Publications

bactericidal activity of levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, penicillin, meropenem and rokitamycin against bacillus anthracis clinical isolates.	this study aimed to evaluate the bactericidal rates of levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, penicillin, meropenem and rokitamycin against seven isolates of bacillus anthracis clinically isolated between 1960 and 1970. after determination of mic and mbc, time-kill experiments were carried out. antimicrobial activity was evaluated at concentrations equal to 1 x, 2 x, 4 x and 8 x mic after 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h of incubation with the drugs. bactericidal activity was defined as a decrease in bacterial count o ...	2002	12461034
hospital preparedness for chemical and biological incidents in hong kong.	the risk of mass exposure to toxic substances has increased steadily during the twentieth century due to the expansion of industry and the deliberate development and use of agents of chemical warfare. although hong kong is considered a relatively safe place, hoax anthrax attacks have occurred since 17 october 2001. people who have been seriously injured by hazardous materials have a greater chance of recovery without complications when appropriate emergency treatments are provided. recognition a ...	2002	12459601
use of anthrax vaccine in response to terrorism: supplemental recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices.	in december 2000, the advisory committee on immunization practices (acip) released its recommendations for using anthrax vaccine in the united states. because of recent terrorist attacks involving the intentional exposure of u.s. civilians to bacillus anthracis spores and concerns that the current anthrax vaccine supply is limited, acip developed supplemental recommendations on using anthrax vaccine in response to terrorism. these recommendations supplement the previous acip statement in three a ...	2002	12458919
anthrax x-rayed: new opportunities for biodefence.	bacillus anthracis, the agent responsible for inhalation anthrax, exerts its lethal effects via the production of anthrax toxin (protective antigen, lethal factor and oedema factor); anthrax kills because the toxin overwhelms the patient before innate host defence systems have a chance to eradicate the invaders. structural studies on these three components provide a starting point for the design of novel drugs to neutralize toxin action, yielding a valuable adjunct to conventional antibiotic tre ...	2002	12457764
more bioterrorism.		2002	12456930
hospitals review plans in wake of latest threats.		2002	12455485
diversity among french bacillus anthracis isolates.	while outbreaks of animal anthrax zoonoses still regularly occur in france, little is known about the epidemiology links between them. we have used the eight-locus multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis typing technique against a collection of 50 bacillus anthracis isolates from france. there were eight distinct genotypes belonging to two dissimilar genetic clusters. regional strain patterns were observed, with the b2 genotypes prevalent in southern france and the a1a genotypes found ...	2002	12454180
broadband 10-300 ghz stimulus-response sensing for chemical and biological entities.	by illuminating the sample with a broadband 10-300 ghz stimulus and coherently detecting the response, we obtain reflection and transmission spectra of common powdered substances, and compare them as a starting point for distinguishing concealed threats in envelopes and on personnel. because these samples are irregular and their dielectric properties cannot be modulated, however, the spectral information we obtain is largely qualitative. to show how to gain quantitative information on biological ...	2002	12452568
bile stress response in listeria monocytogenes lo28: adaptation, cross-protection, and identification of genetic loci involved in bile resistance.	bile is one of many barriers that listeria monocytogenes must overcome in the human gastrointestinal tract in order to infect and cause disease. we demonstrated that stationary-phase cultures of l. monocytogenes lo28 were able to tolerate concentrations of bovine, porcine, and human bile and bile acids well in excess of those encountered in vivo. strain lo28 was relatively bile resistant compared with other clinical isolates of l. monocytogenes, as well as with listeria innocua, salmonella enter ...	2002	12450822
induction of hepatitis c virus-specific cytotoxic t lymphocytes in mice by immunization with dendritic cells transduced with replication-defective recombinant adenovirus.	we studied the potential of dendritic cells (dcs) in priming hepatitis c virus (hcv)-specific cytotoxic t lymphocytes (ctls) in mice. recombinant adenovirus expressing hcv core (adex1sr3st) was employed to express core in dcs. core-specific ctls are effectively elicited by injecting adex1sr3st-transduced dcs, whereas injection of adex1sr3st does not result in effective priming. further, adex1sr3st-transduced dcs more efficiently prime core-specific ctls than adex1sr3st-transduced macrophages, or ...	2002	12450696
