Publications

identification and characterization of the gerh operon of bacillus anthracis endospores: a differential role for purine nucleosides in germination.	we identified a tri-cistronic operon, gerh, in bacillus anthracis that is important for endospore germination triggered by two distinct germination response pathways termed inosine-his and purine-ala. together, the two pathways allow b. anthracis endospores a broader recognition of purines and amino acids that may be important for host-mediated germination.	2003	12562819
meeting the challenge of bioterrorism: lessons learned from west nile virus and anthrax.	hospital emergency departments (eds) and ambulatory clinics may be the first to recognize illness related to a bioterrorist event. every health-care institution must develop a weapons-of-mass- destruction (wmd) preparedness plan as part of its all-hazards disaster planning. as part of an all-hazards disaster plan, wmd preparedness should use the incident-command model to insure the required chain of command for effectively coordinating activities between hospital departments and external agencie ...	2003	12563588
anthrax toxin rafts into cells.	anthrax toxin binds to a plasma membrane receptor and after endocytosis exerts its deadly effects on the cell. until now, however, the mechanism of initial toxin uptake was unknown. in this issue, abrami et al. (2003) demonstrate that toxin oligomerization clusters the anthrax receptor into lipid rafts and this complex is internalized via the clathrin-dependent pathway.	2003	12566425
a risk analysis approach to selecting respiratory protection against airborne pathogens used for bioterrorism.	the authors present a quantitative risk analysis approach to estimating infection risk due to airborne pathogens exhibiting relatively large infectious dose values. the method is applied to hypothetical scenarios involving airborne spores of bacillus anthracis. the method combines the estimated parameters for exposure intensity, the pathogen dose-response relationship, and respirator penetration values (if respiratory protection is used). because knowledge of the true parameter values will be un ...	2003	12570401
biological activity and synthetic metodologies for the preparation of fluoroquinolones, a class of potent antibacterial agents.	in this present review we report different synthetic methodologies for the preparation of fluoroquinolones and their biological properties. the appearance of the fluoroquinolones, a new class of antibacterial agents (based on nalidixic acid, 4-quinolone-3-carboxylates), in early 1980's, gave a new impulse for the international competition to synthesize more effective drugs. fluoroquinolones have a broad spectrum of activity against gram-positive, gram-negative and mycobacterial organisms as well ...	2003	12570719
uv resistance of bacillus anthracis spores revisited: validation of bacillus subtilis spores as uv surrogates for spores of b. anthracis sterne.	recent bioterrorism concerns have prompted renewed efforts towards understanding the biology of bacterial spore resistance to radiation with a special emphasis on the spores of bacillus anthracis. a review of the literature revealed that b. anthracis sterne spores may be three to four times more resistant to 254-nm-wavelength uv than are spores of commonly used indicator strains of bacillus subtilis. to test this notion, b. anthracis sterne spores were purified and their uv inactivation kinetics ...	2003	12571068
anthrax alert?		2002	12572214
bioterrorism: an overview.	bioterrorism has reached the forefront of the public imagination following recent events across the world. the disaster of 11 september 2001, followed by anthrax letters sent via the us postal system and now renewed tension over iraq have all brought the possibility of bioterrorism closer. a number of biological agents could be used in a terrorist attack, including anthrax, plague, smallpox and botulinum toxin. the serious diseases that these agents produce have been brought under control in the ...	2002	12572959
pcr assay to detect bacillus anthracis spores in heat-treated specimens.	recent interest in anthrax is due to its potential use in bioterrorism and as a biowarfare agent against civilian populations. the development of rapid and sensitive techniques to detect anthrax spores in suspicious specimens is the most important aim for public health. with a view to preventing exposure of laboratory workers to viable bacillus anthracis spores, this study evaluated the suitability of pcr assays for detecting anthrax spores previously inactivated at 121 degrees c for 45 min. the ...	2003	12574311
anthrax: the precautionary principle goes postal.		2002	12576531
effects of sterilizing gamma irradiation on bloodspot newborn screening tests and whole blood cyclosporine and tacrolimus measurements.	sterilizing irradiation of the us mail has been proposed as a method to prevent delivery of viable anthrax spores. because newborn screening samples (bloodspots) and cyclosporine and tacrolimus specimens (whole blood) are delivered routinely through the mail, we studied whether sterilizing gamma irradiation could affect these test results. specimens were exposed to 18 kgy gamma irradiation (100 hours x 18,000 rad/h), a "kill dose" for bacillus pumilus spore strips. irradiation had no significant ...	2003	12580001
