange rate than the monomeric intact protein. exchange by this form was retarded by binding of the enzymatic moieties ...	2003	12480521
physiological calcium concentrations regulate calmodulin binding and catalysis of adenylyl cyclase exotoxins.	edema factor (ef) and cyaa are calmodulin (cam)-activated adenylyl cyclase exotoxins involved in the pathogenesis of anthrax and whooping cough, respectively. using spectroscopic, enzyme kinetic and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy analyses, we show that low ca(2+) concentrations increase the affinity of cam for ef and cyaa causing their activation, but higher ca(2+) concentrations directly inhibit catalysis. both events occur in a physiologically relevant range of ca(2+) concentrations. d ...	2002	12485993
the tools of the trade: weapons of mass destruction.		2002	12487040
sensitizing anthrax lethal toxin-resistant macrophages to lethal toxin-induced killing by tumor necrosis factor-alpha.	macrophages from different inbred mouse strains exhibit striking differences in their sensitivity to anthrax lethal toxin (letx)-induced cytolysis. although letx-induced cytolysis of macrophages plays an important role in the outcome of anthrax infection, the sensitivity of macrophages in vitro does not correlate with in vivo susceptibility to infection of bacillus anthracis. this divergence suggests that additional factors other than letx are involved in the cytolysis of letx-resistant macropha ...	2003	12488448
identification of bacillus anthracis by a simple protective antigen-specific mab dot-elisa.	a simple protective antigen (pa)-reactive mab dot-elisa was standardized for confirmation of toxin-producing strains of bacillus anthracis. twenty-seven clinical isolates were collected from patients clinically suspected of having anthrax. pa was elaborated from these isolates using casamino acids medium and the culture medium was boiled to kill the cells. pa in boiled culture supernatants was detected using a dot-elisa. of the 27 clinical isolates tested, pa was detected in 24 isolates. this wa ...	2003	12488565
robert koch: nobel laureate and controversial figure in tuberculin research.	tuberculosis has been a major cause of death for centuries. likewise, anthrax has posed a deadly threat to both farm animals and humans and today poses a threat as a weapon of biological warfare. cholera, which wreaked havoc in the east and threatened to enter europe, also posed a deadly threat. the causes of these diseases remained mysteries for centuries. nobel laureate robert koch (1843-1910), often called the founder of medical bacteriology, is credited with discovering the tubercle bacillus ...	2002	12491235
breakthrough of the year. bioterrorism: the calm after the storm.		2002	12493879
bioterrorism preparedness for local health departments.	bioterrorism preparedness has not traditionally been an everyday concern of local public health departments. the likely first responders to a biological bioterrorism event will be local public health personnel. the events of september 11, 2001, and the anthrax crisis that followed tested the capabilities of the public health system and demonstrated its fragility. little federal funding has trickled down to local health departments, and they have not been included in planning or training for biot ...	2002	12494741
a brief guide to anthrax.	anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by bacillus anthracis. the organism is found in soil and is directly transmissible to humans via skin abrasions or by inhalation or ingestion of airborne spores. this article provides an overview of the history, microbiology and epidemiology of anthrax, and the various types of the disease. the article also discusses diagnosis and treatment as well as vaccination and infection control issues. in light of recent publicity over the use of anthrax as a ...	2002	12494835
responding to the threat of bioterrorism: a microbial ecology perspective--the case of anthrax.	anthrax is a disease of herbivores caused by the gram-positive bacterium bacillus anthracis. it can affect cattle, sheep, swine, horses and various species of wildlife. the routes for the spread among wildlife are reviewed. there are three kinds of human anthrax--inhalation, cutaneous, and intestinal anthrax--which differ in their routes of infection and outcomes. in the united states, confirmation of cases is made by the isolation of b. anthracis and by biochemical tests. vaccination is not rec ...	2002	12497181
nine-analyte detection using an array-based biosensor.	a fluorescence-based multianalyte immunosensor has been developed for simultaneous analysis of multiple samples. while the standard 6 x 6 format of the array sensor has been used to analyze six samples for six different analytes, this same format has the potential to allow a single sample to be tested for 36 different agents. the method described herein demonstrates proof of principle that the number of analytes detectable using a single array can be increased simply by using complementary mixtu ...	2002	12498211
