Publications

[gene typing of bacillus anthracis strains isolated on the territory of the countries of the confederation of independent states].	thirty eight b. anthracis strains isolated on the territory of the former ussr from different sources at different periods were studied by the method of the multilocus analysis of 6 chromosomal and 2 plasmid regions of b. anthracis genome with a variable number of tandem repeats. the strains belonged to 18 different genotypes; of these, 14 genotypes were described for the first time. the analysis of the genetic relationship of the strains gave grounds to suggest that on this territory both close ...	2003	14716978
[improvement of the method for the indication of the causative agent of anthrax].	a combined method for the indication of the causative agent of anthrax (bacillus anthracis), including the preparation of the material to be tested, the exposure of the magneto-imunosorbent in the sample, cultivation in selective medium, dna extraction with subsequent testing in the polymerase chain reaction with primers to genes cap, pag and chromosomal sequence ba813, the registration and interpretation of results, has been developed. all determinations, including the preparation of samples, l ...	2003	14716977
[epidemiological situation on anthrax in the regions of the southern federal district in connection with the flood in june 2002].	data on the epidemiological situation in anthrax in the regions of the southern federal district, situated in the zone of inundation, are presented. in 2002 no epidemic complications in anthrax were noted in the affected territories. the causes contributing to the appearance of anthrax cases among humans and animals are presented. recommendations on the improvement of anti-epidemic measures are given.	2003	14716976
[epidemiologic situation in the quarantine of natural focal infections in the southern federal district].	materials on the situation in quarantine natural focal infections (anthrax, plague, tularemia, brucellosis, leptospirosis, etc.) in the southern federal district are presented. experience in the provision of the epidemic safety in the above-mentioned diseases, based on the systematic surveillance on the activity of epizootological factors on the territory of the natural foci of infections, are described. the causes of the possible aggravation of the epidemiological situation in a number of nosol ...	2003	14716973
detection of the bacillus anthracis gyra gene by using a minor groove binder probe.	identification of chromosomal markers for rapid detection of bacillus anthracis is difficult because significant chromosomal homology exists among b. anthracis, bacillus cereus, and bacillus thuringiensis. we evaluated the bacterial gyra gene as a potential chromosomal marker for b. anthracis. a real-time pcr assay was developed for the detection of b. anthracis. after analysis of the unique nucleotide sequence of the b. anthracis gyra gene, a fluorescent 3' minor groove binding probe was tested ...	2004	14715750
comparison of a multiplexed fluorescent covalent microsphere immunoassay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of human immunoglobulin g antibodies to anthrax toxins.	recently, the centers for disease control and prevention reported an accurate, sensitive, specific, reproducible, and quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) for immunoglobulin g (igg) antibodies to bacillus anthracis protective antigen (pa) in human serum (c. p. quinn, v. a. semenova, c. m. elie et al., emerg. infect. dis. 8:1103-1110, 2002). the elisa had a minimum detectable concentration (mdc) of 0.06 microgram/ml, which, when dilution adjusted, yielded a whole-serum mdc of 3. ...	2004	14715544
lethality during continuous anthrax lethal toxin infusion is associated with circulatory shock but not inflammatory cytokine or nitric oxide release in rats.	although circulatory shock related to lethal toxin (letx) may play a primary role in lethality due to bacillus anthracis infection, its mechanisms are unclear. we investigated whether letx-induced shock is associated with inflammatory cytokine and nitric oxide (no) release. sprague-dawley rats with central venous and arterial catheters received 24-h infusions of letx (lethal factor 100 microg/kg; protective antigen 200 microg/kg) that produced death beginning at 9 h and a 7-day mortality rate of ...	2004	14715494
combined effects of high hydrostatic pressure and temperature for inactivation of bacillus anthracis spores.	spores of bacillus anthracis are known to be extremely resistant to heat treatment, irradiation, desiccation, and disinfectants. to determine inactivation kinetics of spores by high pressure, b. anthracis spores of a sterne strain-derived mutant deficient in the production of the toxin components (strain rp42) were exposed to pressures ranging from 280 to 500 mpa for 10 min to 6 h, combined with temperatures ranging from 20 to 75 degrees c. the combination of heat and pressure resulted in comple ...	2004	14711702
characterization of bacillus spore species and their mixtures using postsource decay with a curved-field reflectron.	a strategy is proposed for the rapid identification of bacillus spores, which relies on the selective release of a family of proteins, referred to as small, acid-soluble spore proteins (sasps). in this work, sasps were selectively solubilized from bacillus spores on the maldi sample plate by using 10% tfa. proteolytic digests of sasps generated in situ from spores of b. subtilis 168, b. globigii, b. thuringiensis subs. kurstaki hd-1, b. cereus t, and the nonpathogenic strain b. anthracis sterne ...	2003	14710846
autonomous detection of aerosolized bacillus anthracis and yersinia pestis.	we have developed and tested a fully autonomous pathogen detection system (apds) capable of continuously monitoring the environment for airborne biological threat agents. the system is designed to provide early warning to civilians in the event of a terrorist attack. the final apds will be completely automated, offering aerosol sampling, in-line sample preparation fluidics, multiplexed detection and identification immunoassays, and orthogonal, multiplexed pcr (nucleic acid) amplification and det ...	2003	14710805
a genomics-based approach to biodefence preparedness.		2004	14708013
hierarchical scaffolding with bambus.	the output of a genome assembler generally comprises a collection of contiguous dna sequences (contigs) whose relative placement along the genome is not defined. a procedure called scaffolding is commonly used to order and orient these contigs using paired read information. this ordering of contigs is an essential step when finishing and analyzing the data from a whole-genome shotgun project. most recent assemblers include a scaffolding module; however, users have little control over the scaffol ...	2004	14707177
