Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year(sorted descending) Filter | PMID Filter |
|---|
| structural and functional analysis of two glutamate racemase isozymes from bacillus anthracis and implications for inhibitor design. | glutamate racemase (race) is responsible for converting l-glutamate to d-glutamate, which is an essential component of peptidoglycan biosynthesis, and the primary constituent of the poly-gamma-d-glutamate capsule of the pathogen bacillus anthracis. race enzymes are essential for bacterial growth and lack a human homolog, making them attractive targets for the design and development of antibacterial therapeutics. we have cloned, expressed and purified the two glutamate racemase isozymes, race1 an ... | 2007 | 17610893 |
| development of a competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay to identify epitope specific antibodies in recipients of the u.s. licensed anthrax vaccine. | vaccination with anthrax vaccine adsorbed (ava) results in the production of protective antigen (pa) specific antibodies, which play an important protective role against anthrax toxins. analyzing the specificity of serum antibodies generated in response to ava vaccination can provide insight into the mechanisms of protective immunity against this important pathogen. the goal of this study was to develop a competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (celisa) to test human immune serum for antib ... | 2007 | 17613668 |
| comparative sporicidal effects of disinfectants after release of a biological agent. | because of spore formation, bacillus anthracis is considered the most resistant biological warfare agent known. the present study aimed to assess and compare well-known decontamination routes to inactivate the spores on daily-use environmental tools contaminated previously. to simulate the agent, bacillus atrophaeus was used. various environmental samples (such as tile, fabric clothing, wood, protective suit, glass, paper, soil, water, plastic, and metal) that may be contaminated after a biologi ... | 2007 | 17615843 |
| lethal factor of anthrax toxin binds monomeric form of protective antigen. | anthrax toxin consists of three components: the enzymatic moieties edema factor (ef) and the lethal factor (lf) and the receptor-binding moiety protective antigen (pa). these toxin components are released from bacillus anthracis as unassociated proteins and form complexes on the surface of host cells after proteolytic processing of pa into pa20 and pa63. the sequential order of pa heptamerization and ligand binding, as well as the exact mechanism of anthrax toxin entry into cells, are still uncl ... | 2007 | 17617379 |
| mitochondrial proteins bnip3 and bnip3l are involved in anthrax lethal toxin-induced macrophage cell death. | anthrax lethal toxin (letx) induces rapid cell death of raw246.7 macrophages. we recently found that a small population of these macrophages is spontaneously and temporally refractory to letx-induced cytotoxicity. analysis of genome-wide transcripts of a resistant clone before and after regaining letx sensitivity revealed that a reduction of two closely related mitochondrial proteins, bcl-2/adenovirus e1b 19-kda interacting protein 3 (bnip3) and bnip3-like (bnip3l), correlates with letx resistan ... | 2007 | 17623653 |
| cryo-electron microscopy study of bacteriophage t4 displaying anthrax toxin proteins. | the bacteriophage t4 capsid contains two accessory surface proteins, the small outer capsid protein (soc, 870 copies) and the highly antigenic outer capsid protein (hoc, 155 copies). as these are dispensable for capsid formation, they can be used for displaying proteins and macromolecular complexes on the t4 capsid surface. anthrax toxin components were attached to the t4 capsid as a fusion protein of the n-terminal domain of the anthrax lethal factor (lfn) with soc. the lfn-soc fusion protein w ... | 2007 | 17624389 |
| supercritical carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide cause mild changes in spore structures associated with high killing rate of bacillus anthracis. | the present work examines chemical and structural response in b. anthracis spores killed by a mixture of supercritical carbon dioxide (scco(2)) and hydrogen peroxide (h(2)o(2)). deactivation of 6-log of b. anthracis spores by scco(2)+h(2)o(2) was demonstrated, but changes in structure were observed in only a small portion of spores. results from phase contrast microscopy proved that this treatment is mild and does not trigger germination-like changes. tem imaging revealed mild damage in a portio ... | 2007 | 17628729 |
| a brief history of vaccines and vaccination. | human vaccinology, with its primary focus on the individual, seems far removed from veterinary medicine, with its concern for the health of the herd. yet several episodes in the past (smallpox, fowl cholera, anthrax, swine erysipelas, rabies, tuberculosis, etc.) serve to illustrate the proximity between research on veterinary and human vaccines. in some cases the human vaccine was developed first, while in other cases it was the animal vaccine. the history of vaccinology clearly demonstrates the ... | 2007 | 17633292 |