learning as we go: public health, one year later.		2002	12449917
the structure and function of novel proteins of bacillus anthracis and other spore-forming bacteria: development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic agents.	the overall goal of this review is to summarize the current body of knowledge about the structure and function of major proteins of bacillus anthracis and/or similar spore-forming organisms. b. anthracis is a key spore-forming biological threat agent, as well as human and animal gram-positive bacterial pathogen. the structural information described here is limited to approximately the last 5 years. this information is then related to the role of the selected proteins in pathogenesis and in the p ...	2002	12449428
case definitions for diseases under national surveillance: addition of diseases associated with potential bioterrorist agents.		2002	12448885
expression of protective antigen in transgenic plants: a step towards edible vaccine against anthrax.	protective antigen (pa) is the most potent molecule for vaccination against anthrax. in the present study, we have successfully integrated protective antigen gene in nuclear genome of tobacco plants by agrobacterium mediated leaf-disc transformation method. expression of protective antigen gene was detected by immunoblot analysis using antisera raised against purified pa. a distinct band of approximately 83kda lighted up in the protein extracted from transformed plants while there was no such ba ...	2002	12445805
david satcher takes stock [interview by fitzhugh mullan].		2002	12442850
public health and national security: the critical role of increased federal support.	protecting the public's health historically has been a state and local responsibility. however, the growing threat of bioterrorism has highlighted the importance of a strong public health infrastructure to the nation's homeland security and has focused increased attention on the preparedness of the public health system. as a result, federal public health funding has increased exponentially since the anthrax attacks of late 2001, and congress has passed sweeping new federal legislation intended t ...	2002	12442847
dealing with the dangers of fear: the role of risk communication.	among the many lessons of the homeland terrorist attacks of 2001 was that fear has powerful public health implications. people chose to drive instead of flying, thereby raising their risk of injury or death. thousands took broad-spectrum antibiotics to prevent possible anthrax infections, thereby accelerating antimicrobial resistance. such potentially harmful actions were taken by people seeking a sense of safety because they were afraid. this essay argues for greater emphasis on risk communicat ...	2002	12442846
maintaining a vigilance for foreign animal diseases.	the incursion of foot-and-mouth disease (fmd) into the united kingdom in february 2001 served as a wakeup call for north american agriculture. as the livestock health crisis in the united kingdom progressed, it became increasingly evident that the united states, canada, and mexico were also susceptible to an incursion of a foreign animal disease. the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001, and the subsequent anthrax mailings reaffirmed the fact that the united states is vulnerable to an infecti ...	2002	12442572
search for potential vaccine candidate open reading frames in the bacillus anthracis virulence plasmid pxo1: in silico and in vitro screening.	a genomic analysis of the bacillus anthracis virulence plasmid pxo1, aimed at identifying potential vaccine candidates and virulence-related genes, was carried out. the 143 previously defined open reading frames (orfs) (r. t. okinaka, k. cloud, o. hampton, a. r. hoffmaster, k. k. hill, p. keim, t. m. koehler, g. lamke, s. kumano, j. mahillon, d. manter, y. martinez, d. ricke, r. svensson, and p. j. jackson, j. bacteriol. 181:6509-6515, 1999) were subjected to extensive sequence similarity search ...	2002	12438358
antimicrobial susceptibilities of diverse bacillus anthracis isolates.	a test of 25 genetically diverse isolates of bacillus anthracis was conducted to determine their susceptibility to seven clinically relevant antimicrobial agents. etest strips (ab biodisk, solna, sweden) were used to measure the mics for the isolates. using the national committee for clinical laboratory standards mic breakpoints for staphylococci, three isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin and five were found to be resistant to cefuroxime. the penicillin-resistant isolates were nega ...	2002	12435686
anthrax toxin: a tripartite lethal combination.	anthrax is a severe bacterial infection that occurs when bacillus anthracis spores gain access into the body and germinate in macrophages, causing septicemia and toxemia. anthrax toxin is a binary a-b toxin composed of protective antigen (pa), lethal factor (lf), and edema factor (ef). pa mediates the entry of either lf or ef into the cytosol of host cells. lf is a zinc metalloprotease that inactivates mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inducing cell death, and ef is an adenylyl cyclase imp ...	2002	12435580
