Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year Filter | PMID(sorted ascending) Filter |
|---|
| A 45-year-old farmer with an ulcerative rash, shock, and hemorrhagic meningitis. | 2011 | 22049028 | |
| New Developments in Vaccines, Inhibitors of Anthrax Toxins, and Antibiotic Therapeutics for Bacillus anthracis. | Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent responsible for anthrax infections, poses a significant biodefense threat. There is a high mortality rate associated with untreated anthrax infections; specifically, inhalation anthrax is a particularly virulent form of infection with mortality rates close to 100%, even with aggressive treatment. Currently, a vaccine is not available to the general public and few antibiotics have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of inhalation anthrax. With the th ... | 2011 | 22050756 |
| bioterror research. panel endorses anthrax vaccine study in children. | 2011 | 22053016 | |
| the bacillus anthracis arylamine n-acetyltransferase ((bacan)nat1) that inactivates sulfamethoxazole, reveals unusual structural features compared with the other nat isoenzymes. | arylamine n-acetyltransferases (nats) are xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes that biotransform arylamine drugs. the bacillus anthracis (bacan)nat1 enzyme affords increased resistance to the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole through its acetylation. we report the structure of (bacan)nat1. unexpectedly, endogenous coenzymea was present in the active site. the structure suggests that, contrary to the other prokaryotic nats, (bacan)nat1 possesses a 14-residue insertion equivalent to the "mammalian insertion" ... | 2011 | 22062153 |
| Domain flexibility modulates the heterogeneous assembly mechanism of anthrax toxin protective antigen. | The three protein components of anthrax toxin are nontoxic individually, but they form active holotoxin complexes upon assembly. The role of the protective antigen (PA) component of the toxin is to deliver two other enzyme components, lethal factor and edema factor, across the plasma membrane and into the cytoplasm of target cells. PA is produced as a proprotein, which must be proteolytically activated; generally, cell surface activation is mediated by a furin family protease. Activated PA can t ... | 2012 | 22063095 |
| differential effects of linezolid and ciprofloxacin on toxin production by bacillus anthracis in an in vitro pharmacodynamic system. | bacillus anthracis causes anthrax. ciprofloxacin is a gold standard for the treatment of anthrax. previously, using the non-toxin-producing δsterne strain of b. anthracis, we demonstrated that linezolid was equivalent to ciprofloxacin for reducing the total (vegetative and spore) bacterial population. with ciprofloxacin therapy, the total population consisted of spores. with linezolid therapy, the population consisted primarily of vegetative bacteria. linezolid is a protein synthesis inhibitor, ... | 2012 | 22064542 |
| toxin-based therapeutic approaches. | protein toxins confer a defense against predation/grazing or a superior pathogenic competence upon the producing organism. such toxins have been perfected through evolution in poisonous animals/plants and pathogenic bacteria. over the past five decades, a lot of effort has been invested in studying their mechanism of action, the way they contribute to pathogenicity and in the development of antidotes that neutralize their action. in parallel, many research groups turned to explore the pharmaceut ... | 2010 | 22069564 |
| consequences and utility of the zinc-dependent metalloprotease activity of anthrax lethal toxin. | anthrax is caused by the gram-positive bacterium bacillus anthracis. the pathogenesis of this disease is dependent on the presence of two binary toxins, edema toxin (edtx) and lethal toxin (letx). letx, the major virulence factor contributing to anthrax, contains the effector moiety lethal factor (lf), a zinc-dependent metalloprotease specific for targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases. this review will focus on the protease-specific activity and function of lf, and will include a di ... | 2010 | 22069624 |
| the glucocorticoid receptor: a revisited target for toxins. | the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (hpa) axis activation and glucocorticoid responses are critical for survival from a number of bacterial, viral and toxic insults, demonstrated by the fact that removal of the hpa axis or gr blockade enhances mortality rates. replacement with synthetic glucocorticoids reverses these effects by providing protection against lethal effects. glucocorticoid resistance/insensitivity is a common problem in the treatment of many diseases. much research has focused on th ... | 2010 | 22069642 |
| emergence of anthrax edema toxin as a master manipulator of macrophage and b cell functions. | anthrax edema toxin (et), a powerful adenylyl cyclase, is an important virulence factor of bacillus anthracis. until recently, only a modest amount of research was performed to understand the role this toxin plays in the organism's immune evasion strategy. a new wave of studies have begun to elucidate the effects this toxin has on a variety of host cells. while efforts have been made to illuminate the effect et has on cells of the adaptive immune system, such as t cells, the greatest focus has b ... | 2010 | 22069663 |
| anthrax lethal toxin-mediated disruption of endothelial ve-cadherin is attenuated by inhibition of the rho-associated kinase pathway. | systemic anthrax disease is characterized by vascular leakage pathologies. we previously reported that anthrax lethal toxin (lt) induces human endothelial barrier dysfunction in a cell death-independent manner with actin stress fiber formation and disruption of adherens junctions (ajs). in the present study, we further characterize the molecular changes in the aj complex and investigate whether aj structure and barrier function can be preserved by modulating key cytoskeletal signaling pathways. ... | 2011 | 22069696 |
| mechanism of diphtheria toxin catalytic domain delivery to the eukaryotic cell cytosol and the cellular factors that directly participate in the process. | research on diphtheria and anthrax toxins over the past three decades has culminated in a detailed understanding of their structure function relationships (e.g., catalytic (c), transmembrane (t), and receptor binding (r) domains), as well as the identification of their eukaryotic cell surface receptor, an understanding of the molecular events leading to the receptor-mediated internalization of the toxin into an endosomal compartment, and the ph triggered conformational changes required for pore ... | 2011 | 22069710 |
| the effects of anthrax lethal toxin on host barrier function. | the pathological actions of anthrax toxin require the activities of its edema factor (ef) and lethal factor (lf) enzyme components, which gain intracellular access via its receptor-binding component, protective antigen (pa). lf is a metalloproteinase with specificity for selected mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (mkks), but its activity is not directly lethal to many types of primary and transformed cells in vitro. nevertheless, in vivo treatment of several animal species with the combin ... | 2011 | 22069727 |
