Publications

dismantling the taboo against vaccines in pregnancy.	vaccinating pregnant women in order to protect them, the fetus, and the child has become universal in no way at all. prejudice in health professionals add to fears of women and their families. both these feelings are not supported by even the smallest scientific data. harmlessness for the mother and the child has been observed for seasonal, pandemic, or quadrivalent influenza, mono, combined polysaccharide or conjugated meningococcal or pneumococcal, tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis, human pa ...	2016	27338346
label-free detection and discrimination of bacterial pathogens based on hemin recognition.	hemin linked to hexa(ethylene glycol)bishydrazide was patterned by inkjet printing into periodic microarrays, and evaluated for their ability to capture bacterial pathogens expressing various hemin receptors. bacterial adhesion was imaged under darkfield conditions with fourier analysis, supporting a label-free method of pathogen detection. hemin microarrays were screened against a panel of 16 bacteria and found capable of capturing multiple species, some with limits of detection as low as 10(3) ...	2016	27337653
spore germination.	despite being resistant to a variety of environmental insults, the bacterial endospore can sense the presence of small molecules and respond by germinating, losing the specialized structures of the dormant spore, and resuming active metabolism, before outgrowing into vegetative cells. our current level of understanding of the spore germination process in bacilli and clostridia is reviewed, with particular emphasis on the germinant receptors characterized in bacillus subtilis, bacillus cereus, an ...	2015	27337279
an outbreak of cutaneous anthrax in yunnan, china.		2016	27329849
protection of rhesus macaques against inhalational anthrax with a bacillus anthracis capsule conjugate vaccine.	the efficacy of currently licensed anthrax vaccines is largely attributable to a single bacillus anthracis immunogen, protective antigen. to broaden protection against possible strains resistant to protective antigen-based vaccines, we previously developed a vaccine in which the anthrax polyglutamic acid capsule was covalently conjugated to the outer membrane protein complex of neisseria meningitidis serotype b and demonstrated that two doses of 2.5μg of this vaccine conferred partial protection ...	2016	27329184
bacillus anthracis spore movement does not require a carrier cell and is not affected by lethal toxin in human lung models.	the lung is the entry site for bacillus anthracis in inhalation anthrax, the most deadly form of the disease. spores escape from the alveolus to regional lymph nodes, germinate and enter the circulatory system to cause disease. the roles of carrier cells and the effects of b. anthracis toxins in this process are unclear. we used a human lung organ culture model to measure spore uptake by antigen presenting cells (apc) and alveolar epithelial cells (aec), spore partitioning between these cells, a ...	2016	27320392
cationic host defense peptides; novel antimicrobial therapeutics against category a pathogens and emerging infections.	cationic host defense peptides (hdp, also known as antimicrobial peptides) are crucial components of the innate immune system and possess broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities. they can contribute to the rapid clearance of biological agents through direct killing of the organisms, inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators such as lipopolysaccharide, and by modulating the inflammatory response to infection. category a biological agents and materials, as classifie ...	2017	27315342
pharmaceutical approval update.	obiltoxaximab injection (anthim) for anthrax infection; ixekizumab (taltz) for psoriasis; and reslizumab (cinqair) for severe asthma.	2016	27313431
bacillus anthracis spore surface protein bcla mediates complement factor h binding to spores and promotes spore persistence.	spores of bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, are known to persist in the host lungs for prolonged periods of time, however the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. in this study, we demonstrated that bcla, a major surface protein of b. anthracis spores, mediated direct binding of complement factor h (cfh) to spores. the surface bound cfh retained its regulatory cofactor activity resulting in c3 degradation and inhibition of downstream complement activation. by comparing re ...	2016	27304426
conceptualization of a health care coalition framework in georgia based on the existing regional coordinating hospital infrastructure.	the watershed events of september 11, 2001; the anthrax attacks; hurricane katrina; and h1n1 necessitated that the united states define alternative mechanisms for disaster response. specifically, there was a need to shift from a capacity building approach to a capabilities based approach that would place more emphasis on the health care community rather than just first responders. georgia responded to this initiative by creating a regional coordinating hospital (rch) infrastructure that was resp ...	2016	27303765
inactivation of bacillus anthracis spores during laboratory-scale composting of feedlot cattle manure.	anthrax outbreaks in livestock have social, economic and health implications, altering farmer's livelihoods, impacting trade and posing a zoonotic risk. our study investigated the survival of bacillus thuringiensis and b. anthracis spores sporulated at 15, 20, or 37°c, over 33 days of composting. spores (∼7.5 log10 cfu g(-1)) were mixed with manure and composted in laboratory scale composters. after 15 days, the compost was mixed and returned to the composter for a second cycle. temperatures pea ...	2016	27303388
phylogenetic characteristics of anthrax outbreaks in liaoning province, china, 2001-2015.	anthrax is a continuous threat in china, especially in rural regions. in july 2015, an anthrax outbreak occurred in xifeng county, liaoning province. a total of 10 cutaneous anthrax cases were reported, with 210 people under medical observation. in this study, the general characteristics of human anthrax outbreak occurred in liaoning province were described, and all cases were caused by butchering and contacting sick animal. meanwhile, the phylogenetic relationship between outbreak-related isola ...	2016	27299730
identical twins with infantile systemic hyalinosis: case study and review of literature.	infantile systemic hyalinosis (ish) is a rare and fatal genetic disorder with mutations in capillary morphogenesis gene-2 cmg2 / human anthrax toxin receptor gene-2 antxr2 resulting in spindle cell proliferation, altered collagen metabolism with extensive deposition of amorphous eosinophilic pas positive hyaline material in the connective tissues of various organs. the common presenting features would be progressive stiffness of multiple joints, skin lesions, multiple episodes of protracted infe ...	2017	27299133