in-vitro characterisation of the phagocytosis and fate of anthrax spores in macrophages and the effects of anti-pa antibody.	antibodies (abs) to the protective antigen (pa) component of the anthrax toxins have anti-spore as well as anti-toxin activities. anti-pa antisera and purified anti-pa abs enhance the phagocytosis by murine-derived macrophages (mqs) of spores of the ames and sterne strains and retard the germination of extracellular spores in vitro. the fate after phagocytosis of untreated and anti-pa-treated spores was further studied in culture medium that supported phagocytosis without stimulating spore germi ...	2002	12435060
the prophylaxis and treatment of anthrax.	bacillus anthracis infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation depending on the mode of infection. anthrax is a zoonotic disease but the inhalation form can also be used as a biological warfare agent. the recent mail spread outbreak of bioterrorism-related infections in the usa prompted the introduction of specific guidelines by the usa centers for disease control and prevention. postexposure prophylaxis is indicated to prevent inhalational anthrax, and therapy ...	2002	12431866
biological terrorism: understanding the threat, preparation, and medical response.	the thought of an outbreak of disease caused by the intentional release of a pathogen or toxin in an american city was alien just 10 years ago. many people believed that biological warfare was only in the military's imagination, perhaps to be faced by soldiers on a far-away battlefield, if at all. the "anthrax letters" and the resulting deaths from inhalation anthrax have changed that perception. the national, state, and local governments in the united states are preparing for what is now called ...	2002	12429949
anthrax, mek and cancer.	the mek family of protein kinases plays key roles in regulating cellular responses to mitogens as well as environmental stress. inappropriate activation of these kinases contributes to tumorigenesis. in contrast, anthrax lethal factor, the principal virulence factor of anthrax toxin, has been demonstrated to selectively inactivate meks. in this article we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of molecular aspects of the pathogenesis of anthrax, emphasizing the potential role of mek s ...	2002	12429903
structural analysis and evidence for dynamic emergence of bacillus anthracis s-layer networks.	surface layers (s-layers), which form the outermost layers of many bacteria and archaea, consist of protein molecules arranged in two-dimensional crystalline arrays. bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, responsible for anthrax, synthesizes two abundant surface proteins: sap and ea1. regulatory studies showed that ea1 and sap appear sequentially at the surface of the parental strain. sap and ea1 can form arrays. the structural parameters of s-layers from mutant strains (e ...	2002	12426331
[bioterrorism: the role of veterinarians in detection and prevention].	the fear of terrorist attacks has increased since the events of 11 september 2001 in new york. in the weeks following the terrorist attack, letters containing anthrax spores were received at various locations in the usa. this shows that bioterrorism is possible and that is necessary to be prepared for the potential release of biological agents. such agents can be distributed not only via the air and drinking water but also via household pets. the aim of terrorist attacks, namely, the disruption ...	2002	12425213
terrorism. guarding against biological agents.		2002	12422379
science education: put your lab in a different class.		2002	12422180
biological terrorism against animals and humans: a brief review and primer for action.		2002	12420822
a novel class of self-sufficient cytochrome p450 monooxygenases in prokaryotes.	the bacillus cytochrome p450 bm3 integrates an entire p450 system in one polypeptide and represents a convenient prokaryotic model for microsomal p450s. this self-sufficient class ii p450 is also present in actinomycetes and fungi. by genome analysis we have identified additional homologues in the pathogenic species bacillus anthracis and bacillus cereus, and in ralstonia metallidurans. this analysis also revealed a novel class of putative self-sufficient p450s, p450 pfor, comprising a class i p ...	2002	12419614
sleuth without a badge.		2002	12416443
smallpox vaccine policy: the national debate.	as a result of the 2001 anthrax attacks, the u.s. government is trying to forge a plan to handle something much worse: an outbreak of smallpox due to terrorist activity. here's a look at where the debate stands today.	2002	12416388
public health nursing practice: aftermath of september 11, 2001.	america's experience on september 11, 2001, forms the backdrop of this review of the public health nursing role in bioterrorism preparedness. the risks and challenges to the public health infrastructure are reviewed in order to place bioterrorism preparedness in a public health context. a review of the literature provides background material on the extent to which public health has evolved in planning for a bioterrorism event. the skills and competencies that will prepare public health nurses in ...	2002	12410635