| t cell targeting by anthrax toxins: two faces of the same coin. | bacillus anthracis, similar to other bacterial pathogens, has evolved effective immune evasion strategies to prolong its survival in the host, thus ensuring the unchecked spread of the infection. this function is subserved by lethal (lt) and edema (et) toxins, two exotoxins produced by vegetative anthrax bacilli following germination of the spores. the structure of these toxins and the mechanism of cell intoxication are topics covered by other reviews in this issue. here we shall discuss how b. ... | 2011 | 22069732 |
| Hemodynamic effects of anthrax toxins in the rabbit model and the cardiac pathology induced by lethal toxin. | Anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx) and edema toxin (EdTx) have been shown to alter hemodynamics in the rodent model, while LeTx primarily is reported to induce extensive tissue pathology. However, the rodent model has limitations when used for comparison to higher organisms such as humans. The rabbit model, on the other hand, has gained recognition as a useful model for studying anthrax infection and its pathophysiological effects. In this study, we assessed the hemodynamic effects of lethal toxin (LeT ... | 2011 | 22069736 |
| mechanism of lethal toxin neutralization by a human monoclonal antibody specific for the pa(20) region of bacillus anthracis protective antigen. | the primary immunogenic component of the currently approved anthrax vaccine is the protective antigen (pa) unit of the binary toxin system. pa-specific antibodies neutralize anthrax toxins and protect against infection. recent research has determined that in humans, only antibodies specific for particular determinants are capable of effecting toxin neutralization, and that the neutralizing epitopes recognized by these antibodies are distributed throughout the pa monomer. the mechanisms by which ... | 2011 | 22069752 |
| monoclonal antibody therapies against anthrax. | anthrax is a highly lethal infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium bacillus anthracis. it not only causes natural infection in humans but also poses a great threat as an emerging bioterror agent. the lethality of anthrax is primarily attributed to the two major virulence factors: toxins and capsule. an extensive effort has been made to generate therapeutically useful monoclonal antibodies to each of the virulence components: protective antigen (pa), lethal factor (lf) and edema ... | 2011 | 22069754 |
| The potential contributions of lethal and edema toxins to the pathogenesis of anthrax associated shock. | Outbreaks of Bacillus anthracis in the US and Europe over the past 10 years have emphasized the health threat this lethal bacteria poses even for developed parts of the world. In contrast to cutaneous anthrax, inhalational disease in the US during the 2001 outbreaks and the newly identified injectional drug use form of disease in the UK and Germany have been associated with relatively high mortality rates. One notable aspect of these cases has been the difficulty in supporting patients once shoc ... | 2011 | 22069762 |
| Effects of terbium chelate structure on dipicolinate ligation and the detection of Bacillus spores. | Terbium-sensitized luminescence and its applicability towards the detection of Bacillus spores such as anthrax are of significant interest to research in biodefense and medical diagnostics. Accordingly, we have measured the effects of terbium chelation upon the parameters associated with dipicolinate ligation and spore detection. Namely, the dissociation constants, intrinsic brightness, luminescent lifetimes, and biological stabilities for several Tb(chelate)(dipicolinate)(x) complexes were dete ... | 2011 | 22071082 |
| vaccination and risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus in active component u.s. military, 2002-2008. | to evaluate whether vaccination increases the risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus in active component u.s. military personnel. | 2011 | 22075092 |
| characterization of the sortase repertoire in bacillus anthracis. | lpxtg proteins, present in most if not all gram-positive bacteria, are known to be anchored by sortases to the bacterial peptidoglycan. more than one sortase gene is often encoded in a bacterial species, and each sortase is supposed to specifically anchor given lpxtg proteins, depending of the sequence of the c-terminal cell wall sorting signal (cwss), bearing an lpxtg motif or another recognition sequence. b. anthracis possesses three sortase genes. b. anthracis sortase deleted mutant strains a ... | 2011 | 22076158 |
| Serum amyloid A protects murine macrophages from lethal toxin-mediated death. | Lethal toxin, a key virulence factor produced by Bacillus anthracis, induces cell death, in part by disrupting numerous signaling pathways, in mouse macrophages. However, exposure to sublethal doses of lethal toxin allows some cells to survive. Because these pro-survival signaling events occur within a few hours after exposure to sublethal doses, we hypothesized that acute phase proteins might influence macrophage survival. Our data show that serum amyloid A (SAA) is produced in response to leth ... | 2012 | 22082566 |
| effects by anthrax toxins on hematopoiesis: a key role for cytokines as mediators. | an understanding of anthrax toxins on the emerging immune system and blood production are significant to medicine. this study examined the effects of anthrax toxin on hematopoiesis and determined roles for cytokines. anthrax holotoxin toxin is three components: protective antigen (pa) binds to the target cell and mediates the entry of lethal factor (lf) and edema factor (ef). anthrax toxin dramatically inhibits signaling in immune cells. we first identified the cell subsets that interacted with ... | 2012 | 22082805 |
| anthrax vaccine antigen-adjuvant formulations completely protect new zealand white rabbits against challenge with bacillus anthracis ames strain spores. | in an effort to develop an improved anthrax vaccine that shows high potency, five different anthrax protective antigen (pa)-adjuvant vaccine formulations that were previously found to be efficacious in a nonhuman primate model were evaluated for their efficacy in a rabbit pulmonary challenge model using bacillus anthracis ames strain spores. the vaccine formulations include pa adsorbed to alhydrogel, pa encapsulated in liposomes containing monophosphoryl lipid a, stable liposomal pa oil-in-water ... | 2012 | 22089245 |
| preparation and characterization of cobalt-substituted anthrax lethal factor. | anthrax lethal factor (lf) is a zinc-dependent endopeptidase involved in the cleavage of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases near their n-termini. the current report concerns the preparation of cobalt-substituted lf (colf) and its characterization by electronic spectroscopy. two strategies to produce colf were explored, including (i) a bio-assimilation approach involving the cultivation of lf-expressing bacillus megaterium cells in the presence of cocl(2), and (ii) direct exchange by treatm ... | 2011 | 22093822 |
| Natural biopolymer for preservation of microorganisms during sampling and storage. | Stability of microbial cultures during sampling and storage is a vital issue in various fields of medicine, biotechnology, food science, and forensics. We have developed a unique bacterial preservation process involving a non-toxic, water-soluble acacia gum polymer that eliminates the need for refrigerated storage of samples. The main goal of this study is to characterize the efficacy of acacia gum polymer for preservation of pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus anthracis and methicillin-resistant Stap ... | 2012 | 22093998 |