cutting edge: anthrax lethal toxin inhibits activation of ifn-regulatory factor 3 by lipopolysaccharide.	ifn-regulatory factor 3 (irf3) is known to participate in the transcriptional induction of chemokines and cytokines, including ifns, as a result of viral or bacterial infection. in this study, we demonstrate that the lps-mediated activation of irf3 and subsequent induction of chemokine genes or irf3-responsive reporter constructs are inhibited after exposure of human or murine macrophages to the bacillus anthracis toxin lethal factor. the inhibitory effect is caused by interference with the acti ...	2004	14707042
which bio-weapons might be used by terrorists against the united kingdom?	the properties of potential biological weapon agents for bioterrorism include a consistent effect at low dosage and short incubation period in a population of low immunity, being difficult to treat, able to be produced in bulk, stable in storage and readily disseminated. possible agents include smallpox, haemorrhagic fever viruses, anthrax, tularaemia and plague. the example of severe acute respiratory syndrome (sars) demonstrates the possible consequences of an act of bioterrorism, but also the ...	2003	14703130
surface layer protein ea1 is not a component of bacillus anthracis spores but is a persistent contaminant in spore preparations.	ea1 is an abundant, highly antigenic, surface layer protein of bacillus anthracis vegetative cells. recent studies indicate that ea1 is also a component of b. anthracis spores and a potential marker for spore detection. we show here that ea1 is not a spore component but a persistent contaminant in spore preparations.	2004	14702325
atxa controls bacillus anthracis capsule synthesis via acpa and a newly discovered regulator, acpb.	two regulatory genes, acpa and atxa, have been reported to control expression of the bacillus anthracis capsule biosynthesis operon capbcad. the atxa gene is located on the virulence plasmid pxo1, while pxo2 carries acpa and the cap genes. acpa has been viewed as the major regulator of the cap operon because it is essential for capsule gene expression in a pxo1(-) pxo2(+) strain. atxa is essential for toxin gene transcription but has also been implicated in control of the cap genes. the molecula ...	2004	14702298
oral pemphigus vulgaris after anthrax vaccine administration: association or coincidence?	pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune blistering disorder of the skin and mucous membranes. numerous medications, ultraviolet light, and radiation have all been implicated in the etiology of the disease. we present a patient with pemphigus vulgaris whose disease developed after administration of anthrax vaccine. the histologic and immunofluorescence findings were characteristic of pemphigus vulgaris. adverse systemic events associated with the anthrax vaccine consist primarily of flu-like symptoms ...	2004	14699385
evaluation of penicillin-based inhibitors of the class a and b beta-lactamases from bacillus anthracis.	bacillus anthracis contains a class a (bla1) and class b (bla2) beta-lactamase, which confer resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics when expressed in escherichia coli. in an effort to find new beta-lactamase inhibitors, several penicillin derivatives have been evaluated including experimental compounds incorporating a 6-mercaptomethyl group or a 6-pyridylmethylidene group, along with clavulanate and tazobactam, as inhibitors against bla1 and bla2. the 6-mercaptomethyl-substituted penicillins show ...	2004	14697223
tyrosine-728 and glutamic acid-735 are essential for the metalloproteolytic activity of the lethal factor of bacillus anthracis.	the lethal factor (lf) of bacillus anthracis is a zn2+-endopeptidase specific for the mapk-kinase family of proteins. the catalytic zinc atom is coordinated by a first shell of residues including the two histidines and the glutamate of the zinc-binding motif hexxh and by glu-735. a characteristic feature of lf is the presence, within the second shell of residues, of a tyrosine (tyr-728) in close proximity (3.3 a) to the zinc atom. to investigate the role of tyr-728 and glu-735, lf mutants with o ...	2004	14697216
optimistic bias and perceptions of bioterrorism in michigan corporate spokespersons, fall 2001.	the notion that individuals believe that they are more likely than others to experience positive events and avoid negative ones is a well-documented phenomenon in the combined literatures of social psychology and health communication. the current study focuses on michigan corporate spokespersons' perceptions of their company's risk and potential for optimistic bias. beginning on september 10, 2001, and continuing through october 2001, telephone surveys were conducted by a professional survey res ...	2003	14692582
questions about hypotheticals and details in reporting on anthrax.		2003	14692578
leave no one behind: improving health and risk communication through attention to literacy.	twice in recent times, the federal government mailed critical health-related information to every household in the united states. the mailings, the 1988 brochure understanding aids and the 2001 postcard a message to americans, were designed to provide the general public with important information about needed action. this paper compares the development process undertaken for each mailing. the authors assess content and format in light of communication principles and the functional literacy skill ...	2003	14692575
public perceptions of information sources concerning bioterrorism before and after anthrax attacks: an analysis of national survey data.	this study examined data from six national surveys before and after the bioterrorist anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001. public perceptions of information sources regarding bioterrorism were examined. the findings highlighted the importance of local television and radio and of cable and network news channels as information sources. the findings also showed the importance of national and local health officials as spokespersons in the event of bioterrorist incidents. periodic surveys of public at ...	2003	14692574