a plasmid-encoded regulator couples the synthesis of toxins and surface structures in bacillus anthracis.	transcription of the major bacillus anthracis virulence genes is triggered by co2, a signal believed to reflect the host environment. a 180 kb plasmid, pxo1, carries the anthrax toxin genes and the genes responsible for their regulation, pagr and atxa; the latter encodes a major trans-activator. it has long been known that pxo1 genes have major effects on the physiology of b. anthracis, probably through regulatory cross-talk between plasmid and chromosomal genes. accordingly, we found that the c ...	2003	12581349
[sacer ignis, quam pustulam vocant pastores: anthrax--cultural historical traces of a zoonosis].	the knowledge of anthrax as a disease and its importance as a zoonosis in the greco-roman world is revealed through a selection of classical texts and mythological sources, taking into account evidence of reworking and reuse of these texts up until the nineteenth century. the numerous names given to the disease throughout history and their linguistic origins will also be examined in this paper. the narrative of the epizoonoses in noricum in virgil's georgics; taken by several to represent a desc ...	2003	12583342
anthrax and the voice of reason.		2001	12585054
emergency. anthrax.		2001	12585066
radiologic manifestations of potential bioterrorist agents of infection.		2003	12591655
polymorphism in the collagen-like region of the bacillus anthracis bcla protein leads to variation in exosporium filament length.	we recently identified a bacillus anthracis glycoprotein which is a structural constituent of the exosporium filaments (p. sylvestre, e. couture-tosi, and m. mock, mol. microbiol. 45:169-178, 2002). this bacillus collagen-like protein (bcla) contains an internal collagen-like region (clr) of gxx repeats which includes a large proportion of gpt triplets. here, we report that the polymorphic marker ceb-bams13, for which there are nine alleles (p. le flèche et al., bmc microbiol. 1:2, 2001), maps w ...	2003	12591872
in vino veritas.		2001	12593708
robert koch.	this article traces the origins of bacteriological research, with particular attention to the role of robert koch, and his postulates, on infectious agents. by chronologically following koch's work on anthrax, germ photography and tuberculosis, it shows how the visual representation of germs transformed laboratory research in medical science.	2003	12593975
biodefence on the research agenda.		2003	12594484
venezuelan equine encephalitis virus-vectored vaccines protect mice against anthrax spore challenge.	anthrax, a disease usually associated with herbivores, is caused by the bacterium bacillus anthracis. the current vaccine licensed for human use requires a six-dose primary series and yearly boosters and causes reactogenicity in up to 30% of vaccine recipients. a minimally reactogenic vaccine requiring fewer inoculations is warranted. venezuelan equine encephalitis (vee) virus has been configured for use as a vaccine vector for a wide variety of immunogens. the vee vaccine vector is composed of ...	2003	12595467
expression and purification of the bacillus anthracis protective antigen domain 4.	the protective antigen (pa) of bacillus anthracis plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the anthrax disease. the fourth domain of pa (pa-d4) is responsible for initial binding of the anthrax toxin to the cellular receptor, and thus, is an attractive target for structure-based drug therapies. a synthetic gene for pa-d4 has been prepared by recursive pcr. pa-d4 has been expressed as a fusion protein in escherichia coli. pa-d4 has been purified to near homogeneity and its identity has been ve ...	2003	12597893
lessons the anthrax scare taught us.		2003	12599831
production of bacillus anthracis protective antigen is dependent on the extracellular chaperone, prsa.	protective antigen (pa) is a component of the bacillus anthracis lethal and edema toxins and the basis of the current anthrax vaccine. in its heptameric form, pa targets host cells and internalizes the enzymatically active components of the toxins, namely lethal and edema factors. pa and other toxin components are secreted from b. anthracis using the sec-dependent secretion pathway. this requires them to be translocated across the cytoplasmic membrane in an unfolded state and then to be folded i ...	2003	12606539
bacillus anthracis.	the events of 11 september 2001 and the subsequent anthrax outbreaks have shown that the west needs to be prepared for an increasing number of terrorist attacks, which may include the use of biological warfare. bacillus anthracis has long been considered a potential biological warfare agent, and this review will discuss the history of its use as such. it will also cover the biology of this organism and the clinical features of the three disease forms that it can produce: cutaneous, gastrointesti ...	2003	12610093