redefining the australian anthrax belt: modeling the ecological niche and predicting the geographic distribution of bacillus anthracis.	the ecology and distribution of b. anthracis in australia is not well understood, despite the continued occurrence of anthrax outbreaks in the eastern states of the country. efforts to estimate the spatial extent of the risk of disease have been limited to a qualitative definition of an anthrax belt extending from southeast queensland through the centre of new south wales and into northern victoria. this definition of the anthrax belt does not consider the role of environmental conditions in the ...	2016	27280981
unique inflammatory mediators and specific ige levels distinguish local from systemic reactions after anthrax vaccine adsorbed vaccination.	although the u.s. national academy of sciences concluded that anthrax vaccine adsorbed (ava) has an adverse event (ae) profile similar to those of other adult vaccines, 30 to 70% of queried ava vaccinees report aes. aes appear to be correlated with certain demographic factors, but the underlying immunologic pathways are poorly understood. we evaluated a cohort of 2,421 ava vaccinees and found 153 (6.3%) reported an ae. females were more likely to experience aes (odds ratio [or] = 6.0 [95% confid ...	2016	27280620
fast, sensitive point of care electrochemical molecular system for point mutation and select agent detection.	point of care molecular diagnostics benefits from a portable battery-operated device capable of performing a fast turnaround using reliable inexpensive cartridges. we describe a prototype device for performing a molecular diagnostics test for clinical and biodefense samples in 16 minutes using a prototype capable of an 8 minute pcr reaction, followed by hybridization and detection on an electrochemical microarray based on the i-stat® system. we used human buccal swabs for hemochromatosis testing ...	2016	27280174
source and risk factors of a cutaneous anthrax outbreak, jiangsu, eastern china, 2012.	anthrax is still a severe public health problem and threat to human health. a cutaneous anthrax outbreak occurred in jiangsu province, a non-endemic anthrax region of eastern china, from july to august 2012. epidemiological and laboratory investigation were initiated to trace the source of infection and identify the risk factors of the outbreak. on 25 july 2012, 17 persons were exposed to a sick cow, which had been imported from northeast china a few days previously. of the 17 exposed, eight dev ...	2016	27277672
requirements for the development of bacillus anthracis spore reference materials used to test detection systems.	bacillus anthracis spores have been used as biological weapons and the possibility of their further use requires surveillance systems that can accurately and reliably detect their presence in the environment. these systems must collect samples from a variety of matrices, process the samples, and detect the spores. the processing of the sample may include removal of inhibitors, concentration of the target, and extraction of the target in a form suitable for detection. suitable reference materials ...	2017	27274929
revisiting the concept of targeting only bacillus anthracis toxins as a treatment for anthrax.	protective antigen (pa)-based vaccines are effective in preventing the development of fatal anthrax disease both in humans and in relevant animal models. the bacillus anthracis toxins lethal toxin (lethal factor [lf] plus pa) and edema toxin (edema factor [ef] plus pa) are essential for the establishment of the infection, as inactivation of these toxins results in attenuation of the pathogen. since the toxins reach high toxemia levels at the bacteremic stages of the disease, the cdc's recommenda ...	2016	27270276
lethal exposure: an integrated approach to pathogen transmission via environmental reservoirs.	to mitigate the effects of zoonotic diseases on human and animal populations, it is critical to understand what factors alter transmission dynamics. here we assess the risk of exposure to lethal concentrations of the anthrax bacterium, bacillus anthracis, for grazing animals in a natural system over time through different transmission mechanisms. we follow pathogen concentrations at anthrax carcass sites and waterholes for five years and estimate infection risk as a function of grass, soil or wa ...	2016	27265371
anthrax edema factor: an ion-adaptive mechanism of catalysis with increased transition-state conformational flexibility.	edema factor (ef) is one of three major toxins of anthrax. ef is an adenylyl cyclase that disrupts cell signaling by accelerating the conversion of atp into cyclic-amp. ef has a much higher catalytic rate than that of mammalian adenylyl cyclases (macs). crystal structures were obtained for macs and ef, but the molecular basis for different catalytic activities remained poorly understood. in particular, the arrangement of the active site in ef is unclear in what concerns the number of ions presen ...	2016	27260163
anthrax toxin-expressing bacillus cereus isolated from an anthrax-like eschar.	bacillus cereus isolates have been described harboring bacillus anthracis toxin genes, most notably b. cereus g9241, and capable of causing severe and fatal pneumonias. this report describes the characterization of a b. cereus isolate, bcfl2013, associated with a naturally occurring cutaneous lesion resembling an anthrax eschar. similar to g9241, bcfl2013 is positive for the b. anthracis pxo1 toxin genes, has a multi-locus sequence type of 78, and a paga sequence type of 9. whole genome sequenci ...	2016	27257909
highly stable lyophilized homogeneous bead-based immunoassays for on-site detection of bio warfare agents from complex matrices.	this study shows the development of dry, highly stable immunoassays for the detection of bio warfare agents in complex matrices. thermal stability was achieved by the lyophilization of the complete, homogeneous, bead-based immunoassay in a special stabilizing buffer, resulting in a ready-to-use, simple assay, which exhibited long shelf and high-temperature endurance (up to 1 week at 100 °c). the developed methodology was successfully implemented for the preservation of time-resolved fluorescence ...	2016	27253489
in vitro biosynthesis and substrate tolerance of the plantazolicin family of natural products.	plantazolicin (pzn) is a ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (ripp) natural product that exhibits extraordinarily narrow-spectrum antibacterial activity toward the causative agent of anthrax, bacillus anthracis. during pzn biosynthesis, a cyclodehydratase catalyzes cyclization of cysteine, serine, and threonine residues in the pzn precursor peptide (bama) to azolines. subsequently, a dehydrogenase oxidizes most of these azolines to thiazoles and (methyl)oxazoles. th ...	2016	27248686