| A Decade of Spore-Forming Bacterial Infections Among European Injecting Drug Users: Pronounced Regional Variation. | The recent anthrax outbreak among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Europe has highlighted an ongoing problem with severe illness resulting from spore-forming bacteria in IDUs. We collated the numbers of cases of 4 bacterial illnesses (botulism, tetanus, Clostridium novyi, and anthrax) in European IDUs for 2000 to 2009 and calculated population rates. Six countries reported 367 cases; rates varied from 0.03 to 7.54 per million people.Most cases (92%) were reported from 3 neighboring countries: Irel ... | 2011 | 22095355 |
| Anthrax toxin protective antigen-Insights into molecular switching from prepore to pore. | The protective antigen is a key component of the anthrax toxin, as it allows entry of the enzymatic components edema factor and lethal factor into the host cell, through the formation of a membrane spanning pore. This event is absolutely critical for the pathogenesis of anthrax, and although we have yet to understand the mechanism of pore formation, recent developments have provided key insights into how this process may occur. Based on the available data, a model is proposed for the kinetic ste ... | 2012 | 22095644 |
| h2s: a universal defense against antibiotics in bacteria. | many prokaryotic species generate hydrogen sulfide (h(2)s) in their natural environments. however, the biochemistry and physiological role of this gas in nonsulfur bacteria remain largely unknown. here we demonstrate that inactivation of putative cystathionine β-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, or 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase in bacillus anthracis, pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus aureus, and escherichia coli suppresses h(2)s production, rendering these pathogens highly sensitive t ... | 2011 | 22096201 |
| [changing the protective properties of the receptor domain of protective antigen anthrax exotoxin, depending on the orientation of the presentation on nanoparticles]. | polysterene particles bearing on its surface recombinant protein receptor domain of protective antigen anthrax exotoxin, exposed in different orientations have been constructed. particles with exposed cooh region of receptor domain induced the highest protective immunity in mice anthrax model (95%). we revealed that immunization with these particles causes a specific induction of th1-response, characterized by increased levels ofcytokine tnf-alpha and il-2. | 2011 | 22096993 |
| cAMP signaling by anthrax edema toxin induces transendothelial cell tunnels, which are resealed by MIM via Arp2/3-driven actin polymerization. | RhoA-inhibitory bacterial toxins, such as Staphylococcus aureus EDIN toxin, induce large transendothelial cell macroaperture (TEM) tunnels that rupture the host endothelium barrier and promote bacterial dissemination. Host cells repair these tunnels by extending actin-rich membrane waves from the TEM edges. We reveal that cyclic-AMP signaling produced by Bacillus anthracis edema toxin (ET) also induces TEM formation, which correlates with increased vascular permeability. We show that ET-induced ... | 2011 | 22100162 |
| Application of nanoparticles for the detection and sorting of pathogenic bacteria by flow-cytometry. | In this paper we will describe a new developed contribution of fluorescence nano-crystal (q-dots) as a fluorescence label for detecting pathogenic bacteria by flow cytometry (FCM) and the use of nano-magnetic particles to improve bacterial sorting by Flow cytometry cell sorting (FACS).FCM or FACS systems are based upon single cell detection by light scatter and Immunofluorescence labeling signals. The common FACS systems are based upon single or dual excitation as excitation source both for ligh ... | 2012 | 22101709 |
| humidity control can compensate for the damage induced in protein crystals by alien solutions. | the use of relative humidity control of protein crystals to overcome some of the shortcomings of soaking ligands (i.e. inhibitors, substrate analogs, weak ligands) into pre-grown apoprotein crystals has been explored. crystals of pure (ec 4.1.1.21), an enzyme from the purine-biosynthesis pathway of bacillus anthracis, were used as a test case. the findings can be summarized as follows: (i) using humidity control, it is possible to improve/optimize the diffraction quality of crystals soaked in so ... | 2011 | 22102052 |
| Web interface for brownian dynamics simulation of ion transport and its applications to beta-barrel pores. | Brownian dynamics (BD) based on accurate potential of mean force is an efficient and accurate method for simulating ion transport through wide ion channels. Here, a web-based graphical user interface (GUI) is presented for carrying out grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) BD simulations of channel proteins: http://www.charmm-gui.org/input/gcmcbd. The webserver is designed to help users avoid most of the technical difficulties and issues encountered in setting up and simulating complex pore systems ... | 2012 | 22102176 |
| Lipoprotein biosynthesis by prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase is required for efficient spore germination and full virulence of Bacillus anthracis. | Bacterial lipoproteins play a crucial role in virulence in some Gram-positive bacteria. However, the role of lipoprotein biosynthesis in Bacillus anthracis is unknown. We created a B. anthracis mutant strain altered in lipoproteins by deleting the lgt gene encoding the enzyme prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase, which attaches the lipid anchor to prolipoproteins. (14) C-palmitate labelling confirmed that the mutant strain lacked lipoproteins, and hydrocarbon partitioning showed it to have ... | 2012 | 22103323 |
| Anthrax edema toxin impairs protein clearance in mice. | Anthrax edema toxin (ET) of Bacillus anthracis is composed of the receptor-binding component protective antigen (PA) and of the adenylyl cyclase catalytic moiety, edema factor (EF). Uptake of ET into cells raises intracellular concentrations of the secondary messenger cAMP, thereby impairing or activating host cell functions. We report here on a new consequence of ET action in vivo. We show that in mouse models of toxemia and infection, serum PA concentrations were significantly higher in the pr ... | 2011 | 22104108 |
| bacillus anthracis lethal toxin alters regulation of visceral sympathetic nerve discharge. | bacillus anthracis infection is a pathophysiological condition that is complicated by progressive decreases in mean arterial pressure (map). lethal toxin (letx) is central to the pathogenesis of b. anthracis infection and the sympathetic nervous system plays a critical role in physiological regulation to acute stressors. however, the effect of letx on sympathetic nerve discharge (snd), a critical link between central sympathetic neural circuits and map regulation, remains unknown. we determined ... | 2011 | 22114180 |