using opinion surveys to track the public's response to a bioterrorist attack.	to communicate effectively with the public during an emergency, health officials need to find out in real time what americans know and believe, whom they trust, and what actions they are taking in response to the crisis. short-duration surveys can provide vital information to guide public officials in their response to events and their communication efforts. prior research has shown that such surveys, when statistically re-weighted, can offer timely results without unacceptable risk of bias. usi ...	2003	14692573
communicating anthrax in 2001: a comparison of cdc information and print media accounts.	information about anthrax released by news media from october 4 to december 3, 2001, was identified, sampled, coded, and compared with information released by cdc during that period using statistical analysis. in addition, communications about two anthrax-related issues were examined in depth. the quantitative analysis showed that, overall, cdc information releases and news coverage tracked fairly closely. when weight was defined as number of mentions, both sources gave the same weight to report ...	2003	14692572
communication monitoring: shaping cdc's emergency risk communication efforts.	cdc develops and delivers health messages for a variety of audiences, including the public, health care professionals, public health researchers and practitioners, and policy makers. news media outlets--because of their broad reach and potential to influence knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors--are major channels for disseminating messages to these audiences. cdc has routinely monitored news outlets to identify message/information gaps and opportunities. the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the anthra ...	2003	14692571
uncertain science and certain deadlines: cdc responses to the media during the anthrax attacks of 2001.	this paper presents a study in which communication personnel for the u.s. centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) provided first-hand accounts of the experience of responding to media inquiries during the 2001 anthrax attacks. in-depth interviews were conducted with 19 communication professionals who worked either at the cdc headquarters in atlanta or at field locations in the u.s. where persons were exposed to anthrax. the interviews sought cdc staff viewpoints on how the cdc handled a ...	2003	14692570
the anthrax attacks in new york city: the "giuliani press conference model" and other communication strategies that helped.		2003	14692569
communication lessons learned in the emergency operations center during cdc's anthrax response: a commentary.		2003	14692567
anthrax case timeline.		2003	14692564
protection against anthrax toxemia by hexa-d-arginine in vitro and in vivo.	the anthrax toxin protective antigen precursor is activated by proteolytic cleavage by furin or a furin-like protease. we present here data demonstrating that the small stable furin inhibitor hexa-d-arginine amide delays anthrax toxin-induced toxemia both in cells and in live animals, suggesting that furin inhibition may represent a reasonable avenue for therapeutic intervention in anthrax.	2004	14688144
anthrax lethal toxin induces human endothelial cell apoptosis.	because of its ease of dispersal and high lethality, bacillus anthracis is one of the most feared biowarfare agents. a better understanding of anthrax pathogenesis is urgently needed to develop new therapies for systemic disease that is relatively unresponsive to antibiotics. although experimental evidence has implicated a role for macrophages in anthrax pathogenesis, clinical and pathological observations suggest that a direct insult to the host vasculature may also be important. two bacterial ...	2004	14688124
in vitro susceptibility of bacillus anthracis to various antibacterial agents and their time-kill activity.	to investigate the in vitro acquisition of resistance to antibiotics by bacillus anthracis.	2004	14688054
tumor endothelial markers: new targets for cancer therapy.	targeting the endothelial cells that line tumor infiltrating blood vessels is a new anticancer strategy that has gained widespread support from biologists and clinicians. here we highlight different approaches currently being used to target tumor endothelium and discuss new avenues for intervention that have been opened through the recent identification of tumor endothelial markers (tems).	2004	14685092
diagnosis of militarily relevant diseases using oral fluid and saliva antibodies: fluorescence polarization immunoassay.	this laboratory is developing fluorescence polarization (fp) methods as diagnostic tools to assay antibodies in saliva and other oral fluids. fp provides quantitation of molecular interaction, such as antigen-antibody binding, of a single, small-volume sample in real time and without prior separation of components such as blood cells. there is potential for wide-spread use of these homogeneous assays as noninvasive tests, especially as more compact, simplified fluorescence polarimeters become av ...	2003	14680048
minimizing pathogenic bacteria, including spores, in indoor air.	five experiments were conducted to assess whether aerosolized bacteria, including spores, respond like particulate contaminants to the primary (electrical) forces that control the distribution of small particulate contaminants in indoor air. such response would suggest an approach to minimizing infection in offices, hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities. it also would have implications for protection against intentionally introduced pathogenic bacteria, including spores. the experiments ...	2003	14679721
cutaneous manifestations of anthrax in eastern anatolia: a review of 39 cases.	anthrax is essentially a disease of grazing herbivorous animals. the most common form of the disease is cutaneous anthrax, which accounts for 95% of all cases. we report here 39 cutaneous anthrax cases in humans that were seen in eastern anatolia over a six-year period. the clinical presentation was malignant edema in 16 of the cases (41%) and malignant pustule in 23 (59%). a secondary bacterial infection was present in 13 patients (33.3%) in the vicinity of the lesions. the agent was observed u ...	2003	14679401
formation and composition of the bacillus anthracis endospore.	the endospores of bacillus anthracis are the infectious particles of anthrax. spores are dormant bacterial morphotypes able to withstand harsh environments for decades, which contributes to their ability to be formulated and dispersed as a biological weapon. we monitored gene expression in b. anthracis during growth and sporulation using full genome dna microarrays and matched the results against a comprehensive analysis of the mature anthrax spore proteome. a large portion (approximately 36%) o ...	2004	14679236