an internal standard approach for homogeneous tr-fret immunoassays facilitates the detection of bacteria, biomarkers, and toxins in complex matrices.	the recent development of a homogeneous time-resolved förster resonance energy transfer (tr-fret) immunoassay enables one-step, rapid (minutes), and direct detection compared to the multistep, time-consuming (hours), heterogeneous elisa-type immunoassays. the use of the time-resolved effect of a donor lanthanide complex with a delay time of microseconds and large stokes shift enables the separation of positive signals from the background autofluorescence of the sample. however, this study shows ...	2016	27236318
the spore coat.	spores of clostridiales and bacillales are encased in a complex series of concentric shells that provide protection, facilitate germination, and mediate interactions with the environment. analysis of diverse spore-forming species by thin-section transmission electron microscopy reveals that the number and morphology of these encasing shells vary greatly. in some species, they appear to be composed of a small number of discrete layers. in other species, they can comprise multiple, morphologically ...	2016	27227299
crystal structures of the spoiid lytic transglycosylases essential for bacterial sporulation.	bacterial spores are the most resistant form of life known on earth and represent a serious problem for (i) bioterrorism attack, (ii) horizontal transmission of microbial pathogens in the community, and (iii) persistence in patients and in a nosocomial environment. stage ii sporulation protein d (spoiid) is a lytic transglycosylase (lt) essential for sporulation. the lt superfamily is a potential drug target because it is active in essential bacterial processes involving the peptidoglycan, which ...	2016	27226615
storage effects on sample integrity of environmental surface sampling specimens with bacillus anthracis spores.	the effect of packaging, shipping temperatures and storage times on recovery of bacillus anthracis. sterne spores from swabs was investigated. macrofoam swabs were pre-moistened, inoculated with bacillus anthracis spores, and packaged in primary containment or secondary containment before storage at -15°c, 5°c, 21°c, or 35°c for 0-7 days. swabs were processed according to validated centers for disease control/laboratory response network culture protocols, and the percent recovery relative to a r ...	2013	27213119
maldi-tof ms portrait of emetic and non-emetic bacillus cereus group members.	the number of foodborne intoxications caused by emetic bacillus cereus isolates has increased significantly. as such, rapid and reliable methods to identify emetic strains appear to be clinically relevant. in this study, intact cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) was used to differentiate emetic and non-emetic bacilli. the phyloproteomic clustering of 34 b. cereus emetic and 88 non-emetic isolates classified as b. cereus, bacillus thur ...	2016	27196540
[a method for differentiation of bacillus anthracis strains and phylogenetically related species based on determination of the structural differencesbetween chromosomal genes for biosynthesis of flagellin and methionine].	nucleotide sequence analysis of several genes responsible for the anthrax pathogen definitive properties--motility and penicillinase activity--determined a chromosomal locus promising for interspecies differentiation. we demonstrated that the gene flic encoding flagellin synthesis contains extended region, distinguishing b. anthracis strains from the majority of non-pathogenic and opportunistic bacilli. a novel method for the anthrax pathogen indication and identification based on determination ...	2015	27192817
dielectrophoretic applications for disease diagnostics using lab-on-a-chip platforms.	dielectrophoresis is a powerful technique used to distinguish distinct cellular identities in heterogeneous cell populations and to monitor changes in the cell state without the need for biochemical tags, including live and dead cells. recent studies in the past decade have indicated that dielectrophoresis can be used to discriminate the disease state of cells by exploring the differences in the dielectric polarizabilities of the cells. factors controlling the dielectric polarizability are depen ...	2016	27191245
rapid and facile ratiometric detection of an anthrax biomarker by regulating energy transfer process in bio-metal-organic framework.	a ratiometric fluorescent sensor based on luminescent bio-metal-organic framework was prepared by exchanging both tb(3+) and eu(3+) cations into anionic bio-mof-1. due to a highly efficient energy transfer from tb(3+) to eu(3+) (>89%), emission color of tb/eu@bio-mof-1 was orange-red even though tb(3+) was the dominant content in this tb/eu co-doping material. more interestingly, this energy transfer process could be modulated by dipicolinic acid (dpa), an unique biomarker for bacillus spores. w ...	2016	27183278
targeted next-generation sequencing for the detection of ciprofloxacin resistance markers using molecular inversion probes.	antibiotic resistance (ar) is an epidemic of increasing magnitude requiring rapid identification and profiling for appropriate and timely therapeutic measures and containment strategies. in this context, ciprofloxacin is part of the first-line of countermeasures against numerous high consequence bacteria. significant resistance can occur via single nucleotide polymorphisms (snp) and deletions within ciprofloxacin targeted genes. ideally, use of ciprofloxacin would be prefaced with ar determinati ...	2016	27174456
antxr-1 and -2 independent modulation of a cytotoxicity mediated by anthrax toxin in human cells.	several animal models have shown that anthrax toxin (atx) elicits a cytotoxic effect on host cells through anthrax toxin receptor (antxr) function. in this study, compared with mouse cells, cells obtained from humans exhibited low sensitivity to atx-mediated cytotoxicity, and the sensitivity was not correlated with expression levels of antxrs. atx treatment also induced a cytotoxic effect in other cultured human cells, human embryonic kidney (hek) 293 cells, that express antxrs at undetectable l ...	2016	27170489
predicting disease risk, identifying stakeholders, and informing control strategies: a case study of anthrax in montana.	infectious diseases that affect wildlife and livestock are challenging to manage and can lead to large-scale die-offs, economic losses, and threats to human health. the management of infectious diseases in wildlife and livestock is made easier with knowledge of disease risk across space and identifying stakeholders associated with high-risk landscapes. this study focuses on anthrax, caused by the bacterium bacillus anthracis, risk to wildlife and livestock in montana. there is a history of anthr ...	2016	27169560
cxcl10 acts as a bifunctional antimicrobial molecule against bacillus anthracis.	bacillus anthracis is killed by the interferon-inducible, elr(-) cxc chemokine cxcl10. previous studies showed that disruption of the gene encoding ftsx, a conserved membrane component of the atp-binding cassette transporter-like complex ftse/x, resulted in resistance to cxcl10. ftsx exhibits some sequence similarity to the mammalian cxcl10 receptor, cxcr3, suggesting that the cxcl10 n-terminal region that interacts with cxcr3 may also interact with ftsx. a c-terminal truncated cxcl10 was tested ...	2016	27165799