real-time pcr assay for rapid detection of bacillus anthracis spores in clinical samples.		2002	12409444
pcr-based detection of bacillus anthracis in formalin-fixed tissue from a patient receiving ciprofloxacin.	we demonstrate that bacillus anthracis may be detected from a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimen, even after the patient has received antibiotic treatment. although traditional pcr methods may not be sufficiently sensitive for anthrax detection in such patients, cycle numbers can be increased or pcr can be repeated by using an aliquot from a previous pcr as the template.	2002	12409432
protocol for real-time pcr identification of anthrax spores from nasal swabs after broth enrichment.	a mass-screening protocol for the diagnosis of anthrax from nasal swabs based on an enrichment step in liquid medium was devised. incubation for growth was performed in autoclavable vials and racks which allow real-time pcr analysis of sterilized cultures. a dual-color pcr was set up with primers and probes for the chromosomal marker rpob and the plasmid marker lef. specific primer and probe sets were designed for the differentiation of bacillus anthracis from b. cereus and for the differentiati ...	2002	12409358
scientific evidence supports anthrax vaccination.		2002	12406785
evolution of signalling in the sporulation phosphorelay.	two-component and phosphorelay signal transduction systems are believed to function as environ-mental sensors that programme gene expression to the composition of the ecological niche in which a microbe normally resides. the question of how evolutionarily related bacteria that occupy different environments change their signal transduction pathways to adapt to such environments was asked of the sporulation phosphorelay of bacillus subtilis, bacillus halodurans, bacillus anthracis and bacillus ste ...	2002	12406209
anthrax peritonitis.		2002	12405320
night of two town meetings.		2002	12405129
an anthrax "smoke" detector. online monitoring of aerosolized bacterial spores.		2002	12405057
anthrax: what should the otolaryngologist know?		2002	12403119
an outbreak of web sites selling ciprofloxacin following an outbreak of anthrax by mail.		2002	12401538
fielding pleas for cipro.		2001	12400348
the anthrax threat: a concise guide for nps.		2001	12400346
influenza review and outlook. 2002-2003, with additional considerations for differentiation from inhalation anthrax.		2002	12400233
cutaneous anthrax management algorithm.		2002	12399771
[bioterrorism and primary care].		2002	12396947
industry-related outbreak of human anthrax, massachusetts, 1868.		2002	12396936
evaluation and validation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for rapid identification of bacillus anthracis.		2002	12396935
epidemiologic response to anthrax outbreaks: field investigations, 1950-2001.	we used unpublished reports, published manuscripts, and communication with investigators to identify and summarize 49 anthrax-related epidemiologic field investigations conducted by the centers for disease control and prevention from 1950 to august 2001. of 41 investigations in which bacillus anthracis caused human or animal disease, 24 were in agricultural settings, 11 in textile mills, and 6 in other settings. among the other investigations, two focused on building decontamination, one was a r ...	2002	12396934
epidemic anthrax in the eighteenth century, the americas.	anthrax has been described as a veterinary disease of minor importance to clinical medicine, causing occasional occupational infections in single cases or clusters. its potential for rapid and widespread epidemic transmission under natural circumstances has not been widely appreciated. a little-known 1770 epidemic that killed 15,000 people in saint-domingue (modern haiti) was probably intestinal anthrax. the epidemic spread rapidly throughout the colony in association with consumption of uncooke ...	2002	12396933
collaboration between public health and law enforcement: the constitutional challenge.		2002	12396932
collaboration between public health and law enforcement: new paradigms and partnerships for bioterrorism planning and response.	the biological attacks with powders containing bacillus anthracis sent through the mail during september and october 2001 led to unprecedented public health and law enforcement investigations, which involved thousands of investigators from federal, state, and local agencies. following recognition of the first cases of anthrax in florida in early october 2001, investigators from the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) and the federal bureau of investigation (fbi) were mobilized to as ...	2002	12396931
surface sampling methods for bacillus anthracis spore contamination.	during an investigation conducted december 17-20, 2001, we collected environmental samples from a u.s. postal facility in washington, d.c., known to be extensively contaminated with bacillus anthracis spores. because methods for collecting and analyzing b. anthracis spores have not yet been validated, our objective was to compare the relative effectiveness of sampling methods used for collecting spores from contaminated surfaces. comparison of wipe, wet and dry swab, and hepa vacuum sock samples ...	2002	12396930