| in vitro screen of bioinformatically selected bacillus anthracis vaccine candidates by coupled transcription, translation, and immunoprecipitation analysis. | the availability of the bacillus anthracis genome sequence allowed for in silico selection of a few hundred open reading frames (orfs) as putative vaccine candidates. to screen such a vast number of candidate orfs, without resorting to laborious cloning and protein purification procedures, methods were developed for generation of pcr elements, compatible with in vitro transcription-translation and immunoprecipitation, as well as with their evaluation as dna vaccines. protocols will be provided f ... | 2007 | 17634604 |
| monitoring of elisa-reactive antibodies against anthrax protective antigen (pa), lethal factor (lf), and toxin-neutralising antibodies in serum of individuals vaccinated against anthrax with the pa-based uk anthrax vaccine. | the human anthrax vaccines currently licensed contain the protective antigen (pa) of bacillus anthracis as main antigen together with traces of some other bacillus components, e.g. lethal factor (lf). the present study aimed at monitoring the course of specific antibody titres against pa and lf by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (elisa), as well as the levels of toxin-neutralising antibodies, in 11 volunteers vaccinated with the human anthrax vaccine uk. after an initial seroconversion in all ... | 2007 | 17287051 |
| turning biodefense dollars into products. | five years after the us anthrax attacks, and more than two years after bioshield legislation was ratified, a survey reveals that biodefense funding has thus far produced only a handful of products for clinical development. | 2007 | 17287749 |
| structural studies of thymidine kinases from bacillus anthracis and bacillus cereus provide insights into quaternary structure and conformational changes upon substrate binding. | thymidine kinase (tk) is the key enzyme in salvaging thymidine to produce thymidine monophosphate. owing to its ability to phosphorylate nucleoside analogue prodrugs, tk has gained attention as a rate-limiting drug activator. we describe the structures of two bacterial tks, one from the pathogen bacillus anthracis in complex with the substrate dt, and the second from the food-poison-associated bacillus cereus in complex with the feedback inhibitor dttp. interestingly, in contrast with previous s ... | 2007 | 17288553 |
| protection against anthrax by needle-free mucosal immunization with human anthrax vaccine. | human vaccination with biothrax requires six injections followed by annual boosters. this makes it difficult for the compliance of the immunization program and underscores the need for development of a new and optimized vaccination protocol. current research aims to demonstrate the proof of concept to develop a needle-free mucosal immunization protocol using a murine anthrax model. a/j mice were immunized with biothrax via an intranasal route. sera, saliva, vaginal, and nasal washes were evaluat ... | 2007 | 17293013 |
| reaerosolization of fluidized spores in ventilation systems. | this project examined dry, fluidized spore reaerosolization in a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning duct system. experiments using spores of bacillus atrophaeus, a nonpathogenic surrogate for bacillus anthracis, were conducted to delineate the extent of spore reaerosolization behavior under normal indoor airflow conditions. short-term (five air-volume exchanges), long-term (up to 21,000 air-volume exchanges), and cycled (on-off) reaerosolization tests were conducted using two common duct ... | 2007 | 17293522 |
| simultaneous real-time pcr detection of bacillus anthracis, francisella tularensis and yersinia pestis. | this report describes the development of in-house real-time pcr assays using minor groove binding probes for simultaneous detection of the bacillus anthracis pag and cap genes, the francisella tularensis 23 kda gene, as well as the yersinia pestis pla gene. the sensitivities of these assays were at least 1 fg, except for the assay targeting the bacillus anthracis cap gene, which showed a sensitivity of 10 fg when total dna was used as a template in a serial dilution. the clinical value of the ba ... | 2007 | 17294160 |
| identification of an in vivo inhibitor of bacillus anthracis spore germination. | germination of bacillus anthracis spores into the vegetative form is an essential step in anthrax pathogenicity. this process can be triggered in vitro by the common germinants inosine and alanine. kinetic analysis of b. anthracis spore germination revealed synergy and a sequential mechanism between inosine and alanine binding to their cognate receptors. because inosine is a critical germinant in vitro, we screened inosine analogs for the ability to block in vitro germination of b. anthracis spo ... | 2007 | 17296608 |