pasteur revisited: an unexpected finding in bacillus anthracis vaccine strains.		2016	27163362
evaluation of early immune response-survival relationship in cynomolgus macaques after anthrax vaccine adsorbed vaccination and bacillus anthracis spore challenge.	anthrax vaccine adsorbed (ava, biothrax) is approved by the us food and drug administration for post-exposure prophylaxis (pep) of anthrax in adults. the pep schedule is 3 subcutaneous (sc) doses (0, 14 and 28 days), in conjunction with a 60 day course of antimicrobials. the objectives of this study were to understand the onset of protection from ava pep vaccination and to assess the potential for shortening the duration of antimicrobial treatment (http://www.phe.gov/preparedness/mcm/phemce/docu ...	2016	27155494
plantazolicin is an ultra-narrow spectrum antibiotic that targets the bacillus anthracis membrane.	plantazolicin (pzn) is a ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified natural product from bacillus methylotrophicus fzb42 and bacillus pumilus. extensive tailoring to twelve of the fourteen amino acid residues in the mature natural product endows pzn with not only a rigid, polyheterocyclic structure, but also antibacterial activity. here we report a remarkably discriminatory activity of pzn toward bacillus anthracis, which rivals a previously-described gamma (γ) phage lysis assay i ...	2016	27152321
biothrax and anthrasil for anthrax.		2016	27148924
correction: mapping the distribution of anthrax in mainland china, 2005-2013.	[this corrects the article doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004637.].	2016	27145181
structural analysis of cofactor binding for a prolyl 4-hydroxylase from the pathogenic bacterium bacillus anthracis.	the prolyl 4-hydroxylases (p4hs) are mononuclear nonheme iron enzymes that catalyze the formation of 4r-hydroxyproline from many different substrates, with various biological implications. p4h is a key player in collagen accumulation, which has implications in fibrotic disorders. the stabilization of collagen triple-helical structure via prolyl hydroxylation is the rate-limiting step in collagen biosynthesis, and therefore p4h has been extensively investigated as a potential therapeutic target o ...	2016	27139630
the intxo-psl recombination system is a key component of the second maintenance system for bacillus anthracis plasmid pxo1.	we previously identified three noncontiguous regions on bacillus anthracis plasmid pxo1 that comprise a system for accurate plasmid partitioning and maintenance. however, deletion of these regions did not decrease retention of certain shortened pxo1 plasmids during vegetative growth. using two genetic tools developed for dna manipulation in b. anthracis (the cre-loxp and flp-frt systems), we found two other noncontiguous pxo1 regions that together are sufficient for plasmid stability. this secon ...	2016	27137503
lack of evidence for plague or anthrax on the new york city subway.	ackelsberg et al. point out a lack of evidence in the dataset of afshinekoo et al. for the presence of plague and anthrax on the new york city subway.	2015	27135683
bacillus anthracis prolyl 4-hydroxylase modifies collagen-like substrates in asymmetric patterns.	proline hydroxylation is the most prevalent post-translational modification in collagen. the resulting product trans-4-hydroxyproline (hyp) is of critical importance for the stability and thus function of collagen, with defects leading to several diseases. prolyl 4-hydroxylases (p4hs) are mononuclear non-heme iron α-ketoglutarate (αkg)-dependent dioxygenases that catalyze hyp formation. although animal and plant p4hs target peptidyl proline, prokaryotes have been known to use free l-proline as a ...	2016	27129244
multigeneration cross-contamination of mail with bacillus anthracis spores.	the release of biological agents, including those which could be used in biowarfare or bioterrorism in large urban areas, has been a concern for governments for nearly three decades. previous incidents from sverdlosk and the postal anthrax attack of 2001 have raised questions on the mechanism of spread of bacillus anthracis spores as an aerosol or contaminant. prior studies have demonstrated that bacillus atrophaeus is easily transferred through simulated mail handing, but no reports have demons ...	2016	27123934
cyclic diguanylate regulation of bacillus cereus group biofilm formation.	biofilm formation can be considered a bacterial virulence mechanism. in a range of gram-negatives, increased levels of the second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-gmp) promotes biofilm formation and reduces motility. other bacterial processes known to be regulated by c-di-gmp include cell division, differentiation and virulence. among gram-positive bacteria, where the function of c-di-gmp signalling is less well characterized, c-di-gmp was reported to regulate swarming motility in bacillus sub ...	2016	27116468
chloroquine derivatives block the translocation pores and inhibit cellular entry of clostridium botulinum c2 toxin and bacillus anthracis lethal toxin.	the pathogenic bacteria clostridium botulinum and bacillus anthracis produce the binary protein toxins c2 and lethal toxin (lt), respectively. these toxins consist of a binding/transport (b7) component that delivers the separate enzyme (a) component into the cytosol of target cells where it modifies its specific substrate and causes cell death. the b7 components of c2 toxin and lt, c2iia and pa63, respectively, are ring-shaped heptamers that bind to their cellular receptors and form complexes wi ...	2017	27106023
production of functionally active and immunogenic non-glycosylated protective antigen from bacillus anthracis in nicotiana benthamiana by co-expression with peptide-n-glycosidase f (pngase f) of flavobacterium meningosepticum.	bacillus anthracis has long been considered a potential biological warfare agent, and therefore, there is a need for a safe, low-cost and highly efficient anthrax vaccine with demonstrated long-term stability for mass vaccination in case of an emergency. many efforts have been made towards developing an anthrax vaccine based on recombinant protective antigen (rpa) of b. anthracis, a key component of the anthrax toxin, produced using different expression systems. plants represent a promising reco ...	2016	27101370
outer membrane vesicles of lysobacter sp. xl1: biogenesis, functions, and applied prospects.	outer membrane vesicles (omvs) produced by gram-negative bacteria have been intensively investigated in recent times. vesicle formation models have been proposed, some factors affecting the process were established, and important roles vesicles play in vital activities of their producing cells were determined. studies of pathogenic bacterial vesicles contribute to understanding the causes of acute infection and developing drugs on their basis. despite intensive research, issues associated with t ...	2016	27098257