inflammatory causes of gastroparesis: report of five cases.		2002	12498282
cell-cycle responses to dna damage in g2.	cellular reproduction, at its basic level, is simply the passing of genetic information from a single parent cell into two daughter cells. as the cellular genome encodes all the information that defines a cell, it is crucial that the genome be accurately replicated. furthermore, the duplicated genome must be properly segregated so that each daughter cell contains the exact same information as the parent cell. the processes by which this occurs is known as the cell cycle. the failure of either du ...	2003	12503848
the reality of the modern bioterrorism response.		2002	12504495
law sends laboratories into pathogen panic.		2003	12511920
anthrax attacks and practice patterns: a learning opportunity for health care systems.	sudden and unexpected events directly influencing clinical practice patterns are uncommon. after the first report of bioterrorism-related anthrax, the authors studied retrospectively 13 months of anthrax-related antibiotic prescription rates for veterans affairs outpatients in one urban area where no cases of anthrax were reported. during the 26 days after the first anthrax report, the rate of acute respiratory illnesses treated with fluoroquinolones was 62.8 per 10,000 outpatient visits, an inc ...	2002	12512463
bacillus anthracis diverges from related clades of the bacillus cereus group in 16s-23s ribosomal dna intergenic transcribed spacers containing trna genes.	mung bean nuclease treatment of 16s-23s ribosomal dna intergenic transcribed spacers (its) amplified from several strains of the six species of the bacillus cereus group showed that b. anthracis davis te702 and b. mycoides g2 have other intermediate fragments in addition to the 220- and 550-bp homoduplex fragments typical of the b. cereus group. long and intermediate homoduplex its fragments from strains davis te702 and g2 and from another 19 strains of the six species were sequenced. two main t ...	2003	12513974
a field investigation of bacillus anthracis contamination of u.s. department of agriculture and other washington, d.c., buildings during the anthrax attack of october 2001.	in response to a bioterrorism attack in the washington, d.c., area in october 2001, a mobile laboratory (ml) was set up in the city to conduct rapid molecular tests on environmental samples for the presence of bacillus anthracis spores and to route samples for further culture analysis. the ml contained class i laminar-flow hoods, a portable autoclave, two portable real-time pcr devices (ruggedized advanced pathogen identification device [rapid]), and miscellaneous supplies and equipment to proce ...	2003	12514046
prophylaxis against anthrax.	the paper presents fundamental knowledge concerning bacillus anthracis and its potential terrorist misuse. the basic clinical forms are resumed with emphasis on inhalation infection from inspiration of b. anthracis spores. the ava vaccine licensed in the united states, primary vaccination, protective efficacy of the vaccine, and adverse events are characterised. stress is laid on pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax.	2002	12515043
[cutaneous palpebral anthrax].	the interest for anthrax is permanent because of its difficult diagnosis, its severe prognosis, and the possibility of its dissemination during biological war and bioterrorism. cutaneous anthrax is an infectious disease caused by bacillus anthracis. palpebral localizations are rare, raising problems of differential diagnosis. the case of a 21-year-old male with palpebral anthrax is presented. the diagnosis was established by the progression of the palpebral lesions (serohemorrhagic vesicle, blac ...	2002	12515941
[consequences and challenges due to bioterrorist attacks].	ever since the terrorist attacks of 11 september 2001 and the cases of inhalational anthrax and other types of anthrax caused by attacks with anthrax spores, responsible authorities and experts must reckon with bioterrorist attacks conducted with much greater criminal "drive" and greater financial resources than had been imagined so far. this consideration triggered cautionary measures in germany and europe as briefly summarised here. for more detailed information please refer to internet (www.r ...	2002	12516022
[risk management and risk communication from a laboratory point of view].		2002	12516023