| discriminating inhalational anthrax from community-acquired pneumonia using chest radiograph findings and a clinical algorithm. | limiting the effects of a large-scale bioterrorist anthrax attack will require rapid and accurate detection of the earliest victims. we undertook this study to improve physicians' ability to rapidly detect inhalational anthrax victims. | 2007 | 17296652 |
| determination of antibiotic efficacy against bacillus anthracis in a mouse aerosol challenge model. | an anthrax spore aerosol infection mouse model was developed as a first test of in vivo efficacy of antibiotics identified as active against bacillus anthracis. whole-body, 50% lethal dose (ld50) aerosol challenge doses in a range of 1.9x10(3) to 3.4x10(4) cfu with spores of the fully virulent ames strain were established for three inbred and one outbred mouse strain (a/j, balb/c, c57bl, and swiss webster). the balb/c strain was further developed as a model for antibiotic efficacy. time course m ... | 2007 | 17296745 |
| infrared temperature control system for a completely noncontact polymerase chain reaction in microfluidic chips. | a completely noncontact temperature system is described for amplification of dna via the polymerase chain reaction (pcr) in glass microfluidic chips. an infrared (ir)-sensitive pyrometer was calibrated against a thermocouple inserted into a 550-nl pcr chamber and used to monitor the temperature of the glass surface above the pcr chamber during heating and cooling induced by a tungsten lamp and convective air source, respectively. a time lag of less than 1 s was observed between maximum heating r ... | 2007 | 17297927 |
| characteristics of spore germination in a mouse model of cutaneous anthrax. | cutaneous infection is the most common form of human anthrax, but little is known about bacillus anthracis spore germination in these infections. | 2007 | 17299720 |
| regulation of virulence in bacillus anthracis: the phosphotransferase system transmits the signals. | bacillus anthracis causes host damage by producing two toxins, the lethal factor and the oedema factor. their production and that of other virulence factors depend on the activity of the atxa transcription factor. the mechanisms that control atxa activity are reported in this issue of molecular microbiology. the protein can be phosphorylated at two distinct sites by components of the phosphotransferase system (pts). one phosphorylation event stimulates transcription activation by atxa, whereas t ... | 2007 | 17302796 |
| opposing effects of histidine phosphorylation regulate the atxa virulence transcription factor in bacillus anthracis. | expression of genes for bacillus anthracis toxin and capsule virulence factors are dependent upon the atxa transcription factor. the mechanism by which atxa regulates the transcription of its target genes is unknown. here we report that bioinformatic analyses suggested the presence in atxa of two pts (phosphenolpyruvate : sugar phosphotransferase system) regulation domains (prd) generally regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation at conserved histidine residues. by means of amino acid subst ... | 2007 | 17302798 |
| ligand binding and gene control characteristics of tandem riboswitches in bacillus anthracis. | most riboswitches are composed of a single metabolite-binding aptamer and a single expression platform that function together to regulate genes in response to changing metabolite concentrations. in rare instances, two aptamers or sometimes two complete riboswitches reside adjacent to each other in untranslated regions (utrs) of mrnas. we have examined an example of a tandem riboswitch in the gram-positive bacterium bacillus anthracis that includes two complete riboswitches for thiamine pyrophosp ... | 2007 | 17307816 |
| suitability of partial 16s ribosomal rna gene sequence analysis for the identification of dangerous bacterial pathogens. | in a bioterrorism event a rapid tool is needed to identify relevant dangerous bacteria. the aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of partial 16s rrna gene sequence analysis and the suitability of diverse databases for identifying dangerous bacterial pathogens. | 2007 | 17309636 |
| sensitive detection of bacillus anthracis using a binding protein originating from gamma-phage. | detection of biological weapons is a primary concern in force protection, treaty verification, and safeguarding civilian populations against domestic terrorism. one great concern is the detection of bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. therefore, there is a pressing need to develop novel methods for rapid, simple, and precise detection of b. anthracis. here, we report that the c-terminal region of gamma-phage lysin protein (plyg) binds specifically to the cell wall of b. anthracis ... | 2007 | 17310083 |
| raftlike polyvalent inhibitors of the anthrax toxin: modulating inhibitory potency by formation of lipid microdomains. | 2007 | 17310484 | |
| northwest territories. an outbreak of anthrax (bacillus anthracis) in free-roaming bison in the northwest territories, june-july 2006. | 2007 | 17310621 | |