adherence to antimicrobial inhalational anthrax prophylaxis among postal workers, washington, d.c., 2001.	in october 2001, two envelopes containing bacillus anthracis spores were processed at the washington, d.c., processing and distribution center of the u.s. postal service; inhalational anthrax developed in four workers at this facility. more than 2,000 workers were advised to complete 60 days of postexposure prophylaxis to prevent inhalational anthrax. interventions to promote adherence were carried out to support workers, and qualitative information was collected to evaluate our interventions. a ...	2002	12396929
anthrax postexposure prophylaxis in postal workers, connecticut, 2001.	after inhalational anthrax was diagnosed in a connecticut woman on november 20, 2001, postexposure prophylaxis was recommended for postal workers at the regional mail facility serving the patient's area. although environmental testing at the facility yielded negative results, subsequent testing confirmed the presence of bacillus anthracis. we distributed questionnaires to 100 randomly selected postal workers within 20 days of initial prophylaxis. ninety-four workers obtained antibiotics, 68 of w ...	2002	12396928
antimicrobial postexposure prophylaxis for anthrax: adverse events and adherence.	we collected data during postexposure antimicrobial prophylaxis campaigns and from a prophylaxis program evaluation 60 days after start of antimicrobial prophylaxis involving persons from six u.s. sites where bacillus anthracis exposures occurred. adverse events associated with antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent anthrax were commonly reported, but hospitalizations and serious adverse events as defined by food and drug administration criteria were rare. overall adherence during 60 days of antim ...	2002	12396927
sequencing of 16s rrna gene: a rapid tool for identification of bacillus anthracis.	in a bioterrorism event, a tool is needed to rapidly differentiate bacillus anthracis from other closely related spore-forming bacillus species. during the recent outbreak of bioterrorism-associated anthrax, we sequenced the 16s rrna generom these species to evaluate the potential of 16s rrna gene sequencing as a diagnostic tool. we found eight distinct 16s types among all 107 16s rrna gene seqs fuences that differed from each other at 1 to 8 positions (0.06% to 0.5%). all 86 b. anthracis had an ...	2002	12396926
molecular subtyping of bacillus anthracis and the 2001 bioterrorism-associated anthrax outbreak, united states.	molecular subtyping of bacillus anthracis played an important role in differentiating and identifying strains during the 2001 bioterrorism-associated outbreak. because b. anthracis has a low level of genetic variability, only a few subtyping methods, with varying reliability, exist. we initially used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (mlva) to subtype 135 b. anthracis isolates associated with the outbreak. all isolates were determined to be of genotype 62, the same as the ame ...	2002	12396925
specific, sensitive, and quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for human immunoglobulin g antibodies to anthrax toxin protective antigen.	the bioterrorism-associated human anthrax epidemic in the fall of 2001 highlighted the need for a sensitive, reproducible, and specific laboratory test for the confirmatory diagnosis of human anthrax. the centers for disease control and prevention developed, optimized, and rapidly qualified an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) for immunoglobulin g (igg) antibodies to bacillus anthracis protective antigen (pa) in human serum. the qualified elisa had a minimum detection limit of 0.06 micro ...	2002	12396924
laboratory response to anthrax bioterrorism, new york city, 2001.	in october 2001, the greater new york city metropolitan area was the scene of a bioterrorism attack. the scale of the public response to this attack was not foreseen and threatened to overwhelm the bioterrorism response laboratory's (btrl) ability to process and test environmental samples. in a joint effort with the centers for disease control and prevention and the cooperation of the department of defense, a massive effort was launched to maintain and sustain the laboratory response and return ...	2002	12396923
coordinated response to reports of possible anthrax contamination, idaho, 2001.	in 2001, the intentional release of anthrax spores in the eastern united states increased concern about exposure to anthrax nationwide, and residents of idaho sought assistance. response from state and local agencies was required, increasing the strain on epidemiologists, laboratorians, and communications personnel. in late 2001, idaho's public health communications system handled 133 calls about suspicious powders. for each call, a multiagency bridge call was established, and participants (publ ...	2002	12396922