| Thawing of permafrost may disturb historic cattle burial grounds in East Siberia. | Climate warming in the Arctic may increase the risk of zoonoses due to expansion of vector habitats, improved chances of vector survival during winter, and permafrost degradation. Monitoring of soil temperatures at Siberian cryology control stations since 1970 showed correlations between air temperatures and the depth of permafrost layer that thawed during summer season. Between 1900s and 1980s, the temperature of surface layer of permafrost increased by 2-4°C; and a further increase of 3°C is e ... | 2011 | 22114567 |
| Two cases of infection with Bacillus anthracis, Romania, October 2011. | A cluster of two confirmed cases of anthrax were reported in October 2011 from a small village with a population of 3,400 people, in south-eastern Romania.One was a fatal case of cutaneous and anthrax meningoencephalitis, while the other had cutaneous anthrax. Both cases had been exposed to one Bacillus anthracis-infected cow via consumption of its meat or being involved in its slaughter. | 2011 | 22114977 |
| Association of the ANTXR2 gene polymorphism and ankylosing spondylitis in Chinese Han. | Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease of unknown origin. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved. A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) found anthrax toxin receptor 2 (ANTXR2) to be associated with AS in Caucasians. We aimed to investigate whether the ANTXR2 polymorphism is also associated with AS in a Chinese Shandong Han population. Methods: From 2008 to 2009, we recruited 309 patients with AS and 384 age- and sex-matched controls of Han nation ... | 2011 | 22118297 |
| spectroscopic, catalytic and binding properties of bacillus subtilis no synthase-like protein: comparison with other bacterial and mammalian no synthases. | genome sequencing has shown the presence of genes coding for no-synthase (nos)-like proteins in bacteria. the roles and properties of these proteins remain unclear. uv-visible spectroscopy was used to characterize the recombinant nos-like protein from bacillus subtilis (bsnos) in its ferric and ferrous states in the presence of various fe(iii)- and fe(ii)-heme-ligands and of a series of l-arginine (l-arg) analogs. bsnos exhibited several spectroscopic and binding properties in common with bacill ... | 2012 | 22119809 |
| Detection of anthrax toxin genetic sequences by the solid phase oligo-probes. | Purpose: There is an urgent need to detect a rapid field-based test to detect anthrax. We have developed a rapid, highly sensitive DNA-based method to detect the anthrax toxin lethal factor gene located in pXO1, which is necessary for the pathogenicity of Bacillus anthracis. Materials and Methods: We have adopted the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) so that instead of capturing antibodies we capture the DNA of the target sequence by a rapid oligo-based hybridization and then detect the ... | 2011 | 22120797 |
| suitability of commercial transport media for biological pathogens under nonideal conditions. | there is extensive data to support the use of commercial transport media as a stabilizer for known clinical samples; however, there is little information to support their use outside of controlled conditions specified by the manufacturer. furthermore, there is no data to determine the suitability of said media for biological pathogens, specifically those of interest to the us military. this study evaluates commercial off-the-shelf (cots) transport media based on sample recovery, viability, and q ... | 2011 | 22121364 |
| antibodies for biodefense. | potential bioweapons are biological agents (bacteria, viruses, and toxins) at risk of intentional dissemination. biodefense, defined as development of therapeutics and vaccines against these agents, has seen an increase, particularly in the us following the 2001 anthrax attack. this review focuses on recombinant antibodies and polyclonal antibodies for biodefense that have been accepted for clinical use. these antibodies aim to protect against primary potential bioweapons, or category a agents a ... | 2011 | 22123065 |
| risk factors associated with anthrax in cattle on smallholdings. | summaryunprecedented high rates of anthrax outbreaks have been observed recently in cattle and humans in bangladesh, with 607 human cases in 2010. by enrolling 15 case and 15 control cattle smallholdings in the spatial zone in july-september 2010, we conducted a case-control study, data of which were analysed by matched-pair analysis and multivariable conditional logistic regression. feeding animals with uprooted and unwashed grass [odds ratio (or) 41·2, 95% confidence interval (ci) 3·7-458·8, p ... | 2011 | 22123521 |
| Drug Interactions with Bacillus anthracis Topoisomerase IV: Biochemical Basis for Quinolone Action and Resistance. | Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is considered a serious threat as a bioweapon. The drugs most commonly used to treat anthrax are quinolones, which act by increasing the levels of DNA cleavage mediated by topoisomerase IV and gyrase. Quinolone resistance most often is associated with specific serine mutations in these enzymes. Therefore, to determine the basis for quinolone action and resistance, we characterized wild-type B. anthracis topoisomerase IV, the GrlA(S81F) and GrlA ... | 2011 | 22126453 |
| A Review of Zoonotic Disease Surveillance Supported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center. | The Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC), Division of Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System conducts disease surveillance through a global network of US Department of Defense research laboratories and partnerships with foreign ministries of agriculture, health and livestock development in over 90 countries worldwide. In 2010, AFHSC supported zoonosis survey efforts were organized into four main categories: (i) development of field assays for animal disease survei ... | 2011 | 22128834 |
| logistics modelling: improving resource management and public information strategies in florida. | one of the most time-sensitive and logistically-challenging emergency response operations today is to provide mass prophylaxis to every man, woman and child in a community within 48 hours of a bioterrorism attack. to meet this challenge, federal, state and local public health departments in the usa have joined forces to develop, test and execute large-scale bioterrorism response plans. this preparedness and response effort is funded through the us centers for disease control and prevention's cit ... | 2011 | 22130343 |
| bioterrorism: preparing the plastic surgeon. | introduction: many medical disciplines, such as emergency medicine, trauma surgery, dermatology, psychiatry, family practice, and dentistry have documented attempts at assessing the level of bioterrorism preparedness in their communities. currently, there is neither such an assessment nor an existing review of potential bioterrorism agents as they relate to plastic surgery. therefore, the purpose of this article is to present plastic surgeons with a review of potential bioterrorism agents. metho ... | 2011 | 22132252 |
| glycoconjugates prevent b. anthracis toxin-induced cell death through binding while activating macrophages. | bacillus anthracis toxins may be attenuated if macrophages could neutralize toxins upon contact or exposure. glycoconjugate-bearing polymers, which have been shown to bind to bacillus spores, were tested for recognition and binding of protective antigen (pa), lethal factor (lf), and edema factor (ef) toxins. we have demonstrated modulation of macrophage activity following exposure to these toxins. without glycoconjugate (gc) activation, murine macrophages were killed by bacillus toxins. gcs were ... | 2011 | 22134879 |