| accounting for ligand-bound metal ions in docking small molecules on adenylyl cyclase toxins. | the adenylyl cyclase toxins produced by bacteria (such as the edema factor (ef) of bacillus anthracis and cyaa of bordetella pertussis) are important virulence factors in anthrax and whooping cough. co-crystal structures of these proteins differ in the number and positioning of metal ions in the active site. metal ions bound only to the ligands in the crystal structures are not included during the docking. to determine what effect these "missing" metals have on docking results, the autodock, lig ... | 2007 | 17311351 |
| communicable disease and health protection quarterly review: july to september 2006. from the health protection agency. | 2007 | 17311831 | |
| cutting edge: ifn-gamma-producing cd4 t lymphocytes mediate spore-induced immunity to capsulated bacillus anthracis. | virulent strains of bacillus anthracis produce immunomodulating toxins and an antiphagocytic capsule. the toxin component-protective ag is a key target of the antianthrax immune response that induces production of toxin-neutralizing abs. coimmunization with spores enhances the antitoxin vaccine, and inactivated spores alone confer measurable protection. we aimed to identify the mechanisms of protection induced in inactivated-spore immunized mice that function independently of the toxin/antitoxin ... | 2007 | 17312104 |
| manipulation of host signalling pathways by anthrax toxins. | infectious microbes face an unwelcoming environment in their mammalian hosts, which have evolved elaborate multicelluar systems for recognition and elimination of invading pathogens. a common strategy used by pathogenic bacteria to establish infection is to secrete protein factors that block intracellular signalling pathways essential for host defence. some of these proteins also act as toxins, directly causing pathology associated with disease. bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anth ... | 2007 | 17313374 |
| identification of inhibitors using a cell-based assay for monitoring golgi-resident protease activity. | noninvasive real-time quantification of cellular protease activity allows monitoring of enzymatic activity and identification of activity modulators within the protease's natural milieu. we developed a protease activity assay based on differential localization of a recombinant reporter consisting of a golgi retention signal and a protease cleavage sequence fused to alkaline phosphatase (ap). when expressed in mammalian cells, this protein localizes to golgi bodies and, on protease-mediated cleav ... | 2007 | 17316541 |
| microresonator mass sensors for detection of bacillus anthracis sterne spores in air and water. | towards the goal of developing a real-time monitoring device for microorganisms, we demonstrate the use of microcantilevers as resonant mass sensors for detection of bacillus anthracis sterne spores in air and liquid. the detection scheme was based on measuring resonant frequency decrease driven by thermally induced oscillations, as a result of the added mass of the spores with the use of a laser doppler vibrometer (ldv). viscous effects were investigated by comparing measurements in air and dei ... | 2007 | 17317142 |
| a high-throughput screening approach to anthrax lethal factor inhibition. | a high-throughput screening approach was used to identify new inhibitors of the metallo-protease lethal factor from bacillus anthracis. a library of approximately 14,000 compounds was screened using a fluorescence-based in vitro assay and hits were further characterized enzymatically via measurements of ic50 and ki values against a small panel of metallo-proteases. this study led to the identification of new scaffolds that inhibit lf and the botulinum neurotoxin type a in the low micromolar rang ... | 2007 | 17320146 |
| nanowire labeled direct-charge transfer biosensor for detecting bacillus species. | a direct-charge transfer (dct) biosensor was developed for the detection of the foodborne pathogen, bacillus cereus. the biosensor was fabricated using antibodies as the sensing element and polyaniline nanowire as the molecular electrical transducer. the sensor design consisted of four membrane pads, namely, sample application, conjugate, capture and absorption pads. two sets of polyclonal antibodies, secondary antibodies conjugated with polyaniline nanowires and capture antibodies were applied ... | 2007 | 17320373 |
| mkk signaling and vascularization. | in 1998, george vande woude's lab discovered that anthrax lethal factor (lf), the principal virulence component of anthrax toxin, was a zinc-metalloprotease that cleaved and inactivated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (mkk). it was perhaps not surprising, given the known roles of mkk1 and 2 in cell proliferation, that lf was subsequently found to dramatically inhibit tumor growth in vivo. what was not anticipated, however, was that the tumors treated with lf would have a substantially r ... | 2007 | 17322914 |