vaccines for category a bioterrorism diseases.	vaccination programmes are very successful as a preventive strategy against many infectious diseases which have had a major impact on human morbidity and mortality. one of these diseases, smallpox, has been eliminated as a natural infection. the recent concern about biological attacks has turned attention to the use of an immunisation programme to prevent infection with what are considered the most significant potentially harmful biowarfare pathogens. this review puts into perspective the availa ...	2002	12517267
searching for bacillus anthracis in suspect powders: a french experience.		2003	12517916
anthrax lethal factor proteolysis and inactivation of mapk kinase.	anthrax lethal toxin produced by the bacterium bacillus anthracis is the major cause of death in animals infected with anthrax. one component of this toxin, lethal factor (lf), inactivates members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase or mek family through proteolysis of their nh(2) termini. however, neither the substrate requirements for lf cleavage nor the mechanism by which proteolysis inactivates mek have been demonstrated. by means of deletion mutant analysis and site-directed muta ...	2003	12522135
[biological warfare. i. anthrax, plague, tularemia].		2002	12522911
genome-wide analysis of synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in mycobacterium tuberculosis complex organisms: resolution of genetic relationships among closely related microbial strains.	several human pathogens (e.g., bacillus anthracis, yersinia pestis, bordetella pertussis, plasmodium falciparum, and mycobacterium tuberculosis) have very restricted unselected allelic variation in structural genes, which hinders study of the genetic relationships among strains and strain-trait correlations. to address this problem in a representative pathogen, 432 m. tuberculosis complex strains from global sources were genotyped on the basis of 230 synonymous (silent) single nucleotide polymor ...	2002	12524330
potent antitumor activity of a urokinase-activated engineered anthrax toxin.	the acquisition of cell-surface urokinase plasminogen activator activity is a hallmark of malignancy. we generated an engineered anthrax toxin that is activated by cell-surface urokinase in vivo and displays limited toxicity to normal tissue but broad and potent tumoricidal activity. native anthrax toxin protective antigen, when administered with a chimeric anthrax toxin lethal factor, pseudomonas exotoxin fusion protein, was extremely toxic to mice, causing rapid and fatal organ damage. replaci ...	2003	12525700
programming the assembly of two- and three-dimensional architectures with dna and nanoscale inorganic building blocks.	the use of biochemical molecular recognition principles for the assembly of nanoscale inorganic building blocks into macroscopic functional materials constitutes a new frontier in science. this article details efforts pertaining to the use of sequence-specific dna hybridization events and novel inorganic surface coordination chemistry to control the formation of both two- and three-dimensional functional architectures.	2000	12526483
anthrax toxin receptor proteins.	anthrax toxin is a key virulence factor for bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. here we discuss what is known about the anthrax toxin receptor (atr), the cellular receptor for anthrax toxin, and how this information is being used to develop treatments for anthrax as well as to understand aspects of cancer. atr was identified recently as a type i transmembrane protein with unknown function that contains an extracellular integrin-like inserted (i) domain. the atr i domain contains ...	2003	12527323
year in review 2002.	the year opened on a somber note, with the nation still struggling to cope with the aftermath of the sept. 11, 2001, attacks and subsequent anthrax scare. the healthcare industry was scrambling to be ready for any future attacks and pondering the best preparedness measures. meanwhile, compliance and quality of care simmered on the back burner, along with soaring malpractice insurance costs and growing budget deficits in the states. and debate over provider reimbursement rates, staffing shortages ...	2002	12528237
[carbuncle in humans and animals: modern aspects of an ancient disease].	carbuncle, very remarkable disease in the past for its spreading, recently seems to be forgotten as risk for general population and exposed workers too, among them we remember especially veterinary physicians, breeders, tanners, etc. world epidemiological data aren't exact, but a lot of researchers in vary countries confirm that this is a present problem in many areas. therefore it's indispensable to know correct diffusion of this disease, to fight it and other zoonosis in some environments and ...	2002	12528336
letter to the editor from cicmanec. on the risk of mortality to primates exposed to anthrax spores.		2002	12530775
risk communication is a key to dealing effectively with bioterrorism.		2002	12530776