mapping the distribution of anthrax in mainland china, 2005-2013.	anthrax, a global re-emerging zoonotic disease in recent years is enzootic in mainland china. despite its significance to the public health, spatiotemporal distributions of the disease in human and livestock and its potential driving factors remain poorly understood.	2016	27097318
study of surveillance data for class b notifiable disease in china from 2005 to 2014.	the surveillance of infection is very important for public health management and disease control. it has been 10 years since china implemented its new web-based infection surveillance system, which covers the largest population in the world.	2016	27094249
sensing and inactivation of bacillus anthracis sterne by polymer-bromine complexes.	we report on the performance of brominated poly(n-vinylpyrrolidone) (pvp-br), brominated poly(ethylene glycol) (peg-br), and brominated poly(allylamine-co-4-aminopyridine) (paam-apy-br) for their ability to decontaminate bacillus anthracis sterne spores in solution while also allowing for the sensing of the spores. the polymers were brominated by bromine using carbon tetrachloride or potassium tribromide as solvents, with bromine loadings ranging from 1.6 to 4.2 meq/g of polymer. b. anthracis st ...	2016	27087522
obiltoxaximab: first global approval.	obiltoxaximab (anthim(®), eti-204) is a monoclonal antibody that is being developed by elusys therapeutics and the us department of health and human services' biomedical advanced research and development authority for the prevention and treatment of inhalational anthrax due to bacillus anthracis. obiltoxaximab has been designed to neutralize the free protective antigen of b. anthracis, thereby inhibiting the lethal effects of anthrax toxins. in march 2016, intravenous obiltoxaximab was approved ...	2016	27085536
genotype analysis of bacillus anthracis strains circulating in bangladesh.	in bangladesh, anthrax, caused by the bacterium bacillus anthracis, is considered an endemic disease affecting ruminants with sporadic zoonotic occurrences in humans. due to the lack of knowledge about risks from an incorrect removal of infected carcasses, the disease is not properly monitored, and because of the socio-economic conditions, the situation is under-reported and under-diagnosed. for sensitive species, anthrax represents a fatal outcome with sudden death and sometimes bleeding from n ...	2016	27082248
optimization, production, and characterization of a cpg-oligonucleotide-ficoll conjugate nanoparticle adjuvant for enhanced immunogenicity of anthrax protective antigen.	we have synthesized and characterized a novel phosphorothioate cpg oligodeoxynucleotide (cpg odn)-ficoll conjugated nanoparticulate adjuvant, termed dv230-ficoll. this adjuvant was constructed from an amine-functionalized-ficoll, a heterobifunctional linker (succinimidyl-[(n-maleimidopropionamido)-hexaethylene glycol] ester) and the cpg-odn dv230. herein, we describe the evaluation of the purity and reactivity of linkers of different lengths for cpg-odn-ficoll conjugation, optimization of linker ...	2016	27074387
inhibitors of the metalloproteinase anthrax lethal factor.	bacillus anthracis, a rod shaped, spore forming, gram positive bacteria, is the etiological agent of anthrax. b. anthracis virulence is partly attributable to two secreted bipartite protein toxins, which act inside host cells to disrupt signaling pathways important for host defense against infection. these toxins may also directly contribute to mortality in late stage infection. the zinc-dependent metalloproteinase anthrax lethal factor (lf) is a critical component of one of these protein toxins ...	2016	27072692
c/ebpβ-thr217 phosphorylation stimulates macrophage inflammasome activation and liver injury.	amplification of liver injury is mediated by macrophages but the signaling by which the macrophage inflammasome enhances liver injury is not completely understood. the ccaat/enhancer binding protein-β (c/ebpβ) is a critical signaling molecule for macrophages because expression of a dominant inhibitor of c/ebpβ dna-binding sites or a targeted deletion of c/ebpβ results in impaired macrophage differentiation. we reported that expression of the phosphorylation-mutant c/ebpβ-glu217, which mimics pho ...	2016	27067260
genome sequence of bacillus anthracis strain stendal, isolated from an anthrax outbreak in cattle in germany.	in july 2012, an anthrax outbreak occurred among cattle in northern germany resulting in ten losses. here, we report the draft genome sequence ofbacillus anthracisstrain stendal, isolated from one of the diseased cows.	2016	27056225
delivery of non-native cargo into mammalian cells using anthrax lethal toxin.	the intracellular delivery of peptide and protein therapeutics is a major challenge due to the plasma membrane, which acts as a barrier between the extracellular environment and the intracellular milieu. over the past two decades, a nontoxic pa/lfn delivery platform derived from anthrax lethal toxin has been developed for the transport of non-native cargo into the cytosol of cells in order to understand the translocation process through a protective antigen (pa) pore and to probe intracellular b ...	2016	27055654
awareness, knowledge, and risks of zoonotic diseases among livestock farmers in punjab.	the present study was conducted to assess the awareness, knowledge, and risks of zoonotic diseases among livestock farmers in punjab.	2016	27051206
electrophysiological evidences of interaction between calcium channels and pa of anthrax.		2016	27045324
profiling lethal factor interacting proteins from human stomach using t7 phage display screening.	the anthrax lethal factor (lf) is a zinc dependent metalloproteinase that cleaves the majority of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases and a member of nod-like receptor proteins, inducing cell apoptosis. despite efforts to fully understand the bacillus anthracis toxin components, the gastrointestinal (gi) anthrax mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. previous studies demonstrated gastric ulceration, and a substantial bacterial growth rate in peyer's patches. however, the complete molecu ...	2016	27035230
identification and pathogenic potential of clinical bacillus and paenibacillus isolates.	the soil-related bacillus and paenibacillus species have increasingly been implicated in various human diseases. nevertheless, their identification still poses problems in the clinical microbiology laboratory and, with the exception of bacillus anthracis and bacillus cereus, little is known on their pathogenicity for humans. in this study, we evaluated the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) in the identification of clinical isolates ...	2016	27031639
administration of dna plasmid coding protein aggregating domain induces inflammatory bone loss.	plasmids coding protein aggregation polypeptides from different sources have been proposed as genetic adjuvants for dna vaccines. we reported that a plasmid (patrex), encompassing the dna sequence for the von willebrand a (vwa/a) domain of the anthrax toxin receptor-1 (antxr-1, alias tem8, tumor endothelial marker 8), acts as strong immune adjuvant by inducing formation of insoluble intracellular aggregates and subsequent cell death.	2016	27029946