increased detection of rickettsialpox in a new york city hospital following the anthrax outbreak of 2001: use of immunohistochemistry for the rapid confirmation of cases in an era of bioterrorism.	rickettsialpox is a self-limited febrile illness with skin lesions that may be mistaken for signs of potentially more serious diseases, such as cutaneous anthrax or chickenpox. the cluster of cutaneous anthrax cases from bioterrorism in october 2001 likely heightened awareness of and concern for cutaneous eschars.	2003	14676069
implication of ph in the catalytic properties of anthrax lethal factor.	the anthrax lethal factor (lf) is a zn(2+)-endopeptidase specific for mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (mapkks), which are cleaved within their n-terminal region. much line of effort was carried out to elucidate the catalytic activity of lf for designing the inhibitor and to understand the cellular mechanism of its cytotoxicity. current assay methods to analyze the lf activity have been based on a synthetic peptide, consisting of 15-20 residues around being cleaved. however, there are ac ...	2004	14672720
detection and fate of bacillus anthracis (sterne) vegetative cells and spores added to bulk tank milk.	a preparation of bacillus anthracis (sterne strain) spores was used to evaluate commercially available reagents and portable equipment for detecting anthrax contamination by using real-time pcr and was used to assess the fate of spores added directly to bulk tank milk. the ruggedized advanced pathogen identification device (rapid) was employed to detect spores in raw milk down to a concentration of 2,500 spores per ml. commercially available primers and probes developed to detect either the prot ...	2003	14672236
defining a serological correlate of protection in rabbits for a recombinant anthrax vaccine.	in these studies, a serological correlate of protection against anthrax was identified in new zealand white (nzw) rabbits that had been given one or two injections of various amounts of recombinant protective antigen (rpa) combined with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (alhydrogel). rabbits were subsequently challenged by the aerosol route with spores of the ames isolate of bacillus anthracis. results suggested that the antibody response, as determined by the quantitative anti-rpa igg elisa and toxin ...	2004	14670324
a new epitope tag from hepatitis b virus pres1 for immunodetection, localization and affinity purification of recombinant proteins.	previously, a murine monoclonal antibody (mab) kr127 (igg2a/kappa) that binds specifically to the pres1 of hepatitis b virus (hbv) was generated and the fine epitope was mapped to amino acids (aa) 37-45 (nsnnpdwdf). in this current study, the epitope in combination with kr127 was tested for protein tagging. initially, to evaluate the importance of each residue of the kr127 epitope in antibody binding, alanine substitution mutants of the epitope were constructed and characterized for kr127 bindin ...	2003	14659901
the state laboratory of hygiene's role in terrorism preparedness and response.	in the fall of 2001, the national public health system found itself responding to acts of terrorism. the intentional release of bacillus anthracis spores on the east coast tested the capacity of all state public health laboratories to respond. the impact on the public health system extended to the wisconsin state laboratory of hygiene (wslh). fortunately, participation in the national laboratory response network helped the wslh meet the challenge of 24 hour/7 days a week coverage, and subsequent ...	2003	14658571
coding ethical behaviour: the challenges of biological weapons.	since 11 september 2001 and the anthrax attacks that followed in the us, public and policy concerns about the security threats posed by biological weapons have increased significantly. with this has come an expansion of those activities in civil society deemed as potential sites for applying security controls. this paper examines the assumptions and implications of national and international efforts in one such area: how a balance or integration can take place between security and openness in ci ...	2003	14652899
an innovative approach to training hospital-based clinicians for bioterrorist attacks.	the recent attacks of september 11, 2001, and the subsequent dissemination event of anthrax in the united states demonstrated the necessity for hospitals to initiate bioterrorism education for clinicians. events such as the release of sarin gas into the tokyo subway by the aum shinrikyo cult provided some insight into how quickly emergency medical personnel may be overwhelmed by causalities of unconventional weapons. educational interventions to prepare hospital-based practitioners for such disa ...	2003	14647116
mayo clinic develops new rapid rest for anthrax.		2002	14646905
bioterrorism. anthrax powder: state of the art?		2003	14645823
simulation modeling of anthrax spore dispersion in a bioterrorism incident.	recent events have increased awareness of the risk posed by terrorist attacks. bacillus anthracis has resurfaced in the 21st century as a deadly agent of bioterrorism because of its potential for causing massive civilian casualties. this analysis presents the results of a computer simulation of the dispersion of anthrax spores in a typical 50-story, high-rise building after an intentional release during a bioterrorist incident. the model simulates aerosol dispersion in the case of intensive, sma ...	2003	14641889
defensive applications of gene transfer technology in the face of bioterrorism: dna-based vaccines and immune targeting.	gene transfer involves the introduction of an engineered gene into a person's cells with the expectation that the protein expressed from the gene will produce a therapeutic benefit. strategies based on this principle have led to the approval of > 600 clinical trials and enrollment of approximately 3500 subjects worldwide in attempts to treat diseases ranging from cancer to aids to cystic fibrosis. while gene therapy has met with limited success and still has many hurdles to overcome before it se ...	2003	14640954
extraction and analysis of human nuclear and mitochondrial dna from electron beam irradiated envelopes.	the united states postal service is considering methods such as electron beam irradiation to neutralize biological agents sent through the mail. while this is proven to reduce/eliminate pathogenic organisms, it may also degrade human genomic dna and therefore hinder the ability to garner forensically informative genetic profiles. to determine the effects of electron beam irradiation on dna typing, 16 white, standard letter-sized envelopes were licked. half of the envelopes served as nonirradiate ...	2003	14640275