| structure of the type iii pantothenate kinase from bacillus anthracis at 2.0 a resolution: implications for coenzyme a-dependent redox biology. | coenzyme a (coash) is the major low-molecular weight thiol in staphylococcus aureus and a number of other bacteria; the crystal structure of the s. aureus coenzyme a-disulfide reductase (coadr), which maintains the reduced intracellular state of coash, has recently been reported [mallett, t.c., wallen, j.r., karplus, p.a., sakai, h., tsukihara, t., and claiborne, a. (2006) biochemistry 45, 11278-89]. in this report we demonstrate that coash is the major thiol in bacillus anthracis; a bioinformat ... | 2007 | 17323930 |
| cethromycin: a-195773, a-195773-0, a-1957730, abbott-195773, abt 773. | cethromycin [abt 773, a-195773, abbott-195773, a-1957730, a-195773-0] is a once-daily ketolide antibiotic that originated from abbott laboratories' research into next-generation compounds to the macrolide antibacterial, clarithromycin. the aim of the research programme was to maintain the positive attributes of clarithromycin and to add the property of efficacy against macrolide-resistant organisms. cethromycin acts by binding to the 23s molecule of the 50s ribosomal subunit. advanced life scien ... | 2007 | 17324007 |
| technological advancements for the detection of and protection against biological and chemical warfare agents. | there is a growing need for technological advancements to combat agents of chemical and biological warfare, particularly in the context of the deliberate use of a chemical and/or biological warfare agent by a terrorist organization. in this tutorial review, we describe methods that have been developed both for the specific detection of biological and chemical warfare agents in a field setting, as well as potential therapeutic approaches for treating exposure to these toxic species. in particular ... | 2007 | 17325785 |
| structure of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate cyclo-ligase from bacillus anthracis (ba4489). | bacillus anthracis is a spore-forming bacterium and the causative agent of the disease anthrax. the oxford protein production facility has been targeting proteins from b. anthracis in order to develop high-throughput technologies within the structural proteomics in europe project. as part of this work, the structure of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate cyclo-ligase (ba4489) has been determined by x-ray crystallography to 1.6 a resolution. the structure, solved in complex with magnesium-ion-bound adp and ... | 2007 | 17329806 |
| amoxicillin pharmacokinetics in pregnant women: modeling and simulations of dosage strategies. | amoxicillin is recommended for anthrax prevention in pregnancy. the objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin during pregnancy and postpartum (pp). sixteen women received amoxicillin during gestation (18-22 weeks (t2) and 30-34 weeks (t3)) as well as 3 months postpartum (pp) to evaluate single-dose pharmacokinetics. amoxicillin compartmental pharmacokinetic parameters were used to simulate amoxicillin concentration-time profiles following different dosage strate ... | 2007 | 17329990 |
| collision-activated dissociation, infrared multiphoton dissociation, and electron capture dissociation of the bacillus anthracis siderophore petrobactin and its metal ion complexes. | siderophores are high-affinity iron-chelating ligands produced by microorganisms to scavenge vital fe(3+) from the environment. thus, siderophores constitute potential therapeutic targets and their structural determination is important for exploiting their therapeutic value. here, the virulence-associated siderophore petrobactin from bacillus anthracis was characterized with electron capture dissociation (ecd). fragmentation of doubly protonated petrobactin was investigated and compared to susta ... | 2007 | 17331739 |
| lrp5 and lrp6 are not required for protective antigen-mediated internalization or lethality of anthrax lethal toxin. | anthrax toxin (antx) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of anthrax. antx is composed of three proteins: protective antigen (pa), edema factor, and lethal factor (lf). pa is not toxic but serves to bind cells and translocate the toxic edema factor or lf moieties to the cytosol. recently, the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein lrp6 has been reported to mediate internalization and lethality of antx. based on its similarity to lrp6, we hypothesized that lrp5 may also play a role in c ... | 2007 | 17335347 |
| anthrax toxin: receptor binding, internalization, pore formation, and translocation. | anthrax toxin consists of three nontoxic proteins that self-assemble at the surface of receptor-bearing mammalian cells or in solution, yielding a series of toxic complexes. two of the proteins, called lethal factor (lf) and edema factor (ef), are enzymes that act on cytosolic substrates. the third, termed protective antigen (pa), is a multifunctional protein that binds to receptors, orchestrates the assembly and internalization of the complexes, and delivers them to the endosome. there, the pa ... | 2007 | 17335404 |