| epidemic intelligence service investigations of respiratory illness, 1946-2005. | infectious respiratory pathogens were the suspected cause of 480 outbreaks investigated by the centers for disease control and prevention's epidemic intelligence service officers during 1946-2005. all epidemic-assistance investigation reports and associated articles from scientific journals were reviewed. investigations identified 25 different infectious respiratory pathogens including, most frequently, tuberculosis, influenza, and legionellosis. other bacterial-, viral-, and fungal-related path ... | 2011 | 22135392 |
| unusual epidemic events: a new method of early orientation and differentiation between natural and deliberate epidemics. | to develop a model for quick and accurate evaluation of unusual epidemic events (uee), based on the original model of bioterrorism risk assessment. | 2012 | 22136700 |
| microchip capillary electrophoresis of multi-locus vntr analysis for genotyping of bacillus anthracis and yersinia pestis in microbial forensic cases. | bacillus anthracis and yersinia pestis are etiological agents of anthrax and plague respectively, and are also considered among the most feared potential bioterrorism agents. these microorganisms show intraspecies genome homogeneity, making strains differentiation difficult, while strains identification and comparison with known genotypes may be crucial for naturally occurring outbreaks vs. bioterrorist events discrimination.here an mlva application for b. anthracis and y. pestis strains differe ... | 2012 | 22139674 |
| Screening of Peptide Libraries against Protective Antigen of Bacillus anthracis in a Disposable Microfluidic Cartridge. | Bacterial surface peptide display has gained popularity as a method of affinity reagent generation for a wide variety of applications ranging from drug discovery to pathogen detection. In order to isolate the bacterial clones that express peptides with high affinities to the target molecule, multiple rounds of manual magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) followed by multiple rounds of fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) are conventionally used. Although such manual methods are effective, ... | 2011 | 22140433 |
| small molecule inhibitors of anthrax toxin-induced cytotoxicity targeted against protective antigen. | two molecular scaffolds were designed using the caveat molecular design package to inhibit the oligomerization of protective antigen (pa(63) ), a key protein component of anthrax toxin. the inhibitors were designed to prevent heptamerization of pa(63) by mimicking key residues of pa(63) needed for the intermolecular interactions that stabilize the heptamer. using the scaffolds identified by caveat, seven candidate inhibitors were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit anthrax toxi ... | 2011 | 22146079 |
| ecological niche modelling of the bacillus anthracis a1.a sub-lineage in kazakhstan. | abstract: | 2011 | 22152056 |
| Structure-based redesign of an edema toxin inhibitor. | Edema factor (EF) toxin of Bacillus anthracis (NIAID category A), and several other toxins from NIAID category B Biodefense target bacteria are adenylyl cyclases or adenylyl cyclase agonists that catalyze the conversion of ATP to 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). We previously identified compound 1 (3-[(9-oxo-9H-fluorene-1-carbonyl)-amino]-benzoic acid), that inhibits EF activity in cultured mammalian cells, and reduces diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) at an ... | 2012 | 22154558 |
| structural basis of anthrax edema factor neutralization by a neutralizing antibody. | fine epitope mapping of ef13d, a highly potent neutralizing monoclonal antibody specific for the anthrax edema factor (ef), was accomplished through random mutagenesis and yeast surface display. a yeast-displayed library of single point mutants of an ef domain iii (diii), comprising amino acids 624-800, was constructed by random mutagenesis and screened for reduced binding to ef13d. with this method, residues leu 667, ser 668, arg 671, and arg 672 were identified as key residues important for ef ... | 2011 | 22155239 |
| the iron binding protein dps2 confers peroxide stress resistance on bacillus anthracis. | iron is an essential nutrient that is implicated in most of cellular oxidation reactions. however, iron is a highly reactive element that, if not appropriately chaperoned, can react with endogenously and exogenously generated oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide to generate highly toxic hydroxyl radicles. dps (dna-binding proteins from starved cells) proteins form a distinct class (the mini-ferritins) of iron-binding proteins within the ferritin superfamily. b. anthracis encodes two dps-like prote ... | 2011 | 22155779 |
| impact of spores on the comparative efficacies of five antibiotics for the treatment of bacillus anthracis in an in vitro hollow fiber pharmacodynamic model. | background: bacillus anthracis (ba), the bacterium that causes anthrax, is an agent of bioterrorism. the most effective antimicrobial therapy for ba infections is unknown. methods: an in vitro pharmacodynamic model of ba was used to compare the efficacies of simulated clinically-prescribed regimens of moxifloxacin, linezolid, and meropenem with the "gold standards," doxycycline and ciprofloxacin. treatment outcomes for isogenic spore-forming and non-spore-forming strains of ba were compared. res ... | 2011 | 22155821 |
| anthrax lethal and edema toxins fail to directly impair human platelet function. | hemorrhage is a prominent clinical manifestation of systemic anthrax. therefore, we have examined the effects of anthrax lethal and edema toxins on human platelets. we find that anthrax lethal toxin fails to cleave its target, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, and anthrax edema toxin fails to increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate. surface expression of toxin receptors tumor endothelial marker 8 and capillary morphogenesis gene 2, as well as coreceptor low density lipoprotein re ... | 2011 | 22158563 |
| supercharging protein complexes from aqueous solution disrupts their native conformations. | the effects of aqueous solution supercharging on the solution- and gas-phase structures of two protein complexes were investigated using traveling-wave ion mobility-mass spectrometry (twims-ms). low initial concentrations of m-nitrobenzyl alcohol (m-nba) in the electrospray ionization (esi) solution can effectively increase the charge of concanavalin a dimers and tetramers, but at higher m-nba concentrations, the increases in charge are accompanied by solution-phase dissociation of the dimers an ... | 2011 | 22161509 |
| occurrence, recognition, and reversion of spontaneous, sporulation-deficient bacillus anthracis mutants that arise during laboratory culture. | bacillus anthracis is a spore-forming, soil-dwelling bacterium. this review describes the occurrence of spontaneous mutations leading to loss of sporulation and the selective pressures that can lead to their enrichment. we also discuss recognition of the associated phenotypes on solid medium, thereby allowing researchers to employ measures that either prevent or favor selection of sporulation-deficient mutants. | 2011 | 22166343 |