protective immunity evoked against anthrax lethal toxin after a single intramuscular administration of an adenovirus-based vaccine encoding humanized protective antigen.	because of the need to develop a vaccine to rapidly protect the civilian population in response to a bioterrorism attack with bacillus anthracis, we designed adsechpa, a replication-deficient human serotype 5 adenovirus encoding b. anthracis protective antigen (pa) with codons optimized for expression in mammalian cells. with a single intramuscular administration to mice of 10(9) particle units of adsechpa, a dose that can be scaled to human use, anti-pa antibodies were evoked more rapidly and a ...	2003	14633409
a broad-spectrum peptide inhibitor of beta-lactamase identified using phage display and peptide arrays.	hydrolysis of beta-lactam antibiotics by beta-lactamase enzymes is the most common mechanism of bacterial resistance to these agents. several small-molecule, mechanism-based inhibitors of beta-lactamases such as clavulanic acid are clinically available although resistance to these inhibitors has been increasing in bacterial populations. in addition, these inhibitors act only on class a beta-lactamases. here we utilized phage display to identify peptides that bind to the class a beta-lactamase, t ...	2003	14631075
the role of an advanced practice public health nurse in bioterrorism preparedness.	the 2001 anthrax events have vividly illustrated that terrorism involving the release of a biological agent is a major public health emergency requiring an immediate and well-coordinated response. if healthcare professionals and emergency responders are to be prepared to manage such attacks, unprecedented cooperative efforts at the national, state, and local levels are necessary. to aid such efforts, advanced practice public health nurses (phns) must exercise their ability to collaborate with a ...	2003	14629673
computational identification of the spo0a-phosphate regulon that is essential for the cellular differentiation and development in gram-positive spore-forming bacteria.	spo0a-phosphate is essential for the initiation of cellular differentiation and developmental processes in gram-positive spore-forming bacteria. here we combined comparative genomics with analyses of microarray expression profiles to identify the spo0a-phosphate regulon in bacillus subtilis. the consensus spo0a-phosphate dna-binding motif identified from the training set based on different computational algorithms is an 8 bp sequence, ttgtcgaa. the same motif was identified by aligning the upstr ...	2003	14627822
mapping dominant-negative mutations of anthrax protective antigen by scanning mutagenesis.	the protective antigen (pa) moiety of anthrax toxin transports edema factor and lethal factor to the cytosol of mammalian cells by a mechanism that depends on its ability to oligomerize and form pores in the endosomal membrane. previously, some mutated forms of pa, designated dominant negative (dn), were found to coassemble with wild-type pa and generate defective heptameric pore-precursors (prepores). prepores containing dn-pa are impaired in pore formation and in translocating edema factor and ...	2003	14623961
conformational fluctuations in anthrax protective antigen: a possible role of calcium in the folding pathway of the protein.	protective antigen (pa) is the central receptor binding component of anthrax toxin, which translocates catalytic components of the toxin into the cytosol of mammalian cells. ever since the crystal structure of pa was solved, there have been speculations regarding the possible role of calcium ions present in domain i of the protein. we have carried out a systematic study to elucidate the effect of calcium removal on the structural stability of pa using various optical spectroscopic techniques, li ...	2003	14623120
initiating informatics and gis support for a field investigation of bioterrorism: the new jersey anthrax experience.	background: the investigation of potential exposure to anthrax spores in a trenton, new jersey, mail-processing facility required rapid assessment of informatics needs and adaptation of existing informatics tools to new physical and information-processing environments. because the affected building and its computers were closed down, data to list potentially exposed persons and map building floor plans were unavailable from the primary source. results: controlling the effects of anthrax contamin ...	2003	14617376
application of bacillus anthracis pcr to simulated clinical samples.	we evaluated pcr for the detection of bacillus anthracis dna from simulated clinical specimens relevant for the microbiological diagnosis of anthrax or exposure to b. anthracis spores. in simulated blood specimens, the lowest limit of detection was 400 cfu per ml of blood, which may be sufficient for samples from patients with septic anthrax. screening nasal swabs by pcr may not be sensitive enough to rule out dangerous exposure to anthrax spores, as a minimum of 2000 spores per sample was requi ...	2003	14616752
a fast method for the detection of penicillin resistance in bacillus anthracis.		2003	14616737
antibiotic susceptibility of isolates of bacillus anthracis, a bacterial pathogen with the potential to be used in biowarfare.	bacillus anthracis is a bacterial species that could be used in a bioterrorist attack. we tested a collection of isolates with a range of relevant antimicrobial compounds. all isolates tested were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and doxycycline. penicillin and amoxicillin, with or without clavulanate, showed in vitro activity against all b. anthracis isolates. ceftriaxone demonstrated lower-level in vitro activity compared to penicillin-related compounds against b. anthracis. in vitro data from thi ...	2003	14616693
anthrax lethal factor-cleavage products of mapk (mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinases exhibit reduced binding to their cognate mapks.	anthrax lethal toxin is the major cause of death in systemic anthrax. lethal toxin consists of two proteins: protective antigen and lf (lethal factor). protective antigen binds to a cell-surface receptor and transports lf into the cytosol. lf is a metalloprotease that targets mkks [mapk (mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinases]/meks [mapk/erk (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) kinases], cleaving them to remove a small n-terminal stretch but leaving the bulk of the protein, including the p ...	2004	14616089