| [biodefense: a new challenge for microbiology and public health]. | bioterrorism and the potential use of biological weapons has become an important concern of governments and responsible authorities. an example of this threat occurred in 2001 in the usa, when letters were sent containing spores of the agent that produces anthrax; this resulted in some deaths, and caused panic and negative effects on the world economy. if this small-scale event was able to cause such a huge impact, the repercussions of a massive attack could be catastrophic. in many countries, t ... | 2007 | 17335699 |
| immunotherapeutic activity of a conjugate of a toll-like receptor 7 ligand. | the immunotherapeutic activity of toll-like receptor (tlr) activators has been difficult to exploit because of side effects related to the release and systemic dispersion of proinflammatory cytokines. to overcome this barrier, we have synthesized a versatile tlr7 agonist, 4-[6-amino-8-hydroxy-2-(2-methoxyethoxy)purin-9-ylmethyl]benzaldehyde (uc-1v150), bearing a free aldehyde that could be coupled to many different auxiliary chemical entities through a linker molecule with a hydrazine or amino g ... | 2007 | 17360465 |
| standard practice for bulk sample collection and swab sample collection of visible powders suspected of being biological agents from nonporous surfaces: collaborative study. | the draft astm standard, "standard practice for bulk sample collection and swab sample collection of visible powders suspected of being biological agents from nonporous surfaces," was validated in a collaborative study consisting of 6 teams comprised of civil support personnel and first responders, 2 levels of bacillus anthracis sterne and bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki spores, and 7 nonporous surfaces. the sample collection standard includes collection of the bulk sample (method a) using a dry ... | 2007 | 17373464 |
| anthrax lethal toxin kills macrophages in a strain-specific manner by apoptosis or caspase-1-mediated necrosis. | murine macrophages have been classified as either susceptible or nonsusceptible to killing by anthrax lethal toxin (lt) depending upon genetic background. while considered resistant to lt killing, we found that bone marrow-derived macrophages (bmms) from dba/2, akr, and c57bl/6 mice were slowly killed by apoptosis following lt exposure. lt killing was not restricted to in vitro assays, as splenic macrophages were also depleted in lt-injected c57bl/6 mice. human macrophages, also considered lt re ... | 2007 | 17374996 |
| intranasal administration of dry powder anthrax vaccine provides protection against lethal aerosol spore challenge. | the use of an aerosolizable form of anthrax as a biological weapon is considered to be among the most serious bioterror threats. intranasal (in) delivery of a dry powder anthrax vaccine could provide an effective and non-invasive administration alternative to traditional intramuscular (im) or subcutaneous (sc) injection. we evaluated a dry powder vaccine based on the recombinant protective antigen (rpa) of bacillus anthracis for vaccination against anthrax via in immunization in a rabbit model. ... | 2007 | 17375001 |
| chemical genetic screening identifies critical pathways in anthrax lethal toxin-induced pathogenesis. | anthrax lethal toxin (lt)-induced cell death via mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (mapkk) cleavage remains questionable. here, a chemical genetics approach was used to investigate what pathways mediate lt-induced cell death. several small molecules were found to protect macrophages from anthrax lt cytotoxicity and mapkk from cleavage by lethal factor (lf), without inhibiting lf enzymatic activity or cellular proteasome activity. interestingly, the compounds activated mapk-signaling molecu ... | 2007 | 17379140 |
| characterization of the interaction between anthrax toxin and its cellular receptors. | mutations in capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (cmg2), one of the two closely related proteins that act as anthrax toxin receptors, cause two rare human autosomal recessive conditions, juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (jhf) and infantile systemic hyalinosis (ish). here we demonstrate that cmg2 proteins with certain jhf- and ish-associated single amino acid substitutions in their von willebrand factor a domain or transmembrane region do not function as anthrax toxin receptors. however, an ish-associate ... | 2007 | 17381430 |
| anthrax vaccination in the millennium cohort: validation and measures of health. | in 1998, the united states department of defense initiated the anthrax vaccine immunization program. concerns about vaccine-related adverse health effects followed, prompting several studies. although some studies used self-reported vaccination data, the reliability of such data has not been established. the purpose of this study was to compare self-reported anthrax vaccination to electronic vaccine records among a large military cohort and to evaluate the relationship between vaccine history an ... | 2007 | 17383567 |