| Efficacy of a capsule conjugate vaccine against inhalational anthrax in rabbits and monkeys. | Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is recognized as one of the most serious bioterrorism threats. The current human vaccines are based on the protective antigen component of the anthrax toxins. Concern about possible vaccine resistant strains and reliance on a single antigen has prompted the search for additional immunogens. Bacterial capsules, as surface-expressed virulence factors, are well-established components of several licensed vaccines. In a previous study we showed that ... | 2011 | 22172509 |
| Development of a hyena immunology toolbox. | Animals that hunt and scavenge are often exposed to a broad array of pathogens. Theory predicts the immune systems of animals specialized for scavenging should have been molded by selective pressures associated with surviving microbial assaults from their food. Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are capable hunters that have recently descended from carrion feeding ancestors. Hyenas have been documented to survive anthrax and rabies infections, and outbreaks of several other viral diseases that dec ... | 2011 | 22173276 |
| comparative analysis of the responses of related pathogenic and environmental bacteria to oxidative stress. | bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is exposed to host-mediated antibacterial activities, such as reactive oxygen species (ros), during the early stages of its disease process. the ability to resist these host-mediated insults is an essential characteristic of a successful pathogen while it is generally assumed that non-pathogenic environmental bacteria succumb to these antimicrobial activities. in order to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms that pathogens use to resist ... | 2011 | 22174384 |
| a supramolecular sensing platform for phosphate anions and an anthrax biomarker in a microfluidic device. | a supramolecular platform based on self-assembled monolayers (sams) has been implemented in a microfluidic device. the system has been applied for the sensing of two different analyte types: biologically relevant phosphate anions and aromatic carboxylic acids, which are important for anthrax detection. a eu(iii)-edta complex was bound to β-cyclodextrin monolayers via orthogonal supramolecular host-guest interactions. the self-assembly of the eu(iii)-edta conjugate and naphthalene β-diketone as a ... | 2011 | 22174602 |
| A Receptor-based Switch that Regulates Anthrax Toxin Pore Formation. | Cellular receptors can act as molecular switches, regulating the sensitivity of microbial proteins to conformational changes that promote cellular entry. The activities of these receptor-based switches are only partially understood. In this paper, we sought to understand the mechanism that underlies the activity of the ANTXR2 anthrax toxin receptor-based switch that binds to domains 2 and 4 of the protective antigen (PA) toxin subunit. Receptor-binding restricts structural changes within the hep ... | 2011 | 22174672 |
| Molecular epidemiology of anthrax cases associated with recreational use of animal hides and yarn in the United States. | To determine potential links between the clinical isolate to animal products and their geographic origin, we genotyped (MLVA-8, MVLA-15, and canSNP analysis) 80 environmental and 12 clinical isolates and 2 clinical specimens from five cases of anthrax (California in 1976 [n?=?1], New York in 2006 [n?=?1], Connecticut in 2007 [n?=?2], and New Hampshire in 2009[n?=?1]) resulting from recreational handling of animal products. For the California case, four clinical isolates were identified as MLVA-8 ... | 2011 | 22174783 |
| Antibodies against anthrax: mechanisms of action and clinical applications. | B. anthracis is a bioweapon of primary importance and its pathogenicity depends on its lethal and edema toxins, which belong to the A-B model of bacterial toxins, and on its capsule. These toxins are secreted early in the course of the anthrax disease and for this reason antibiotics must be administered early, in addition to other limitations. Antibodies (Abs) may however neutralize those toxins and target this capsule to improve anthrax treatment, and many Abs have been developed in that perspe ... | 2011 | 22174979 |
| S-layer homology motif is an immunogen and confers protection to mouse model against anthrax. | SLH proteins bear an S-layer homology motif comprised of three S-layer homology (SLH) domains. Several SLH proteins in Bacillus anthracis have been recognized as immunogenic in recent past. We hypothesized that the SLH motif, the most common moiety amongst all the SLH proteins could be responsible for their immunogenicity. To test this hypothesis, we checked the immunogenic capacity of recombinant SLH motif. The rSLH fragment on immunization in mice led to the development of a potent humoral and ... | 2011 | 22178119 |
| developing an integrated proteo-genomic approach for the characterisation of biomarkers for the identification of bacillus anthracis. | bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax, an acute and often fatal disease in humans. due to the high genomic relatedness within the bacillus cereus group of species it is a challenge to identify b. anthracis consistently. alternative strategies such as proteomics coupled with mass spectrometry (ms) provide a powerful approach for biomarker discovery. however, validating and evaluating these markers, particularly for genetically homogeneous species such as b. anthracis are challengin ... | 2011 | 22178189 |
| a longitudinal study of uk military personnel offered anthrax vaccination: informed choice, symptom reporting, uptake and pre-vaccination health. | aim: to determine longer term health outcome in a cohort of uk service personnel who received the anthrax vaccination. method: we conducted a three year follow up of uk service personnel all of whom were in the armed forces at the start of the iraq war. 3206 had been offered the anthrax vaccination as part of preparations for the 2003 invasion of iraq. a further 1190 individuals who did not deploy to iraq in 2003 were subsequently offered the vaccination as part of later deployments, and in whom ... | 2011 | 22178523 |
| botulinum toxin: therapeutic agent to cosmetic enhancement to lethal biothreat. | the clinical effects of clostridium botulinum and its extremely potent neurotoxin have been known for two centuries. the disease threat and the clinical uses are now well established. what's changed is the potential for botulinum neurotoxin to be used as a biological threat agent. the recent upsurge of illegal trafficking of reagent-grade toxin could, if bought in large enough quantities, be as serious a threat as other biothreat agents such as anthrax and smallpox, which have received much more ... | 2011 | 22178572 |
| methylation-dependent dna restriction in bacillus anthracis. | bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is poorly transformed with dna that is methylated on adenine or cytosine. here we characterize three genetic loci encoding type iv methylation-dependent restriction enzymes that target dna containing c5-methylcytosine (m5c). strains in which these genes were inactivated, either singly or collectively, showed increased transformation by methylated dna. additionally, a triple mutant with an ~30-kb genomic deletion could be transformed by dna obta ... | 2011 | 22178763 |