[anthrax in the era of biowarfare].	the conditions of infection: anthrax is a zoonosis due to bacillus anthracis. human contamination usually results from contact with an infected animal or product, or direct exposure to the bacteria. the latter represents one of the principle agents that can be used in biowarfare by spraying the spores. various possibilities: the inhaled form of the disease, characterised by hemorrhagic necrosis of the mediastinum adenopathies and septic shock, is the form that would probably be observed during a ...	2003	12610473
smallpox: a potential agent of bioterrorism.	the events of 11 september 2001, in new york city, and subsequent identification of anthrax in the united states postal system, have generated a new sense of awareness for the potential of biological terrorism, if not warfare. among those agents identified by the centers for disease control and prevention as 'class a bioterrorist threats', smallpox is among the most dangerous. the ease of transmission of this agent, the lack of immunity in the population at large to this agent, and rapidity of i ...	2003	12615298
bioterrorism--a new challenge for public health.	the opening years of the new millennium have presented a new and worrisome possibility to the public, including travellers: the threat of deadly infectious diseases from biological agents being deliberately released. the possibility of bioterrorism had always seemed remote but the recent anthrax attacks by mail have made this threat of immediate relevance. the deliberate use of bacillus anthracis with the intent to harm civilian populations has raised public health concerns about potential expos ...	2003	12615387
adverse medical events in british service personnel following anthrax vaccination.	the safety of the uk anthrax vaccine in british service personnel was evaluated by a retrospective cohort study of randomly selected personnel from five royal air force bases by investigating adverse medical events and consultation rates for a period before and after vaccination. vaccination acceptance rate varied from 27 to 89% (p=0.0001). in the vaccinated cohort 11.1% (n=368) reported side-effects. the number of consultations in the year prior to vaccination (p=0.04) and raf base (p=0.0085) w ...	2003	12615429
identification of the immunodominant protein and other proteins of the bacillus anthracis exosporium.	spores of bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, are enclosed by a prominent loose-fitting, balloon-like layer called the exosporium. although the exosporium serves as the source of surface antigens and a primary permeability barrier of the spore, its molecular structure and function are not well characterized. in this study, we identified five major proteins in purified b. anthracis (sterne strain) exosporia. one protein was the recently identified collagen-like glycoprotein bcla, ...	2003	12618454
best defense against bioterrorism.		2002	12619622
bacillus anthracis virulence in guinea pigs vaccinated with anthrax vaccine adsorbed is linked to plasmid quantities and clonality.	bacillus anthracis is a bacterial pathogen of great importance, both historically and in the present. this study presents data collected from several investigations and indicates that b. anthracis virulence is associated with the clonality and virulence of plasmids pxo1 and pxo2. guinea pigs vaccinated with anthrax vaccine adsorbed were challenged with 20 b. anthracis isolates representative of worldwide genetic diversity. these same isolates were characterized with respect to plasmid copy numbe ...	2003	12624053
novel sample preparation method for safe and rapid detection of bacillus anthracis spores in environmental powders and nasal swabs.	bacillus anthracis spores have been used as a biological weapon in the united states. we wanted to develop a safe, rapid method of sample preparation that provided safe dna for the detection of spores in environmental and clinical specimens. our method reproducibly detects b. anthracis in samples containing <10 spores.	2003	12624060
informed consent and investigational new drug abuses in the u.s. military.	the focal point of this investigation was to research the ethical issues surrounding the military's requests for informed consent waivers when using investigational drugs, and the recent debate surrounding the anthrax vaccine as an investigational new drug (ind).	2002	12625353
instrument development and evaluation of domestic preparedness training for first responders.	in the wake of domestic terrorists attacks on 11 september 2001 and subsequent bioterrorist events employing anthrax, there no longer can be any debate about the potential for attacks employing nuclear, biological, or chemical (nbc)/weapons of mass destruction (wmd). as one way of acknowledging this long-standing threat and, in a concerted effort to mitigate the effects of possible future domestic nbc/wmd terrorist attacks, the us department of defense (dod) and other us governmental agencies al ...	2002	12627914
bioterrorism: pivotal clinical issues. consensus review of the society of infectious diseases pharmacists.	to discuss specific facts regarding use as a bioweapon, epidemiology, microbiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, immunization, and isolation precautions for five most likely agents of bioterrorism; to review and provide recommendations for health care clinicians on the management of these bioterrorism agents; and to share information on the pharmacist's role in preparedness and response.	2003	12627924