a canadian national survey of attitudes and knowledge regarding preventive vaccines.	background: vaccines have virtually eliminated many diseases, but public concerns about their safety could undermine future public health initiatives. objective: to determine canadians' attitudes and knowledge about vaccines, particularly in view of increasing public concern about bioterrorism and the possible need for emergency immunizations after weaponized anthrax incidents and the events of september 11, 2001. method: a 20-question survey based on well-researched dimensions of vaccine respon ...	2003	14613575
[genomics and bioterrorism].	the use of biological weapons has been recorded throughout history. however, the anthrax-tainted letters of the fall of 2001 caused shock and panic in several countries. knowledge of the principal bacteriological weapons allows design of novel rapid dna-based diagnostic tests that should help defuse the impact of future bioterrorist attacks. less than one-hour real-time pcr identification of bacteria and their associated antibiotic resistance genes will revolutionize the practice of medicine.	2003	14613008
gastrointestinal anthrax: review of the literature.	recent events have drawn attention to cases of inhalational and cutaneous anthrax associated with contaminated mail. gastrointestinal anthrax, the disease caused by ingestion of bacillus anthracis organisms, has rarely been reported in the united states. this review provides background information on the gastrointestinal form of the disease. we describe the clinical course of gastrointestinal anthrax, outline current therapy, review the microbiology of b anthracis, examine the epidemiology of na ...	2003	14609791
syndromic surveillance and bioterrorism-related epidemics.		2003	14609452
acylation of sc4 dodecapeptide increases bactericidal potency against gram-positive bacteria, including drug-resistant strains.	we have conjugated dodecyl and octadecyl fatty acids to the n-terminus of sc4, a potently bactericidal, helix-forming peptide 12-mer (klfkrhlkwkii), and examined the bactericidal activities of the resultant sc4 'peptide-amphiphile' molecules. sc4 peptide-amphiphiles showed up to a 30-fold increase in bactericidal activity against gram-positive strains (staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pyogenes and bacillus anthracis), including s. aureus strains resistant to conventional antibiotics, but lit ...	2004	14609430
identification of foodborne bacteria by infrared spectroscopy using cellular fatty acid methyl esters.	identification of bacterial species by profiling fatty acid methyl esters (fames) has commonly been carried out by using a 20-min capillary gas chromatographic procedure followed by library matching of fame profiles using commercial midi databases and proprietary pattern recognition software. fast gc (5 min) fame procedures and mass spectrometric methodologies that require no lipid separation have also been reported. in this study, bacterial identification based on the rapid (2 min) infrared mea ...	2003	14607413
anthrax mounts a nuclear attack on glucocorticoid signaling.	anthrax causes profound inflammation and systemic shock. a recent study has shown that anthrax lethal toxin represses the transcriptional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor, which is a crucial component of the body's defenses against inflammation. the study reports evidence that lethal toxin blocks the glucocorticoid receptor by inhibiting the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. thus, these findings suggest that glucocorticoid receptor inactivation contributes to anthrax toxicity ...	2003	14607073
sensitive and rapid quantitative detection of anthrax spores isolated from soil samples by real-time pcr.	quantitative analysis of anthrax spores from environmental samples is essential for accurate detection and risk assessment since bacillus anthracis spores have been shown to be one of the most effective biological weapons. using taqman real-time pcr, specific primers and probes were designed for the identification of pathogenic b. anthracis strains from pag gene and cap gene on two plasmids, pxo1 and pxo2, as well as a sap gene encoded on the s-layer. to select the appropriate lysis method of an ...	2003	14605435
tnf-alpha detection using a flow cytometric assay to determine cellular responses to anthrax vaccine.	this study describes a four-color flow cytometric assay that detects cd4+ t cell responses to the anthrax vaccine. whole blood from seven volunteers who previously obtained the anthrax vaccine was inoculated in vitro with varying concentrations of the anthrax antigen. tnf-alpha and ifn-gamma production from memory cd4+ t cells were measured and compared to a control group who never received the anthrax vaccine. the optimal antigen concentration for tnf-alpha was determined to be around 7.5 micro ...	2003	14604550
sequencing and characterization of pbm400 from bacillus megaterium qm b1551.	bacillus megaterium qm b1551 plasmid pbm400, one of seven indigenous plasmids, has been labeled with a selectable marker, isolated, completely sequenced, and partially characterized. a sequence of 53,903 bp was generated, revealing a total of 50 predicted open reading frames (orfs); 33 were carried on one strand and 17 were carried on the other. these orfs comprised 57% of the pbm400 sequence. besides the replicon region and a complete rrna operon that have previously been described, several int ...	2003	14602653
identification of genomic islands in the genome of bacillus cereus by comparative analysis with bacillus anthracis.	horizontal gene transfer has been recognized as a universal event throughout bacterial evolution. the availability of both complete genome sequences of bacillus cereus and b. anthracis provides the possibility to perform comparative analysis based on their genomes. by using a windowless method to display the distribution of the genomic gc content of b. cereus and b. anthracis, we have found three genomic islands in the genome of b. cereus, i.e., bcgi-1, bcgi-2, and bcgi-3, respectively, which ar ...	2003	14600214
bacteriocidal activity of garlic powder against bacillus anthracis.	the antibacterial activity of garlic powder was examined against bacillus anthracis using agar plate cultivation and test tube methods. on the agar plate test, 1-5% garlic powder inhibited the growth of b. anthracis and escherichia coli o157 used as references. a 1% water solution of garlic powder in the test tube method killed b. anthracis at 10(7) cfu/ml within 3 h of treatment at room temperature. a number of intestinal bacteria in a balb/c mouse decreased after the oral administration of 1 m ...	2003	14598920