| membrane topology of the bacillus anthracis gerh germinant receptor proteins. | bacillus anthracis spores are the etiologic agent of anthrax. nutrient germinant receptors (ngrs) packaged within the inner membrane of the spore sense the presence of specific stimuli in the environment and trigger the process of germination, quickly returning the bacterium to the metabolically active, vegetative bacillus. this ability to sense the host environment and initiate germination is a required step in the infectious cycle. the ngrs are comprised of three subunits: the a-, b-, and c-ty ... | 2011 | 22178966 |
| CELLULAR IRON DISTRIBUTION IN BACILLUS ANTHRACIS. | Although successful iron acquisition by pathogens within a host is a pre-requisite for the establishment of infection, surprisingly little is known about the intracellular distribution of iron within bacterial pathogens. We have used a combination of anaerobic, native liquid chromatography, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, principal component analysis and peptide mass fingerprinting to investigate the cytosolic iron distribution in the pathogen Bacillus anthracis. Our studies identi ... | 2011 | 22178968 |
| [Detection and identification of highly pathogenic bacteria within the framework of the EQADeBa project--Part I: Samples containing living pathogens]. | Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Brucella sp., Bulkholderia mallei are B. pseudomallei are highly pathogenic bacteria of potential bioterrorism risk. To support the early warning and rapid response capacity to ensure an effective reaction to bioterrorist attacks the international project "Establishment of Quality Assurances for Detection of Highly Pathogenic Bacteria of Potential Bioterrorism Risk" (EQADeBa) has been established. The aim of the project was establishme ... | 2011 | 22184939 |
| In situ gastrointestinal protection against anthrax edema toxin by single-chain antibody fragment producing lactobacilli. | ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and is regarded as one of the most prominent bioterrorism threats. Anthrax toxicity is induced by the tripartite toxin complex, composed of the receptor-binding anthrax protective antigen and the two enzymatic subunits, lethal factor and edema factor. Recombinant lactobacilli have previously been used to deliver antibody fragments directed against surface epitopes of a variety of pathogens, including Streptococcus mutan ... | 2011 | 22185669 |
| Identification of a lead small-molecule inhibitor of anthrax lethal toxin by using fluorescence-based high-throughput screening. | Inhalational anthrax is caused by B. anthracis, a virulent sporeforming bacterium which secretes anthrax toxins consisting of protective antigen (PA ), lethal factor (LF ) and edema factor (EF ). LF is a Zn-dependent metalloprotease and is the main determinant in the pathogenesis of anthrax. Here we report the identification of a lead small-molecule inhibitor of anthrax lethal factor by screening an available synthetic small-molecule inhibitor library using fluorescence-based high-throughput scr ... | 2011 | 22189685 |
| Phase 1 Study of a Recombinant Mutant Protective Antigen of Bacillus anthracis. | A Phase 1 study of a recombinant mutant Protective Antigen (rPA) vaccine was conducted in 186 healthy adults aged 18 to 45 years. Volunteers were randomized to receive one of three formulations of rPA (formalin-treated, alum-adsorbed or both) in 10 or 20 µg dosages each, or the licensed vaccine, AVA. Three injections were given at 2 months intervals and a 4(th) one year after the third. Vaccinees were examined once at 48-72 hours following each injection at the clinic. Adverse reactions were rec ... | 2011 | 22190398 |
| Detection of anthrax lef with DNA-based photonic crystal sensors. | Bacillus anthracis has posed a threat of becoming biological weapons of mass destruction due to its virulence factors encoded by the plasmid-borne genes, such as lef for lethal factor. We report the development of a fast and sensitive anthrax DNA biosensor based on a photonic crystal structure used in a total-internal-reflection configuration. For the detection of the lef gene, a single-stranded DNA lef probe was biotinylated and immobilized onto the sensor via biotin-streptavidin interactions. ... | 2011 | 22191936 |
| Scanning surface potential microscopy of spore adhesion on surfaces. | The adhesion of spores of Bacillus anthracis - the cause of anthrax and a likely biological threat - to solid surfaces is an important consideration in cleanup after an accidental or deliberate release. However, because of safety concerns, directly studying B. anthracis spores with advanced instrumentation is problematic. As a first step, we are examining the electrostatic potential of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which is a closely related species that is often used as a simulant to study B. an ... | 2011 | 22196463 |
| validation and long term performance characteristics of a quantitative enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) for human anti-pa igg. | accurate, reliable and standardized quantification of anti-protective antigen (pa) igg antibody levels is essential for comparative analyses of anti-toxin immune responses in anthrax cases, recipients of pa-based anthrax vaccines and for evaluation of anti-pa based immunotherapies. we have previously reported the early performance characteristics and application of a quantitative anti-pa igg enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. the principal application of this assay was in a phase 4 human clinica ... | 2011 | 22197974 |
| Reviewing the role of peptide rarity in bacterial toxin immunomics. | In the past decade, renewed efforts have been made toward the development of vaccines against cancers, infectious agents, autoimmune diseases, and allergies. These efforts have led to the accumulation of numerous peptide sequences experimentally validated as epitopes. However, the factors that render a peptide immunogenic and, more generally, the nature of the antigen-antibody recognition process remain unclear. Based on the hypothesis that potential epitopes correspond to rare sequences and/or ... | 2012 | 22202055 |
| bacillus manliponensis sp. nov., a new member of the bacillus cereus group isolated from foreshore tidal flat sediment. | a gram-positive, endospore-forming, new bacillus species, strain bl4-6(t), was isolated from tidal flat sediment of the yellow sea. strain bl4-6(t) is a straight rod, with motility by peritrichate flagella. the cell wall contains meso-diaminopimelic acid, and the major respiratory quinone is menaquinone-7. the major fatty acids are iso-c(15:0) and summed feature 3 (containing c(16:1) ω7c/iso-c(15:0) 2oh, and/or iso-c(15:0) 2oh/c(16:1) ω7c). cells are catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. the g ... | 2011 | 22203569 |
| anthrax and the inflammasome. | anthrax lethal toxin (lt), a major virulence determinant of anthrax disease, induces vascular collapse in mice and rats. lt activates the nlrp1 inflammasome in macrophages and dendritic cells, resulting in caspase-1 activation, il-1β and il-18 maturation and a rapid cell death (pyroptosis). this review presents the current understanding of lt-induced activation of nlrp1 in cells and its consequences for toxin-mediated effects in rodent toxin and spore challenge models. | 2011 | 22207185 |