call-tracking data and the public health response to bioterrorism-related anthrax.	after public notification of confirmed cases of bioterrorism-related anthrax, the centers for disease control and prevention's emergency operations center responded to 11,063 bioterrorism-related telephone calls from october 8 to november 11, 2001. most calls were inquiries from the public about anthrax vaccines (58.4%), requests for general information on bioterrorism prevention (14.8%), and use of personal protective equipment (12.0%); 882 telephone calls (8.0%) were referred to the state liai ...	2002	12396921
environmental sampling for spores of bacillus anthracis.	on november 11, 2001, following the bioterrorism-related anthrax attacks, the u.s. postal service collected samples at the southern connecticut processing and distribution center; all samples were negative for bacillus anthracis. after a patient in connecticut died from inhalational anthrax on november 19, the center was sampled again on november 21 and 25 by using dry and wet swabs. all samples were again negative for b. anthracis. on november 28, guided by information from epidemiologic invest ...	2002	12396920
bioterrorism-related anthrax surveillance, connecticut, september-december, 2001.	on november 19, 2001, a case of inhalational anthrax was identified in a 94-year-old connecticut woman, who later died. we conducted intensive surveillance for additional anthrax cases, which included collecting data from hospitals, emergency departments, private practitioners, death certificates, postal facilities, veterinarians, and the state medical examiner. no additional cases of anthrax were identified. the absence of additional anthrax cases argued against an intentional environmental rel ...	2002	12396919
surveillance for anthrax cases associated with contaminated letters, new jersey, delaware, and pennsylvania, 2001.	in october 2001, two inhalational anthrax and four cutaneous anthrax cases, resulting from the processing of bacillus anthracis-containing envelopes at a new jersey mail facility, were identified. subsequently, we initiated stimulated passive hospital-based and enhanced passive surveillance for anthrax-compatible syndromes. from october 24 to december 17, 2001, hospitals reported 240,160 visits and 7,109 intensive-care unit admissions in the surveillance area (population 6.7 million persons). fo ...	2002	12396918
inhalational anthrax outbreak among postal workers, washington, d.c., 2001.	in october 2001, four cases of inhalational anthrax occurred in workers in a washington, d.c., mail facility that processed envelopes containing bacillus anthracis spores. we reviewed the envelopes' paths and obtained exposure histories and nasal swab cultures from postal workers. environmental sampling was performed. a sample of employees was assessed for antibody concentrations to b. anthracis protective antigen. case-patients worked on nonoverlapping shifts throughout the facility, suggesting ...	2002	12396917
a two-component direct fluorescent-antibody assay for rapid identification of bacillus anthracis.	a two-component direct fluorescent-antibody (dfa) assay, using fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibodies specific to the bacillus anthracis cell wall (cw-dfa) and capsule (cap-dfa) antigens, was evaluated and validated for rapid identification of b. anthracis. we analyzed 230 b. anthracis isolates; 228 and 229 were positive by cw-dfa and cap-dfa assays, respectively. we also tested 56 non-b. anthracis strains; 10 b. cereus and 2 b. thuringiensis were positive by the cw-dfa assay, and 1 b. megate ...	2002	12396916
bioterrorism-related anthrax: international response by the centers for disease control and prevention.	after reports of the intentional release of bacillus anthracis in the united states, epidemiologists, laboratorians, and clinicians around the world were called upon to respond to widespread political and public concerns. to respond to inquiries from other countries regarding anthrax and bioterrorism, the centers for disease control and prevention established an international team in its emergency operations center. from october 12, 2001, to january 2, 2002, this team received 130 requests from ...	2002	12396915
epidemiologic investigations of bioterrorism-related anthrax, new jersey, 2001.	at least four bacillus anthracis-containing envelopes destined for new york city and washington, d.c. were processed at the trenton processing and distribution center (pdc) on september 18 and october 9, 2001. when cutaneous anthrax was confirmed in a trenton postal worker, the pdc was closed. four cutaneous and two inhalational anthrax cases were identified. five patients were hospitalized; none died. four were pdc employees; the others handled or received mail processed there. onset dates occu ...	2002	12396914
bacillus anthracis aerosolization associated with a contaminated mail sorting machine.	on october 12, 2001, two envelopes containing bacillus anthracis spores passed through a sorting machine in a postal facility in washington, d.c. when anthrax infection was identified in postal workers 9 days later, the facility was closed. to determine if exposure to airborne b. anthracis spores continued to occur, we performed air sampling around the contaminated sorter. one cfu of b. anthracis was isolated from 990 l of air sampled before the machine was activated. six cfus were isolated duri ...	2002	12396913