scientific triumphalism and learning from facts: bacteriology and the "spanish flu" challenge of 1918.	the devastating influenza pandemic known as 'spanish flu', which killed at least 20 million people all over the world in 1918, was responsible for the first bitter blow inflicted on triumphant bacteriology, fortified by the series of resounding successes achieved in identifying the pathogenic agents of terrible diseases such as anthrax, cholera, tuberculosis, plague, and syphilis. over-confidence and the idea, born of the pasteur revolution, that every infectious disease was caused by a bacteriu ...	2003	14598819
purification and characterization of the pcra helicase of bacillus anthracis.	pcra is an essential helicase in gram-positive bacteria, and a gene encoding this helicase has been identified in all such organisms whose genomes have been sequenced so far. the precise role of pcra that makes it essential for cell growth is not known; however, pcra does not appear to be necessary for chromosome replication. the pcra gene was identified in the genome of bacillus anthracis on the basis of its sequence homology to the corresponding genes of bacillus subtilis and staphylococcus au ...	2003	14594837
preparedness for a bioterrorism event in alaska. part 1: detection and identification of a biologic event.	u.s. military and public health experts are increasingly concerned that the general public is at risk for terrorist attacks. traditional weapons of mass destruction such as explosive and chemical devices remain the most likely forms of terrorism, however the threat of bioterrorism is also present and may be increasing. an intentional biologic event may be covert and if so, will not become apparent for days or even weeks when many ill people present with an unidentified illness. health care provi ...	2000	14593880
xp38gamma/sapk3 promotes meiotic g(2)/m transition in xenopus oocytes and activates cdc25c.	we have studied the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (mapks) in the meiotic maturation of xenopus oocytes. overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of the p38 activator mkk6 accelerates progesterone-induced maturation. immunoprecipit ation experiments indicate that p38gamma/sapk3 is the major p38 activated by mkk6 in the oocytes. we have cloned xenopus p38gamma (xp38gamma) and show that co-expression of active mkk6 with xp38gamma induces oocyte maturation in the absence of p ...	2003	14592973
bacterial agents used for bioterrorism.	bacterial pathogens and their products are potential agents of biological terrorism and biological warfare. these agents can be deployed through simple aerosol delivery systems and thereby cause widespread disease and death.	2003	14588163
electrogenerated chemiluminescence. 72. determination of immobilized dna and c-reactive protein on au(111) electrodes using tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(ii) labels.	anodic electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ecl) with tri-n-propylamine (tpra) as a coreactant was used to determine dna and c-reactive protein (crp) by immobilizations on au(111) electrodes using tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(ii) (ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) labels. a 23-mer synthetic single-stranded (ss) dna derived from the bacillus anthracis with an amino-modified group at the 5' end position was covalently attached to the au(111) substrate precoated with a self-assembled thiol monolayer of 3-mercaptopro ...	2003	14588023
terrorism preparedness in state health departments--united states, 2001-2003.	the anthrax attacks in fall 2001 highlighted the role of infectious disease (id) epidemiologists in terrorism preparedness and response. beginning in 2002, state health departments (shds) received approximately 1 billion dollars in new federal funding to prepare for and respond to terrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and other public health threats and emergencies. this funding is being used in part to improve epidemiologic and surveillance capabilities. to determine how states have used a p ...	2003	14586300
anthrax--an overview.	anthrax, a disease of mammals (including humans), is caused by a spore-forming gram-positive bacilli called bacillus anthracis. anthrax is one of the oldest threats to humanity, and remains endemic in animals in many parts of the world. the incidence of anthrax has decreased in developed countries, but it remains a considerable health problem in developing countries. the disease is transmitted to humans by contact with sick animals or their products, such as wool, skin, meat etc. capsular polype ...	2003	14586293
lymphocytic vasculitis associated with the anthrax vaccine: case report and review of anthrax vaccination.	anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacteria bacillus anthracis. it occurs naturally, but recently has been manufactured as a biological warfare agent. this makes prophylaxis for anthrax an urgent concern and efforts are ongoing for the production of an efficient and safe vaccine. side effects to the current anthrax vaccine are usually minor and mainly consist of local skin reactions. occasionally an unusual complication may occur; a case of a patient with lymphocytic vasculitis temporally as ...	2003	14585454
[guidelines for clinical management of bioterrorism bacterial diseases: anthrax, plague, turalemia and brucellosis].		2003	14585044
[anthrax. basic principles and preventive measures].		2001	14584137
real-time multicolor dna detection with chemoresponsive diffraction gratings and nanoparticle probes.	we report a real-time dna detection method that utilizes single-strand dna-modified nanoparticle probes and micropatterned chemoresponsive diffraction gratings interrogated simultaneously at multiple laser wavelengths. the surface-bound nanoparticle probe based assay with the chemoresponsive diffraction grating signal transduction scheme results in an experimentally simple dna detection protocol, displaying attributes of both detection methodologies: the high sensitivity and selectivity afforded ...	2003	14583051
the critical role of pathology in the investigation of bioterrorism-related cutaneous anthrax.	cutaneous anthrax is a rare zoonotic disease in the united states. the clinical diagnosis traditionally has been established by conventional microbiological methods, such as culture and gram staining. however, these methods often yield negative results when patients have received antibiotics. during the bioterrorism event of 2001, we applied two novel immunohistochemical assays that can detect bacillus anthracis antigens in skin biopsy samples even after prolonged antibiotic treatment. these ass ...	2003	14578189