| rapid sample preparation method of bacillus spores in powdery and environmental matrices based on filtration separation. | suspicious powders and other samples need to be analyzed frequently for biothreat agents by authorities to assess environmental safety. numerous nucleic acid detection technologies have been developed to detect and identify biowarfare agents in a timely fashion. extracting microbial nucleic acids from a wide variety of powdery and environmental samples to obtain a quality level adequate for these technologies still remains a technical challenge. we aimed to develop a rapid and versatile method t ... | 2011 | 22210204 |
| coatings capable of germinating and neutralizing bacillus anthracis endospores. | endospores are formed by various bacterial families, including bacillus and clostridium, in response to environmental stresses as a means to survive conditions inhospitable to vegetative growth. although metabolically inert, the endospore must interact with its environment to determine an optimal time to return to a vegetative state, a process known as germination. germination has been shown to occur in response to a variety of chemical stimuli from specific nutrient germinants including amino a ... | 2012 | 22211260 |
| inhibition of bacterial carbonic anhydrases and zinc proteases: from orphantargets to innovative new antibiotic drugs. | zinc-containing enzymes, such as carbonic anhydrases (cas) and metalloproteases (mps) play critical functions in bacteria, being involved in various steps of their life cycle, which are important for survival, colonization, acquisition of nutrients for growth and proliferation, facilitation of dissemination, invasion and pathogenicity. the development of resistance to many classes of clinically used antibiotics emphasizes the need of new antibacterial drug targets to be explored. there is a weal ... | 2012 | 22214451 |
| the dark sides of capillary morphogenesis gene 2. | capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (cmg2) is a type i membrane protein involved in the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix. while it shares interesting similarities with integrins, its exact molecular role is unknown. the interest and knowledge about cmg2 largely stems from the fact that it is involved in two diseases, one infectious and one genetic. cmg2 is the main receptor of the anthrax toxin, and knocking out this gene in mice renders them insensitive to infection with bacillus anthracis sp ... | 2011 | 22215446 |
| detecting anthrax in the mail by coherent raman microspectroscopy. | in this report, we show the collection of spatial information through a turbid medium by coherent raman microspectroscopic imaging. in particular, the technique is capable of identifying anthrax endospores inside a sealed paper envelope. | 2012 | 22215594 |
| the pore-forming protein cry5b elicits the pathogenicity of bacillus sp. against caenorhabditis elegans. | the soil bacterium bacillus thuringiensis is a pathogen of insects and nematodes and is very closely related to, if not the same species as, bacillus cereus and bacillus anthracis. the defining characteristic of b. thuringiensis that sets it apart from b. cereus and b. anthracis is the production of crystal (cry) proteins, which are pore-forming toxins or pore-forming proteins (pfps). although it is known that pfps are important virulence factors since their elimination results in reduced virule ... | 2011 | 22216181 |
| development of aptamer beacons for rapid presumptive detection of bacillus spores. | a library of 92 dna aptamer sequences was developed against bacillus anthracis (nonpathogenic sterne strain) spores and anthrose sugar immobilized on magnetic beads. the selected dna sequences were studied for similarities and potential binding pockets between the b. anthracis spore and anthrose aptamers. several recurring loop structures were identified and tested for their potential to act as aptamer beacons when labeled with tye 665 dye on their 5' ends and iowa black quencher on their 3' end ... | 2012 | 22218972 |
| binding and cell intoxication studies of anthrax lethal toxin. | anthrax lethal toxin (lt) is a major virulence factor of bacillus anthracis. the vast majority of the anthrax toxin-related literature describes the assembly of lt as a cell-dependent process. however, some reports have provided evidence for the existence of a fully assembled lt, either in vitro or in the bloodstream of anthrax-infected animals. to follow up on this work, we present studies on fully-assembled lt. we first demonstrate facile and cell-free assembly and purification of lt. we then ... | 2012 | 22219086 |
| structural studies on antd: an n-acyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of d-anthrose. | the unusual dideoxysugar d-anthrose has been identified as an important component in the endospores of such infectious agents as bacillus anthracis and bacillus cereus. specifically, it is the terminal sugar on the bacterium's exosporium, and it provides a point of interaction between the spore and the host. the biosynthesis of d-anthrose involves numerous steps starting from α-d-glucose-1-phosphate. here we present a combined structural and functional investigation of antd from b. cereus. this ... | 2012 | 22220494 |
| apoptosis, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of phytochemicals from garcinia malaccensis hk.f. | to study the chemical constituents of stembark of garcinia malaccensis (g. malaccensis) together with apoptotic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. | 2012 | 22221758 |
| protective antigen antibody augments hemodynamic support in anthrax lethal toxin shock in canines. | background. anthrax-associated shock is closely linked to lethal toxin (lt) release and is highly lethal despite conventional hemodynamic support. we investigated whether protective antigen-directed monoclonal antibody (pa-mab) treatment further augments titrated hemodynamic support.methods and results. forty sedated, mechanically ventilated, instrumented canines challenged with anthrax lt were assigned to no treatment (controls), hemodynamic support alone (protocol-titrated fluids and norepinep ... | 2012 | 22223857 |
| comparison of quantitative pcr and culture-based methods for evaluating dispersal of bacillus thuringiensis endospores at a bioterrorism hoax crime scene. | since the anthrax mail attacks of 2001, law enforcement agencies have processed thousands of suspicious mail incidents globally, many of which are hoax bioterrorism threats. bio-insecticide preparations containing bacillus thuringiensis (bt) spores have been involved in several such threats in australia, leading to the requirement for rapid and sensitive detection techniques for this organism, a close relative of bacillus anthracis. here we describe the development of a quantitative pcr (qpcr) m ... | 2012 | 22227150 |
| bacillus anthracis-derived edema toxin (et) counter-regulates movement of neutrophils and macromolecules through the endothelial paracellular pathway. | abstract: background: a common finding amongst patients with inhalational anthrax is a paucity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (pmns) in infected tissues in the face of abundant circulating pmns. a major virulence determinant of anthrax is edema toxin (et), which is formed by the combination of two proteins produced by the organism, edema factor (ef), which is an adenyl cyclase, and protective antigen (pa). since camp, a product of adenyl cyclase, is known to enhance endothelial barrier integri ... | 2012 | 22230035 |