[remarks about anthrax].		2002	12532652
[bioterrorism--also a challenge for forensic medicine?].	in view of current events the question is discussed to what extent the risk of bioterrorism may be an issue relevant for forensic medicine also in germany, although at present there seems to be no concrete threat. the cases which became known so far were either false alarms or foolish pranks (copycats), which have to be, and are indeed, prosecuted by the state (section 126 german criminal code). reference is also made to the measures of disinfection recommended by the robert koch institute.	2002	12532679
neurological aspects of biological and chemical terrorism: a review for neurologists.	the centers for disease control and prevention urge physicians to become familiar with chemical and biological weapons. preparedness among neurologists is especially important because several of these agents affect the nervous system. this article reviews 4 agents that have a history of military or terrorist use: cyanide poisons, organophosphate poisons, botulinum toxin, and anthrax. cyanide and organophosphate poisons are characterized by dose-dependent impairment of neurological function with ...	2003	12533084
beta-lactamase genes of the penicillin-susceptible bacillus anthracis sterne strain.	susceptibility to penicillin and other beta-lactam-containing compounds is a common trait of bacillus anthracis. beta-lactam agents, particularly penicillin, have been used worldwide to treat anthrax in humans. nonetheless, surveys of clinical and soil-derived strains reveal penicillin g resistance in 2 to 16% of isolates tested. bacterial resistance to beta-lactam agents is often mediated by production of one or more types of beta-lactamases that hydrolyze the beta-lactam ring, inactivating the ...	2003	12533457
dna hybridization detection with water-soluble conjugated polymers and chromophore-labeled single-stranded dna.	a sensor is provided that detects single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssdna) with a specific base sequence. the ssdna sequence sensor comprises an aqueous solution containing a cationic water-soluble conjugated polymer [in this case, poly(9,9-bis(6'-n,n,n-trimethylammonium)-hexyl)-fluorene phenylene), 1] with a ssdna labeled with a dye (in this case, fluorescein). the emission of light from the sensor solution with the wavelength characteristic of the probe oligonucleotide indicates the prese ...	2003	12537486
clinical features that discriminate inhalational anthrax from other acute respiratory illnesses.	inhalational anthrax (ia) is a rapidly progressive disease that frequently results in sepsis and death, and prompt recognition is critical. to distinguish ia from other causes of acute respiratory illness, patients who had ia were compared with patients in an ambulatory clinic who had influenza-like illness (ili) and with hospitalized patients who had community-acquired pneumonia (cap) at the initial health care visit. compared with patients who had ili, patients who had ia were more likely to h ...	2003	12539075
use of a promoter trap system in bacillus anthracis and bacillus subtilis for the development of recombinant protective antigen-based vaccines.	we have recently reported bacillus anthracis attenuated live vaccine strains efficiently expressing recombinant protective antigen (rpa) and have shown a direct correlation between the level of rpa secreted by these cells and efficacy (s. cohen, i. mendelson, z. altboum, d. kobiler, e. elhanany, t. bino, m. leitner, i. inbar, h. rosenberg, y. gozes, r. barak, m. fisher, c. kronman, b. velan, and a. shafferman, infect. immun. 68:4549-4558, 2000). to isolate more potent bacillus promoters for a fu ...	2003	12540560
anthrax toxins and the host: a story of intimacy.	although the dramatic events of the year 2001 have revitalized the interest in anthrax, research on bacillus anthracis and its major virulence factors is one of the oldest theme in microbiology and started with the early works of robert koch and louis pasteur. the anthrax toxins are central to anthrax pathogenesis. they were discovered in the mid-1950s and since then there has been an enormous amount of work to elucidate both the molecular and physiopathological details of their mode of action. ...	2003	12542467
novel aspects of calmodulin target recognition and activation.	several crystal and nmr structures of calmodulin (cam) in complex with fragments derived from cam-regulated proteins have been reported recently and reveal novel ways for cam to interact with its targets. this review will discuss and compare features of the interaction between cam and its target domains derived from the plasma membrane ca2+-pump, the ca2+-activated k+-channel, the ca2+/cam-dependent kinase kinase and the anthrax exotoxin. unexpected aspects of cam/target interaction observed in ...	2003	12542690