how do we keep going? personal and professional meaning after 9-11.		2003	12630185
roles and functions of a european union public health centre for communicable diseases and other threats to health.	an international consensus has been reached that a european union (eu) technical coordination structure (tcs) for communicable diseases is needed to improve europe s future response to international communicable disease threats within and beyond its boundaries. after the american events of september 11 2001 and the deliberate releases of anthrax, the eu created a health security committee, adopted a civil protection decision, and established for 18 months a team to develop responses for delibera ...	2002	12631937
efficacy of selected hand hygiene agents used to remove bacillus atrophaeus (a surrogate of bacillus anthracis) from contaminated hands.	the intentional use of bacillus anthracis transmitted via the us mail in october-november 2001 resulted in 22 people developing inhalation or cutaneous anthrax. glove use with handwashing prior to and after contact with potential contaminated environmental surfaces and cutaneous lesions has been recommended. however, only limited data are available on the susceptibility of b anthracis to antiseptics.	2003	12633189
biotechnology to fight bioterrorism. while the fight against terrorism is helping to revitalize the biotech market, academic scientists are starting to worry about limitations on research.		2003	12634833
a review of anthrax in the workplace.		2003	12638469
anthrax revisited.	anthrax is an ancient disease affecting animals and humans. sporadic cases of anthrax and small epidemics have been seen from time to time in different parts of the world and in africa. however many clinicians are not very familiar with the various presentations and management of anthrax. it is relevant for the health care workers to re-familiarise themselves with all aspects of anthrax, with the impending threat of bioterrorism.	2002	12638831
comprehensive systematic surveillance for adverse effects of anthrax vaccine adsorbed, us armed forces, 1998-2000.	routine vaccinations of us military personnel with anthrax vaccine adsorbed began in 1998. to systematically identify clinical diagnoses reported more frequently after vaccination than before, all military personnel were retrospectively assigned to pre- or post-vaccination cohorts. cohort assignments were based on vaccination statuses each day of the 3-year surveillance period. for each cohort, rates of hospitalizations and ambulatory visits for 843 specific diagnoses were calculated using data ...	2003	12639483
medicinal use and social status of the soap berry endod (phytolacca dodecandra) in ethiopia.	berries from phytolacca dodecandra l'herit. (endod in amharic) offer a readily available molluscicide to control schistosomiasis. parts of the endod plant have been used as a detergent and as traditional medicine for centuries in ethiopia. an interview survey was performed in the highlands of ethiopia to provide information on the distribution of the plant, people's traditional use of it, their perception of the plant, and the potential for increased production and use of endod as a soap for ind ...	2003	12639751
[anthrax--an old disease becomes topical: cutaneous anthrax and the eye].	anthrax disease and its eye manifestations were rare in the last 100 years, but the threat of terrorist actions has revived its topicality.	2003	12640551
emergency response to an anthrax attack.	we developed a mathematical model to compare various emergency responses in the event of an airborne anthrax attack. the system consists of an atmospheric dispersion model, an age-dependent dose-response model, a disease progression model, and a set of spatially distributed two-stage queueing systems consisting of antibiotic distribution and hospital care. our results underscore the need for the extremely aggressive and timely use of oral antibiotics by all asymptomatics in the exposure region, ...	2003	12651951
[bacillus anthracis, prions, coxiella burnetii].	the detection kits for bacillus anthracis, an isoform of host prion and coxiella burnetii, using genetic technology are still not generalized. for b. anthracis target genes for detection would be genes of toxins. although it is difficult to detect prions related to prion diseases before death, some mutants of prion gene in leukocytes and 14-3-3 proteins in cerebrospinal fluid are detectable in living patients suffering from creutzfeldt-jakob disease. the gene of superoxide dismutase in coxiella ...	2002	12652794
application of the real-time pcr for the detection of airborne microbial pathogens in reference to the anthrax spores.	to establish the rapid detection method of airborne bacterial spores, we examined bacillus anthracis spores by real-time pcr. one hundred liters of air were trapped on a filter of an air monitor device. after it was suspended in pbs, spores of b. anthracis were artificially added. the suspension was also heated at 95 degrees c for 15 min and used for real-time pcr using anthrax-specific primers. a single cell of b. anthracis was detected by real-time pcr within 1 h. our results provide evidence ...	2003	12654485