identification of the pxo1 plasmid in attenuated bacillus anthracis vaccine strains.	anthrax toxins and capsule are the major virulence factors of bacillus anthracis. they are encoded by genes located on the plasmids pxo1 and pxo2, respectively. the vaccine strain pasteur ii was produced from high temperature subcultures of b. anthracis, which resulted in virulence attenuation through the loss of the plasmid pxo1. however, it is unclear whether the high temperature culture completely abolishes the plasmid dna or affects the replication of the plasmid pxo1. in this study, we test ...	2016	27029580
[perspectives of development of live recombinant anthrax vaccines based on opportunistic and apathogenic microorganisms].	live genetic engineering anthrax vaccines on the platform of avirulent and probiotic micro-organisms are a safe and adequate alternative to preparations based on attenuated bacillus anthracis strains. mucosal application results in a direct contact of the vaccine preparations with mucous membranes in those organs arid tissues of the macro-organisms, that are exposed to the pathogen in the first place, resulting in a development of local and systemic immune response. live recombinant anthrax vacc ...	2016	27029122
identifying meningitis during an anthrax mass casualty incident: systematic review of systemic anthrax since 1880.	bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is a potential bioterrorism agent. anthrax meningitis is a common manifestation of b. anthracis infection, has high mortality, and requires more aggressive treatment than anthrax without meningitis. its rapid identification and treatment are essential for successful management of an anthrax mass casualty incident.	2016	27025833
a comparison of the adaptive immune response between recovered anthrax patients and individuals receiving three different anthrax vaccines.	several different human vaccines are available to protect against anthrax. we compared the human adaptive immune responses generated by three different anthrax vaccines or by previous exposure to cutaneous anthrax. adaptive immunity was measured by elispot to count cells that produce interferon (ifn)-γ in response to restimulation ex vivo with the anthrax toxin components pa, lf and ef and by measuring circulating igg specific to these antigens. neutralising activity of antisera against anthrax ...	2016	27007118
ab5 preassembly is not required for shiga toxin activity.	shiga toxin (stx)-producing escherichia coli (stec) is a major cause of foodborne illness, including the life-threatening complication hemolytic-uremic syndrome. the german outbreak in 2011 resulted in nearly 4,000 cases of infection, with 54 deaths. two forms of stx, stx1 and stx2, differ in potency, and subtype stx2a is most commonly associated with fatal human disease. stx is considered to be an ab5 toxin. the single a (enzymatically active) subunit inhibits protein synthesis by cleaving a ca ...	2016	27002129
aggregation of chameleon peptides: implications of α-helicity in fibril formation.	we investigate the relationship between the inherent secondary structure and aggregation propensity of peptides containing chameleon sequences (i.e., sequences that can adopt either α or β structure depending on context) using a combination of replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations, ion-mobility mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, and transmission electron microscopy. we focus on an eight-residue long chameleon sequence that can adopt an α-helical structure in the context of the iron ...	2016	27001160
the phylogeny of bacillus cereus sensu lato.	the three main species of the bacillus cereus sensu lato, b. cereus, b. thuringiensis, and b. anthracis, were recognized and established by the early 1900 s because they each exhibited distinct phenotypic traits. b. thuringiensis isolates and their parasporal crystal proteins have long been established as a natural pesticide and insect pathogen. b. anthracis, the etiological agent for anthrax, was used by robert koch in the 19th century as a model to develop the germ theory of disease, and b. ce ...	2016	26999390
in vivo dynamics of active edema and lethal factors during anthrax.	lethal and edema toxins are critical virulence factors of bacillus anthracis. however, little is known about their in vivo dynamics of production during anthrax. in this study, we unraveled for the first time the in vivo kinetics of production of the toxin components ef (edema factor) and lf (lethal factor) during cutaneous infection with a wild-type toxinogenic encapsulated strain in immuno-competent mice. we stratified the asynchronous infection process into defined stages through bioluminesce ...	2016	26996161
extracellular synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles by sporosarcina koreensis dc4 and their biological applications.	the present study highlights the microbial synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles by sporosarcina koreensis dc4 strain, in an efficient way. the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, which displayed maximum absorbance at 424nm and 531nm for silver and gold nanoparticles, respectively. the spherical shape of nanoparticles was characterized by field emission transmission electron microscopy. the energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and elemental ...	2016	26992796
rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacillus anthracis, yersinia pestis, and burkholderia pseudomallei by use of laser light scattering technology.	rapid methods to determine antimicrobial susceptibility would assist in the timely distribution of effective treatment or postexposure prophylaxis in the aftermath of the release of bacterial biothreat agents such as bacillus anthracis, yersinia pestis, or burkholderia pseudomallei conventional susceptibility tests require 16 to 48 h of incubation, depending on the bacterial species. we evaluated a method that is based on laser light scattering technology that measures cell density in real time. ...	2016	26984973
targeting the map kinase pathway in astrocytoma cells using a recombinant anthrax lethal toxin as a way to inhibit cell motility and invasion.	malignant astrocytomas are highly invasive into adjacent and distant regions of the normal brain. understanding and targeting cancer cell invasion is an important therapeutic approach. cell invasion is a complex process that replies on many signaling pathways including the mitogen-activated protein (map) kinase (mapk). in many cell lines, the use of mapk-targeted drugs proved to be a potential method to inhibit cancer cell motility. in the present study, we use a recombinant anthrax lethal toxin ...	2016	26984023
randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of three vaccination schedules and two dose levels of av7909 vaccine for anthrax post-exposure prophylaxis in healthy adults.	av7909 vaccine being developed for post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax disease may require fewer vaccinations and reduced amount of antigen to achieve an accelerated immune response over biothrax(®) (anthrax vaccine adsorbed). a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, biothrax vacccine-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of three intramuscular vaccination schedules and two dose levels of av7909 in 168 healthy adults. subjects were randomized at a 4:3:2:4:2 ratio ...	2016	26979136
the ins and outs of anthrax toxin.	anthrax is a severe, although rather rare, infectious disease that is caused by the gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium bacillus anthracis. the infectious form is the spore and the major virulence factors of the bacterium are its poly-γ-d-glutamic acid capsule and the tripartite anthrax toxin. the discovery of the anthrax toxin receptors in the early 2000s has allowed in-depth studies on the mechanisms of anthrax toxin cellular entry and translocation from the endocytic compartment to the cyt ...	2016	26978402
physical sequestration of bacillus anthracis in the pulmonary capillaries in terminal infection.	the lung is the terminal target of bacillus anthracis before death, whatever the route of infection (cutaneous, inhalational, or digestive). during a cutaneous infection in absence of toxins, we observed encapsulated bacteria colonizing the alveolar capillary network, bacteria and hemorrhages in alveolar and bronchiolar spaces, and hypoxic foci in the lung (endothelial cells) and brain (neurons and neuropil). circulating encapsulated bacteria were as chains of approximately 13 µm in length. bact ...	2016	26977051
false-negative rate, limit of detection and recovery efficiency performance of a validated macrofoam-swab sampling method for low surface concentrations of bacillus anthracis sterne and bacillus atrophaeus spores.	we sought to evaluate the effects of bacillus species, low surface concentrations, and surface material on recovery efficiency (re), false-negative rate (fnr) and limit of detection for recovering bacillus spores using a validated macrofoam-swab sampling procedure.	2016	26972788
ebselen and analogs as inhibitors of bacillus anthracis thioredoxin reductase and bactericidal antibacterials targeting bacillus species, staphylococcus aureus and mycobacterium tuberculosis.	bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax, a disease associated with a very high mortality rate in its invasive forms.	2016	26971857
nanomechanical characterization of bacillus anthracis spores by atomic force microscopy.	the study of structures and properties of bacterial spores is important to understanding spore formation and biological responses to environmental stresses. while significant progress has been made over the years in elucidating the multilayer architecture of spores, the mechanical properties of the spore interior are not known. here, we present a thermal atomic force microscopy (afm) study of the nanomechanical properties of internal structures of bacillus anthracis spores. we developed a nanosu ...	2016	26969703
soluble expression and characterization of biologically active bacillus anthracis protective antigen in escherichia coli.	bacillus anthracis secretory protein protective antigen (pa) is primary candidate for subunit vaccine against anthrax. attempts to obtain large quantity of pa from escherichia coli expression system often result in the formation of insoluble inclusion bodies. therefore, it is always better to produce recombinant proteins in a soluble form. in the present study, we have obtained biologically active recombinant pa in small scale e. coli shake culture system using three different expression constru ...	2016	26966576
development of potential broad spectrum antimicrobials using c2-symmetric 9-fluorenone alkyl amine.	dna-dependent rna primase is essential for de novo primer synthesis during dna replication in all living organisms. bacterial dnag primase is an attractive target for inhibition because it is essential, low in copy number and structurally distinct from eukaryotic and archaeal primases. dnag primase is sensitive to known inhibitors including suramin and doxorubicin. recently, tilorone was discovered by high throughput screening to be an inhibitor of bacillus anthracis primase dnag but it failed t ...	2016	26965856
ultrafast, sensitive and large-volume on-chip real-time pcr for the molecular diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections.	to control future infectious disease outbreaks, like the 2014 ebola epidemic, it is necessary to develop ultrafast molecular assays enabling rapid and sensitive diagnoses. to that end, several ultrafast real-time pcr systems have been previously developed, but they present issues that hinder their wide adoption, notably regarding their sensitivity and detection volume. an ultrafast, sensitive and large-volume real-time pcr system based on microfluidic thermalization is presented herein. the meth ...	2016	26952334
complex antigens drive permissive clonal selection in germinal centers.	germinal center (gc) b cells evolve toward increased affinity by a darwinian process that has been studied primarily in genetically restricted, hapten-specific responses. we explored the population dynamics of genetically diverse gc responses to two complex antigens-bacillus anthracis protective antigen and influenza hemagglutinin-in which b cells competed both intra- and interclonally for distinct epitopes. preferred vh rearrangements among antigen-binding, naive b cells were similarly abundant ...	2016	26948373
use of multiple peptide-based sers probes binding to different epitopes on a protein biomarker to improve detection sensitivity.	we propose an analytical strategy to improve the sensitivity for detecting a protein biomarker through signal multiplication by manipulating multiple peptide-based surface-enhanced raman scattering (sers) probes to bind the biomarker. protective antigen (pa) was used as an anthrax biomarker in this study. for this purpose, five small peptides selective to various pa epitopes with different binding affinities were chosen and peptide-conjugated au nanoparticle (aunp) sers probes were individually ...	2016	26948277
mixed methods survey of zoonotic disease awareness and practice among animal and human healthcare providers in moshi, tanzania.	zoonoses are common causes of human and livestock illness in tanzania. previous studies have shown that brucellosis, leptospirosis, and q fever account for a large proportion of human febrile illness in northern tanzania, yet they are infrequently diagnosed. we conducted this study to assess awareness and knowledge regarding selected zoonoses among healthcare providers in moshi, tanzania; to determine what diagnostic and treatment protocols are utilized; and obtain insights into contextual facto ...	2016	26943334