time series modeling for syndromic surveillance.	emergency department (ed) based syndromic surveillance systems identify abnormally high visit rates that may be an early signal of a bioterrorist attack. for example, an anthrax outbreak might first be detectable as an unusual increase in the number of patients reporting to the ed with respiratory symptoms. reliably identifying these abnormal visit patterns requires a good understanding of the normal patterns of healthcare usage. unfortunately, systematic methods for determining the expected num ...	2003	12542838
reply: cutaneous anthrax of the eyelid.		2003	12545123
more over anthrax.		2002	12546026
news in brief.		2002	12546833
[cloning of parasporal body protein gene resembling to s-layer protein genes from bacillus thuringiensis ctc strain].	bacillus ctc strain was identified as bacillus thuringiensis subsp. finitimus (serotype h2) and pasteur institute confirmed this identification. the parasporal body formed by ctc strain is oval shaped, and consists of 100 kd protein. the determination of the n-terminal amino acid sequence showed this protein shares 93% similarity to that of b. anthracis s-layer proteins. the restriction map covering the related protein gene (ctc) was deduced according to southern hybridization. the dna fragments ...	2001	12549017
[old and new prescriptions for infectious diseases and the newest recipes for biomedical products in plants].	the three antiviral vaccines discovered in the 18th century (smallpox), 19th century (rabies), and 20th century (polio) share a common feature: none would ever be licensed today for human vaccination. yet jenner's smallpox vaccine led to the eradication of smallpox, pasteur's rabies vaccine represented the first successful post-exposure treatment of people bitten by rabid animals, and polio vaccine administered since its discovery in 1950 is leading to the eradication of polio (in the years 2004 ...	2002	12549429
figs--the earliest known ancient drug for cutaneous anthrax.	anthrax is an often fatal bacterial infection, occurring in cutaneous, inhalational, gastrointestinal, and meningeal forms. evaluation of anthrax treatment from ancient history may help healthcare providers to handle this serious disease more efficiently.	2003	12549964
anthrax toxin triggers endocytosis of its receptor via a lipid raft-mediated clathrin-dependent process.	the protective antigen (pa) of the anthrax toxin binds to a cell surface receptor and thereby allows lethal factor (lf) to be taken up and exert its toxic effect in the cytoplasm. here, we report that clustering of the anthrax toxin receptor (atr) with heptameric pa or with an antibody sandwich causes its association to specialized cholesterol and glycosphingolipid-rich microdomains of the plasma membrane (lipid rafts). we find that although endocytosis of atr is slow, clustering it into rafts e ...	2003	12551953
a miniature biochip system for detection of aerosolized bacillus globigii spores.	the feasibility of using a novel detection scheme for the analysis of biological warfare agents is demonstrated using bacillus globigii spores, a surrogate species for bacillus anthracis. in this paper, a sensitive and selective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a novel fluorogenic alkaline phosphatase substrate (dimethylacridinone phosphate) is combined with a compact biochip detection system, which includes a miniature diode laser for excitation. detection of aerosolized spores was achie ...	2003	12553762
vaccines and bioterrorism: smallpox and anthrax.	because of the success of vaccination and the ring strategy in eradicating smallpox from the world, smallpox vaccine has not been recommended for the united states civilian populations for decades. given the low but possible threat of bioterrorism, smallpox vaccination is now recommended for those teams investigating potential smallpox cases and for selected personnel of acute-care hospitals who would be needed to care for victims in the event of a terrorist attack. treatment and post-exposure p ...	2003	12556279
cutaneous anthrax associated with facial palsy.		2003	12558641
anthrax of the eyelid in a turkish girl.		2003	12558861
proteomic analysis of the spore coats of bacillus subtilis and bacillus anthracis.	the outermost proteinaceous layer of bacterial spores, called the coat, is critical for spore survival, germination, and, for pathogenic spores, disease. to identify novel spore coat proteins, we have carried out a preliminary proteomic analysis of bacillus subtilis and bacillus anthracis spores, using a combination of standard sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separation and improved two-dimensional electrophoretic separations, followed by matrix-assisted laser desorptio ...	2003	12562816