discovery of phage display peptide ligands for species-specific detection of bacillus spores.	short peptides are capable of tight and specific binding to physiological or fortuitous receptors on the surface of cells. these peptides can be used to tag or capture target cells in an assortment of detector platforms. as part of an effort to identify small-molecule ligands for advanced detectors for spores of bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, we are screening (or biopanning) commercial phage display peptide libraries for peptides that bind tightly and selectively to spores o ...	2003	12654497
[genodiagnosis and molecular typing of the pathogens for plague, cholera, and anthrax].	the paper contains a survey of published data about the use of dna-diagnostics in indicating and identifying the causative agents of highly dangerous infections like plague, cholera and anthrax. a discussion of data about the genetic relationship between strains of the mentioned causative agents isolated from different sources by using the molecular-typing methods as well as about the evolution ties between strains of different origins is in the focus of attention. results of comparative studies ...	2003	12656042
medical counterbioterrorism: the response to provide anthrax prophylaxis to new york city us postal service employees.	we describe and analyze a recent rapid deployment of disaster medical assistance teams and other government agencies to provide medical screening and anthrax prophylaxis to new york city us postal service employees potentially exposed to letters contaminated with anthrax spores.	2003	12658240
syndromic analysis of computerized emergency department patients' chief complaints: an opportunity for bioterrorism and influenza surveillance.	emergency department computerized triage logs might be useful for automated ed surveillance and potentially for early identification of bioterrorism events. we describe a web-based surveillance program and its feasibility for surveillance.	2003	12658241
[lessons from macrophagic myofasciitis: towards definition of a vaccine adjuvant-related syndrome].	macrophagic myofasciitis is a condition first reported in 1998, which cause remained obscure until 2001. over 200 definite cases have been identified in france, and isolated cases have been recorded in other countries. the condition manifests by diffuse myalgias and chronic fatigue, forming a syndrome that meets both center for disease control and oxford criteria for the so-called chronic fatigue syndrome in about half of patients. one third of patients develop an autoimmune disease, such as mul ...	2003	12660567
analysis of adverse events after anthrax immunization in us army medical personnel.	a broad range of health effects in a cohort of 601 health care personnel, immunized with anthrax vaccine adsorbed (ava) as a military occupational health requirement, were assessed to evaluate adverse events both qualitatively and quantitatively. active surveillance showed that localized reactions were common and occurred more often in women than men. five patients were reported to the vaccine adverse event reporting system, but only one event could be definitively attributed to immunization, a ...	2003	12661179
lessons learned following the anthrax experience.		2003	12661494
bioterrorism and biological warfare: not only a respiratory affair.		2003	12669708
anaerobic induction of bacillus anthracis hemolytic activity.	a number of genes in bacillus anthracis encode for proteins homologous to the membrane-damaging factors known as pathogenic determinants in different bacteria. b. anthracis, however, has been traditionally considered non-hemolytic, and the recently identified hemolytic genes have been suggested to be transcriptionally silent. we found that the hemolytic genes of b. anthracis, collectively designated as anthralysins (anls), could be induced in strict anaerobic conditions. we also demonstrate that ...	2003	12670489
methionine regeneration and aminotransferases in bacillus subtilis, bacillus cereus, and bacillus anthracis.	the conversion of ketomethiobutyrate to methionine has been previously examined in a number of organisms, wherein the aminotransferases responsible for the reaction have been found to be members of the ia subfamily (l. c. berger, j. wilson, p. wood, and b. j. berger, j. bacteriol. 183:4421-4434, 2001). the genome of bacillus subtilis has been found to contain no subfamily ia aminotransferase sequences. instead, the analogous enzymes in b. subtilis were found to be members of the if subfamily. th ...	2003	12670965
detection of frequency resonance energy transfer pair on double-labeled microsphere and bacillus anthracis spores by flow cytometry.	development of an ultrasensitive biosensor for biological hazards in the environment is a major need for pollutant control and for the detection of biological warfare. fluorescence methods combined with immunodiagnostic methods are the most common. to minimize background noise, arising from the unspecific adsorption effect, we have adapted the fret (frequency resonance energy transfer) effect to the immunofluorescence method. fret will increase the selectivity of the diagnosis process by introdu ...	2003	12676717