opening a bacillus anthracis-containing envelope, capitol hill, washington, d.c.: the public health response.	on october 15, 2001, a u.s. senate staff member opened an envelope containing bacillus anthracis spores. chemoprophylaxis was promptly initiated and nasal swabs obtained for all persons in the immediate area. an epidemiologic investigation was conducted to define exposure areas and identify persons who should receive prolonged chemoprophylaxis, based on their exposure risk. persons immediately exposed to b. anthracis spores were interviewed; records were reviewed to identify additional persons i ...	2002	12396912
first case of bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax, florida, 2001: north carolina investigation.	the index case of inhalational anthrax in october 2001 was in a man who lived and worked in florida. however, during the 3 days before illness onset, the patient had traveled through north carolina, raising the possibility that exposure to bacillus anthracis spores could have occurred there. the rapid response in north carolina included surveillance among hospital intensive-care units, microbiology laboratories, medical examiners, and veterinarians, and site investigations at locations visited b ...	2002	12396911
first case of bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax in the united states, palm beach county, florida, 2001.	on october 4, 2001, we confirmed the first bioterrorism-related anthrax case identified in the united states in a resident of palm beach county, florida. epidemiologic investigation indicated that exposure occurred at the workplace through intentionally contaminated mail. one additional case of inhalational anthrax was identified from the index patient's workplace. among 1,076 nasal cultures performed to assess exposure, bacillus anthracis was isolated from a co-worker later confirmed as being i ...	2002	12396910
investigation of bioterrorism-related anthrax, united states, 2001: epidemiologic findings.	in october 2001, the first inhalational anthrax case in the united states since 1976 was identified in a media company worker in florida. a national investigation was initiated to identify additional cases and determine possible exposures to bacillus anthracis. surveillance was enhanced through health-care facilities, laboratories, and other means to identify cases, which were defined as clinically compatible illness with laboratory-confirmed b. anthracis infection. from october 4 to november 20 ...	2002	12396909
public health in the time of bioterrorism.		2002	12396908
anthrax bioterrorism: lessons learned and future directions.		2002	12396907
feeling crummy? is it the flu?		2002	12393332
banai a new isoschizomer of the type ii restriction endonuclease haeiii discovered in a bacillus anthracis isolate from amazon basin.	bacillus anthracis was isolated and identified from a bacterial collection of samples from the amazon river bank. type ii restriction endonuclease activity was detected in this prokaryote, the enzyme was purified, the molecular mass of the native protein estimated by gel filtration, and optima ph, temperature and salt requirements were determined. quality control assays showed complete absence of 'non-specific nucleases'. restriction cleavage analysis and dna sequencing of restriction fragments ...	2002	12393207
[prevention of bioterrorism by vaccines].	prevention against the weapons of bioterrorists is limited by the multiplicity of agents that could be used. against smallpox, stocks of the classical vaccine must be prepared, but this vaccine is dangerous and we must look for a new and safer vaccine. a vaccine against anthrax is probably possible relatively soon. one may be less optimistic concerning plague, since it is not sure that we could protect against the pulmonary plague, but research in this field is an emergency. the large number of ...	2002	12391900
cutaneous anthrax.		1967	12389548
open-market innovation.	companies in many industries are feeling immense pressure to improve their ability to innovate. even in these tough economic times, executives have pushed innovation initiatives to the top of their priority lists, but they know that the best ideas aren't always coming out of their own r&d labs. that's why a growing number of companies are exploring the idea of open-market innovation--an approach that uses tools such as licensing, joint ventures, and strategic alliances to bring the benefits of f ...	2002	12389463
antimicrobial therapy for bacillus anthracis-induced polymicrobial infection in (60)co gamma-irradiated mice.	challenge with both nonlethal ionizing radiation and toxigenic bacillus anthracis spores increases the rate of mortality from a mixed bacterial infection. if biological weapons, such as b. anthracis spores, and nuclear weapons were used together, casualties could be more severe than they would be from the use of either weapon alone. we previously discovered that a polymicrobial infection developed in b6d2f(1)/j mice after nonlethal (7-gy) (60)co gamma irradiation and intratracheal challenge with ...	2002	12384351