susceptibility to anthrax lethal toxin is controlled by three linked quantitative trait loci.	anthrax lethal toxin (lt) is the principal virulence factor associated with lethal pathologies following infection with bacillus anthracis. macrophages are the primary effector cells mediating lethality since macrophage-depleted mice are resistant to lt challenge. recently, ltxs1, the gene controlling differential susceptibility of murine macrophages to cytolysis following in vitro exposure to lt, was identified as kif1c. to directly assess the in vivo role of kif1c alleles in mortality, we stud ...	2003	14578173
exposing a killer: pathologists angle for anthrax.		2003	14578167
milker's nodule in a healthy young woman.	milker's nodules (pseudocowpox) are harmless skin lesions most commonly seen in persons whose occupation regularly brings them into close contact with cattle. they are caused by the paravaccinia virus, a member of the poxvirus family. awareness of their clinical and histopathologic features is important, especially with today's heightened awareness of the threat of biologic warfare, to distinguish them from more worrisome entities such as tularemia and anthrax.	2003	14576676
acid induced unfolding of anthrax protective antigen.	acidic ph plays an important role in the membrane insertion of protective antigen (pa) of anthrax toxin leading to the translocation of the catalytic moieties. the structural transitions occurring in pa as a consequence of change in ph were investigated by fluorescence and circular dichroism measurements. our studies revealed the presence of two intermediates on-pathway of acid induced unfolding; one at ph 2.0 and other at ph 4-5. intrinsic fluorescence measurements of these intermediates showed ...	2003	14575718
comparative evaluation of protective antigen produced from bacillus anthracis & escherichia coli.	anthrax has been reported from almost every country and india is endemic for this disease. there is considerable under reporting of the disease because of lack of microbiological facilities and diagnostic reagents. in india only conventional methods which have limitations, are being used to diagnose the disease. hence the aim of this study was to isolate and purify protective antigen (pa) using different protocols and to use this pa for detection of anti-pa antibodies from sera samples.	2003	14575176
molecular diagnostics in an insecure world.	as of october 2001, the potential for use of infectious agents, such as anthrax, as weapons has been firmly established. it has been suggested that attacks on a nations' agriculture might be a preferred form of terrorism or economic disruption that would not have the attendant stigma of infecting and causing disease in humans. highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is on every top ten list available for potential agricultural bioweapon agents, generally following foot and mouth disease virus an ...	2003	14575112
phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase c and sphingomyelinase activities in bacteria of the bacillus cereus group.	bacillus anthracis is nonhemolytic, even though it is closely related to the highly hemolytic bacillus cereus. hemolysis by b. cereus results largely from the action of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase c (pc-plc) and sphingomyelinase (sph), encoded by the plc and sph genes, respectively. in b. cereus, these genes are organized in an operon regulated by the global regulator plcr. b. anthracis contains a highly similar cereolysin operon, but it is transcriptionally silent because the b. ...	2003	14573681
isdg and isdi, heme-degrading enzymes in the cytoplasm of staphylococcus aureus.	staphylococcus aureus requires iron for growth and utilizes heme as a source of iron during infection. staphylococcal surface proteins capture hemoglobin, release heme from hemoglobin and transport this compound across the cell wall envelope and plasma membrane into the bacterial cytoplasm. here we show that staphylococcus aureus isdg and isdi encode cytoplasmic proteins with heme binding properties. isdg and isdi cleave the tetrapyrrol ring structure of heme in the presence of nadph cytochrome ...	2004	14570922
anthrax toxin.	anthrax toxin consists of three nontoxic proteins that associate in binary or ternary combinations to form toxic complexes at the surface of mammalian cells. one of these proteins, protective antigen (pa), transports the other two, edema factor (ef) and lethal factor (lf), to the cytosol. lf is a zn2+-protease that cleaves certain map kinase kinases, leading to death of the host via a poorly defined sequence of events. ef, a calmodulin- and ca2+-dependent adenylate cyclase, is responsible for th ...	2003	14570563
a reusable flow-through polymerase chain reaction instrument for the continuous monitoring of infectious biological agents.	continuous monitoring of the environment for infectious diseases and related biowarfare agents requires the implementation of practical cost-effective methodologies that are highly sensitive and specific. one compatible method employed in clinical diagnostics is real-time polymerase chain reaction (pcr) analysis. the utility of this technique for environmental monitoring is limited, however, by the utilization of single-use consumables in commercial pcr instruments. this greatly increases mechan ...	2003	14570196
bioterrorism. clinical recognition and primary management.	the recent anthrax attacks in the united states have demonstrated the reality of bioterrorist threats as well as the need for preparedness and planning to mount a successful response to such events. medical practitioners have a key role in responding to bioterrorist activity because they can contribute to the timely recognition of an event and to the mitigation of morbidity resulting from a bioterrorist attack. the medical community needs to become familiar with how to recognize and manage disea ...	2002	14569808
blinded by bioterrorism: public health and liberty in the 21st century.		2003	14569657
bioterrorism and the nervous system.	recent events of war, terrorist attacks, and mail-borne anthrax exposure have produced increasing awareness of potential bioterrorism attacks in the united states and other parts of the world. physicians and healthcare personnel play a key role in identifying potential bioterrorist attacks. early recognition and preparedness for bioterrorism-associated illnesses is especially important for neurologists because most bioterrorism agents can directly or indirectly affect the nervous system. this ar ...	2003	14565901