production of diarrheal enterotoxins and other potential virulence factors by veterinary isolates of bacillus species associated with nongastrointestinal infections.	with the exceptions of bacillus cereus and bacillus anthracis, bacillus species are generally perceived to be inconsequential. however, the relevance of other bacillus species as food poisoning organisms and etiological agents in nongastrointestinal infections is being increasingly recognized. eleven bacillus species isolated from veterinary samples associated with severe nongastrointestinal infections were assessed for the presence and expression of diarrheagenic enterotoxins and other potentia ...	2003	12676723
structure-based inhibitor discovery against adenylyl cyclase toxins from pathogenic bacteria that cause anthrax and whooping cough.	edema factor (ef) and cyaa are adenylyl cyclase toxins secreted by pathogenic bacteria that cause anthrax and whooping cough, respectively. using the structure of the catalytic site of ef, we screened a data base of commercially available, small molecular weight chemicals for those that could specifically inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity of ef. from 24 compounds tested, we have identified one quinazoline compound, ethyl 5-aminopyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline-3-carboxylate, that specifically inhibits ...	2003	12676933
bruce budowle profile. fbi's top scientist takes the lead in forensic biology.		2003	12677037
novel in vitro functional assays for the determination of anthrax toxin components.	the characterisation and evaluation of the uk licensed human anthrax vaccine depends on several in vivo tests that determine its safety and potency. assays for the determination of functionally active and/or immunoreactive toxin components and s-layer proteins have been developed and applied to the characterisation of anthrax vaccine. these technologies may support production of consistent and effective vaccines, and may ultimately reduce the requirements for in vivo testing.	2002	12678256
microbial forensics aims to link pathogen, crime, and perpetrator.		2003	12679247
new antibiotics for anthrax?		2003	12681931
a silent bomb: the risk of anthrax as a weapon of mass destruction.		2003	12682291
inhalational anthrax and bioterrorism.	until recently, inhalational anthrax was considered an infectious disease curiosity for medical specialists and veterinarians. this attitude abruptly changed following the intentional release of bacillus anthracis spores via the us postal service in october 2001. because of its rarity, few physicians were familiar with its clinical manifestations, treatment and prophylaxis. in this report, we try to fill this informational gap by reviewing these issues based on additional data culled from this r ...	2003	12682568
detection of anthrax simulants with microcalorimetric spectroscopy: bacillus subtilis and bacillus cereus spores.	recent advances in the development of ultrasensitive micromechnical thermal detectors have led to the advent of novel subfemtojoule microcalorimetric spectoscopy (calspec). on the basis of principles of photothermal ir spectroscopy combined with efficient thermomechanical transduction, calspec provides acquisition of vibrational spectra of microscopic samples and absorbates. we use calspec as a method of identifying nanogram quantities of biological micro-organisms. our studies focus on bacillus ...	2003	12683752
the fossil tabanids (diptera tabanidae): when they began to appreciate warm blood and when they began transmit diseases?	a discussion of the known fossil tabanids (diptera tabanidae) is presented based on fossil evidence. this includes the origin of the hemathophagy in the brachycera, more specifically for tabanids. several tabanid species in the extant fauna are vectors for disease-producing organisms that affect humans and animals. bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, protozoa, and filarial worms can be transmitted by them, causing such diseases as anthrax, tularemia, anaplasmosis, various forms of trypanosomiasis, q ...	2003	12687759
volatile organic compounds produced during irradiation of mail.	in 2001, bacillus anthracis spores were delivered through the united states postal system in a series of bioterrorist acts. controls proposed for this threat included sanitization with high-energy electrons. solid phase microextraction was used with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for field sampling and analysis of volatile compounds apparently produced from polymeric materials such as cellulose and plastics, immediately following processing of mail at a commercial irradiation facility. sol ...	2003	12688843
demonstration of a hermetic airborne ozone disinfection system: studies on e. coli.	an enclosed flow-through system using airborne ozone for disinfection and which removes the ozone with a catalytic converter was tested with a strain of escherichia coli. petri dishes containing the microorganisms were inserted in a chamber and exposed for 10-480 min to ozone concentrations between 4 and 20 ppm. death rates in excess of 99.99% were achieved. survival data is fitted to a two-stage curve with a shoulder based on the multihit target model. ozone was removed from the exhaust air to ...	2003	12688846