recent developments in the understanding and use of anthrax vaccine adsorbed: achieving more with less.	anthrax vaccine adsorbed (ava, biothrax™) is the only food and drug administration (fda) approved vaccine for the prevention of anthrax in humans. recent improvements in pre-exposure prophylaxis (prep) use of ava include intramuscular (im) administration and simplification of the priming series to three doses over 6 months. administration im markedly reduced the frequency, severity and duration of injection site reactions. refinement of animal models for inhalation anthrax, identification of imm ...	2016	26942655
a case report of inhalation anthrax acquired naturally.	anthrax is a zoonotic occupational disease caused by bacillus anthracis, a rod-shaped immobile aerobic gram-positive bacteria with spore. anthrax occurs in humans randomly and with low frequency. most cases of anthrax are acquired through contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. this old disease became particularly important since 2001 that the biological spores were exploited in america. depending on the transmission method of the disease, clinical manifestations occur in ...	2016	26939756
nad+-glycohydrolase promotes intracellular survival of group a streptococcus.	a global increase in invasive infections due to group a streptococcus (s. pyogenes or gas) has been observed since the 1980s, associated with emergence of a clonal group of strains of the m1t1 serotype. among other virulence attributes, the m1t1 clone secretes nad+-glycohydrolase (nadase). when gas binds to epithelial cells in vitro, nadase is translocated into the cytosol in a process mediated by streptolysin o (slo), and expression of these two toxins is associated with enhanced gas intracellu ...	2016	26938870
quantitative determination of lethal toxin proteins in culture supernatant of human live anthrax vaccine bacillus anthracis a16r.	bacillus anthracis (b. anthracis) is the etiological agent of anthrax affecting both humans and animals. anthrax toxin (at) plays a major role in pathogenesis. it includes lethal toxin (lt) and edema toxin (et), which are formed by the combination of protective antigen (pa) and lethal factor (lf) or edema factor (ef), respectively. the currently used human anthrax vaccine in china utilizes live-attenuated b. anthracis spores (a16r; pxo1+, pxo2-) that produce anthrax toxin but cannot produce the ...	2016	26927174
identification of novel raft marker protein, flotp in bacillus anthracis.	lipid rafts are dynamic, nanoscale assemblies of specific proteins and lipids, distributed heterogeneously on eukaryotic membrane. flotillin-1, a conserved eukaryotic raft marker protein (rmp) harbor spfh (stomatin, prohibitin, flotillin, and hflk/c) and oligomerization domains to regulate various cellular processes through its interactions with other signaling or transport proteins. rafts were thought to be absent in prokaryotes hitherto, but recent report of its presence and significance in ph ...	2016	26925042
glycosylation of bcla glycoprotein from bacillus cereus and bacillus anthracis exosporium is domain-specific.	the spores of the bacillus cereus group (b. cereus, bacillus anthracis, and bacillus thuringiensis) are surrounded by a paracrystalline flexible yet resistant layer called exosporium that plays a major role in spore adhesion and virulence. the major constituent of its hairlike surface, the trimerized glycoprotein bcla, is attached to the basal layer through an n-terminal domain. it is then followed by a repetitive collagen-like neck bearing a globular head (c-terminal domain) that promotes glyco ...	2016	26921321
dimerization of bacterial diaminopimelate decarboxylase is essential for catalysis.	diaminopimelate decarboxylase (dapdc) catalyzes the final step in the diaminopimelate biosynthesis pathway of bacteria. the product of the reaction is the essential amino acid l-lysine, which is an important precursor for the synthesis of the peptidoglycan cell wall, housekeeping proteins, and virulence factors of bacteria. accordingly, the enzyme is a promising antibacterial target. previous structural studies demonstrate that dapdc exists as monomers, dimers, and tetramers in the crystal state ...	2016	26921318
crystal structure of the bacillus-conserved mazg protein, a nucleotide pyrophosphohydrolase.	ba1544 from bacillus anthracis was previously annotated as a transcription factor for the gene cluster ba1554 - ba1558, but has not been experimentally characterized. b. anthracis is an obligate pathogen causing fatal inhalational anthrax, and ba1544 is absolutely conserved in bacillus species, including bacillus cereus, bacillus thuringiensis and bacillus mycoides, with 100% sequence identity. to address the function of ba1544, we performed structural and biochemical studies, which revealed tha ...	2016	26920050
culturability of bacillus spores on aerosol collection filters exposed to airborne combustion products of al, mg, and b·ti.	destruction of bioweapon facilities due to explosion or fire could aerosolize highly pathogenic microorganisms. the post-event air quality assessment is conducted through air sampling. a bioaerosol sample (often collected on a filter for further culture-based analysis) also contains combustion products, which may influence the microbial culturability and, thus, impact the outcome. we have examined the interaction between spores deposited on collection filters using two simulants of bacillus anth ...	2016	26914458
mechanistic analysis of the effect of deamidation on the immunogenicity of anthrax protective antigen.	the spontaneous modification of proteins, such as deamidation of asparagine residues, can significantly affect the immunogenicity of protein-based vaccines. using a "genetically deamidated" form of recombinant protective antigen (rpa), we have previously shown that deamidation can decrease the immunogenicity of rpa, the primary component of new-generation anthrax vaccines. in this study, we investigated the biochemical and immunological mechanisms by which deamidation of rpa might decrease the i ...	2016	26912784
inhibition of interleukin 1β (il-1β) expression by anthrax lethal toxin (letx) is reversed by histone deacetylase 8 (hdac8) inhibition in murine macrophages.	many pathogenic microbes often release toxins that subvert the host's immune responses to render the environment suitable for their survival and proliferation. letx is one of the toxins causing immune paralysis by cleaving and inactivating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (mapk) kinases (meks). here, we show that inhibition of the histone deacetylase 8 (hdac8) by either the hdac8-specific inhibitor pci-34051 or small interference (si)rnas rendered letx-exposed murine macrophages responsive t ...	2016	26912657
structural hot spots for the solubility of globular proteins.	natural selection shapes protein solubility to physiological requirements and recombinant applications that require higher protein concentrations are often problematic. this raises the question whether the solubility of natural protein sequences can be improved. we here show an anti-correlation between the number of aggregation prone regions (aprs) in a protein sequence and its solubility, suggesting that mutational suppression of aprs provides a simple strategy to increase protein solubility. w ...	2016	26905391