cdc: be alert to symptoms associated with bioterrorism.		2001	12382635
anthrax as a biological weapon: an old disease that poses a new threat.		2002	12382615
emergency response planning for anthrax outbreaks in bison herds of northern canada: a balance between policy and science.	anthrax outbreaks in northern canada have implications for ongoing recovery efforts for the threatened wood bison and may pose a health risk to humans, other wildlife, and domestic livestock. rwed and wbnp maintain anthrax emergency response plans (aerps) for their respective jurisdictions. an aerp is a pre-planned logistical framework for responding effectively and rapidly to an outbreak so as to minimize spread of the disease, reduce environmental load of spores available for future outbreaks, ...	2002	12381599
basis for the extraordinary genetic stability of anthrax.	over 500 isolates of anthrax bacillus from around the world represent one of the most genetically homogeneous microbes. there are three possibilities for this genetic stability: (1) anthrax has an extraordinarily high fidelity repair system, (2) genetic damage to anthrax is usually lethal, and/or (3) a highly demanding and selective process exists in its environment that is necessary for the completion of its life cycle. using probes made from genes selected by growth of an escherichia coli expr ...	2002	12381574
rapid genotyping of bacillus anthracis strains by real-time polymerase chain reaction.	rapid and accurate identification of bacillus anthracis is critical for patient care as well as outbreak control. we have developed 3 separate pcr based assays using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (fret) to detect the presence of pxo1, pxo2 plasmids and a chromosomal marker. a set of amplification primers and probes were used in each assay. the probes were ad jacently placed inside the primer sites and were 1-bp apart. the upstream probe was labeled with fluorescein at the 3' end, and th ...	2002	12381573
postexposure prophylaxis against anthrax: evaluation of various treatment regimens in intranasally infected guinea pigs.	the efficiency of postexposure prophylaxis against bacillus anthracis infection was tested in guinea pigs infected intranasally with either vollum or strain atcc 6605 spores (75 times the 50% lethal dose [ld(50)] and 87 times ld(50,) respectively). starting 24 h postinfection, animals were treated three times per day for 14 days with ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, erythromycin, cefazolin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (tmp-smx). administration of cefazolin and tmp-smx failed to protect the ani ...	2002	12379702
chemical and biological weapons. implications for anaesthesia and intensive care.	in the wake of recent atrocities there has been renewed apprehension regarding the possibility of chemical and biological weapon (cbw) deployment by terrorists. despite various international agreements that proscribe their use, certain states continue to develop chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. of greater concern, recent historical examples support the prospect that state-independent organizations have the capability to produce such weapons. indeed, the deliberate deployment ...	2002	12378672
guidelines for treatment of anthrax.		2002	12377082
guidelines for treatment of anthrax.		2002	12377080
antimicrobial therapy for anthrax.		2002	12373508
delivery of nucleic acid into mammalian cells by anthrax toxin.	gene delivery vehicles based on receptor-mediated endocytosis offer an attractive long-term solution as they might overcome the limitations of toxicity and cargo capacity inherent to many viral gene delivery systems. the protective antigen component of anthrax toxin bind to specific receptors and deliver lethal factor or edema factor into the cytosol of mammalian cells. the n-terminal 254 amino acids of lf (lf(1-254)) binds to pa and, when fused to heterologous proteins, delivers such proteins i ...	2002	12372402
anthrax fusion protein therapy of cancer.	most patients with cancer are treated with chemotherapy but die from progressive disease or toxicities of therapy. current chemotherapy regimens primarily use cytotoxic drugs which damage cell dna or impair cell proliferation in both malignant and normal tissues. after several treatment courses, the patients' tumor cells often overexpress multi-drug resistance genes which prevent further tumor cytoreduction. novel agents which can kill such resistant tumor cells are needed. one such class of age ...	2002	12370003
on the front lines: family physicians' preparedness for bioterrorism.	the events of september 11, 2001, and the nation's recent experience with anthrax assaults made bioterrorism preparedness a national priority. because primary care physicians are among the sentinel responders to bioterrorist attacks, we sought to determine family physicians' beliefs about their preparedness for such an attack.	2002	12366891
anthrax.		2002	12362648
[consequences in different fields after the terror attack in new york].		2002	12362541