epidemiologic clues to bioterrorism.	public health investigators have successfully carried out epidemiologic investigations of outbreaks of disease for many years. by far the majority of these outbreaks have occurred naturally. with the recent illnesses resulting from deliberate dissemination of b. anthracis on an unsuspecting population, public health investigation of diseases must now include consideration of bioterrorism as a potential cause of outbreaks of disease. the features of naturally occurring outbreaks have a certain am ...	2003	12690063
the threat of bioterrorism.		2003	12693375
bacillus anthracis: current knowledge in relation to contamination of food.	in this article, information related to anthrax and its etiologic agent, bacillus anthracis, in food is reviewed. the major topics discussed include the taxonomic relationship of b. anthracis to other bacillus species, methods used for the recovery of the organism from surfaces and foods, routes of infection, the pathogenesis of the organism, the microbial ecology of the vegetative cell and spore in foods and the environment, chemical and physical treatments for spore inactivation, and the contr ...	2003	12696699
the germs of war.		2003	12698861
new challenges for public health care: biological and chemical weapons awareness, surveillance, and response.	recent events in the united states have demonstrated a critical need for recognizing nurses and emergency health care providers as important elements of the nation's first line of defense and response against terrorist attacks involving biological, chemical, or radiological weapons. the anthrax letter attacks of september/october 2001 demonstrate the importance of vigilance and attention to detail while interviewing and attending patients and when entering, reviewing, and cataloging patient reco ...	2003	12698916
factors contributing to the occurrence of emerging infectious diseases.	emerging infectious diseases (eids) have been receiving increasing attention for more than two decades. such attention has resulted from observations of increasing resistance of microorganisms to the usual antibiotics, the identification of formerly unknown disease agents and the diseases they cause, and the realization that the concept of globalization includes global exposure to disease agents formerly confined to small, endemic, or remote areas. sadly, in the fall of 2001, the potential for u ...	2003	12698918
bioterrorism and critical care.	a bioterrorist attack of any kind has the potential to overwhelm a community and, indeed, in the case of smallpox, an entire nation. during such an attack the number of patients requiring hospitalization and specifically critical care is likely to be enormous. intensivists will be at the forefront of this war and will play an important role in dealing with mass casualties in an attempt to heal the community. a high degree of suspicion and prompt recognition of an event will be required to contai ...	2003	12699324
acute psychological effects of suspected bioterrorism.		2003	12700219
the ysirk-g/s motif of staphylococcal protein a and its role in efficiency of signal peptide processing.	many surface proteins of pathogenic gram-positive bacteria are linked to the cell wall envelope by a mechanism requiring a c-terminal sorting signal with an lpxtg motif. surface proteins of streptococcus pneumoniae harbor another motif, ysirk-g/s, which is positioned within signal peptides. the signal peptides of some, but not all, of the 20 surface proteins of staphylococcus aureus carry a ysirk-g/s motif, whereas those of surface proteins of listeria monocytogenes and bacillus anthracis do not ...	2003	12700270
human capillary morphogenesis protein 2 functions as an anthrax toxin receptor.	bacillus anthracis secretes two bipartite toxins thought to be involved in anthrax pathogenesis and resulting death of the host. the current model for intoxication is that protective antigen (pa) toxin subunits bind a single group of cell-surface anthrax toxin receptors (atrs), encoded by the tumor endothelial marker 8 (tem8) gene. the atr/tem8-pa interaction is mediated by the receptor's extracellular domain related to von willebrand factor type a or integrin inserted domains (vwa/i domains). a ...	2003	12700348
fear of bioterrorism and implications for public health preparedness.	after the human anthrax cases and exposures in 2001, the illinois department of public health received an increasing number of environmental and human samples (1,496 environmental submissions, all negative for bacillus anthracis). these data demonstrate increased volume of submissions to a public health laboratory resulting from fear of bioterrorism.	2003	12702237
anthrax. from bioweapons backwater to main attraction.		2003	12702854
an epidemiologist's view of bioterrorism. eddy a. bresnitz, md, ms, discusses state initiatives and preparedness. interview by leah z. ziskin.		2003	12703333
we haven't heard much about anthrax since the mail attacks in 2001. are there any new treatments for it?		2003	12703468
bioterrorism: defining a research agenda.		2002	12703508
global effects of virulence gene regulators in a bacillus anthracis strain with both virulence plasmids.	control of anthrax toxin and capsule synthesis, the two major virulence factors of bacillus anthracis, has been associated with two regulatory genes, atxa and acpa, located on virulence plasmids pxo1 and pxo2, respectively. we used transcriptional profiling to determine whether atxa and/or acpa control genes other than those already described and to investigate functional similarities of the regulators. transcription was assessed in a pxo1(+) pxo2(+) parent strain and in isogenic mutants in whic ...	2003	12704148
neurologic complications of anthrax: a review of the literature.	a review of the literature suggests that the major neurologic symptom complex of infection by bacillus anthracis is a fulminant and rapidly fatal hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis and that the reported initial mode of entry can be via the cutaneous or inhalation route. for febrile patients with acute neurologic deterioration with associated findings of dark necrotic pustules on the extremities, gram-positive rods in the cerebrospinal fluid, and multifocal areas of unexplained intracerebral hemorrh ...	2003	12707059
detection and prevention of protein aggregation before, during, and after purification.	the use of proteins for in vitro studies or as therapeutic agents is frequently hampered by protein aggregation during expression, purification, storage, or transfer into requisite assay buffers. a large number of potential protein stabilizers are available, but determining which are appropriate can take days or weeks. we developed a solubility assay to determine the best cosolvent for a given protein that requires very little protein and only a few hours to complete. this technique separates na ...	2003	12711344
biotech firms pin hopes on defence.		2003	12712154
microchip-based purification of dna from biological samples.	a microchip solid-phase extraction method for purification of dna from biological samples, such as blood, is demonstrated. silica beads were packed into glass microchips and the beads immobilized with sol-gel to provide a stable and reproducible solid phase onto which dna could be adsorbed. optimization of the dna loading conditions established a higher dna recovery at ph 6.1 than 7.6. this lower ph also allowed for the flow rate to be increased, resulting in a decrease in extraction time from 2 ...	2003	12713046
pre-hospital response to major incidents.	since the attacks of september 11, 2001 in the united states, and the subsequent anthrax scares, the approach to preparing for and dealing with major incidents has had to be re-thought. major incident planning, training and preparedness, once the domain of nhs senior managers and frontline a&e staff, is now the business of all nhs nurses. this article provides the theoretical knowledge needed by nurses to operate at the scene of a pre-hospital major incident.	2003	12715619
investigation of an anthrax outbreak in alberta in 1999 using a geographic information system.	a geographic information system was used to document an anthrax outbreak in alberta in 1999 and to describe the physical and environmental conditions of the area. the majority of infected farms were located on poorly drained organic soils. regulatory agencies should consider adopting this tool for animal disease outbreak investigations.	2003	12715984
[genus bacillus (bacillus anthracis)].		2003	12718047
[retrospective analysis of anthrax morbidity in grozny and in the urus-martan region of the chechen republic].	the epizootological and epidemiological situation in grozny and in the urus-martan region of the chechen republic has been analyzed. the settlements most threatened with this disease have been determined. unfavorable epizootic and epidemiological situation in the republic in the near future is predicted.	2001	12718185
genomics: relative pathogenic values.		2003	12721608
the genome sequence of bacillus anthracis ames and comparison to closely related bacteria.	bacillus anthracis is an endospore-forming bacterium that causes inhalational anthrax. key virulence genes are found on plasmids (extra-chromosomal, circular, double-stranded dna molecules) pxo1 (ref. 2) and pxo2 (ref. 3). to identify additional genes that might contribute to virulence, we analysed the complete sequence of the chromosome of b. anthracis ames (about 5.23 megabases). we found several chromosomally encoded proteins that may contribute to pathogenicity--including haemolysins, phosph ...	2003	12721629
genome sequence of bacillus cereus and comparative analysis with bacillus anthracis.	bacillus cereus is an opportunistic pathogen causing food poisoning manifested by diarrhoeal or emetic syndromes. it is closely related to the animal and human pathogen bacillus anthracis and the insect pathogen bacillus thuringiensis, the former being used as a biological weapon and the latter as a pesticide. b. anthracis and b. thuringiensis are readily distinguished from b. cereus by the presence of plasmid-borne specific toxins (b. anthracis and b. thuringiensis) and capsule (b. anthracis). ...	2003	12721630
[germs and toxins in bioterrorism].		2003	12722194
[anthrax].		2003	12722243