| the global transcriptional responses of bacillus anthracis sterne (34f2) and a delta soda1 mutant to paraquat reveal metal ion homeostasis imbalances during endogenous superoxide stress. | microarray analyses were conducted to evaluate the paraquat-induced global transcriptional response of bacillus anthracis sterne (34f(2)) to varying levels of endogenous superoxide stress. data revealed that the transcription of genes putatively involved in metal/ion transport, bacillibactin siderophore biosynthesis, the glyoxalase pathway, and oxidoreductase activity was perturbed most significantly. a b. anthracis mutant lacking the superoxide dismutase gene soda1 (delta soda1) had transcripti ... | 2007 | 17384197 |
| putative type iv secretion genes in bacillus anthracis. | although the physiology of bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, has been studied extensively, we still do not know how toxins are dispatched from the bacterial cell. here, by means of distant homology and genome context analyses, we identify genes encoding putative type iv secretion system-related elements on the b. anthracis plasmids pxo1 and pxo2 and in the chromosome. we argue that this type iv secretion system-like system could be responsible for anthrax toxin secretion, altho ... | 2007 | 17387016 |
| agroterrorism: where are we in the ongoing war on terrorism? | the u.s. agricultural infrastructure is one of the most productive and efficient food-producing systems in the world. many of the characteristics that contribute to its high productivity and efficiency also make this infrastructure extremely vulnerable to a terrorist attack by a biological weapon. several experts have repeatedly stated that taking advantage of these vulnerabilities would not require a significant undertaking and that the nation's agricultural infrastructure remains highly vulner ... | 2007 | 17388078 |
| anthrax toxin receptor 2 determinants that dictate the ph threshold of toxin pore formation. | the anthrax toxin receptors, antxr1 and antxr2, act as molecular clamps to prevent the protective antigen (pa) toxin subunit from forming pores until exposure to low ph. pa forms pores at ph approximately 6.0 or below when it is bound to antxr1, but only at ph approximately 5.0 or below when it is bound to antxr2. here, structure-based mutagenesis was used to identify non-conserved antxr2 residues responsible for this striking 1.0 ph unit difference in ph threshold. residues conserved between an ... | 2007 | 17389920 |
| a detailed analysis of 16s ribosomal rna gene segments for the diagnosis of pathogenic bacteria. | bacterial 16s ribosomal rna (rrna) genes contain nine "hypervariable regions" (v1-v9) that demonstrate considerable sequence diversity among different bacteria. species-specific sequences within a given hypervariable region constitute useful targets for diagnostic assays and other scientific investigations. no single region can differentiate among all bacteria; therefore, systematic studies that compare the relative advantage of each region for specific diagnostic goals are needed. we characteri ... | 2007 | 17391789 |
| genetic diversity in a bacillus anthracis historical collection (1954 to 1988). | bacillus anthracis, the etiologic agent of anthrax, has been widely described as a genetically monomorphic species. we used both multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (mlva) and paga gene sequencing to determine the genetic diversity of a historical collection of b. anthracis isolates collected from the 1950s to the 1980s from various geographic locations and sources. we sequenced the paga gene of 124 diverse b. anthracis isolates and found all previously identified b. anthracis ... | 2007 | 17392445 |
| antimicrobial activity and brine shrimp toxicity of extracts of terminalia brownii roots and stem. | ternimalia brownii fresen (combretaceae) is widely used in traditional medicine to treat bacterial, fungal and viral infections. there is a need to evaluate extracts of this plant in order to provide scientific proof for it's wide application in traditional medicine system. | 2007 | 17394672 |
| inhibition of cftr cl- channel function caused by enzymatic hydrolysis of sphingomyelin. | numerous mutations in the cystic fibrosis (cf) transmembrane conductance regulator (cftr, a cl(-) channel) disrupt salt and fluid transport and lead to the formation of thick mucus in patients' airways. obstruction by mucus predisposes cf patients to chronic infections and inflammation, which become gradually harder to control and eventually fatal. aggressive antibiotic therapy and supportive measures have dramatically lengthened cf patients' lives. here, we report that sphingomyelinases (smase) ... | 2007 | 17400751 |
| differentiation of bacillus anthracis, b. cereus, and b. thuringiensis by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. | a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (pfge) method was developed for discriminating bacillus anthracis from b. cereus and b. thuringiensis. a worldwide collection of 25 b. anthracis isolates showed high-profile homology, and these isolates were unambiguously distinguished from b. cereus and b. thuringiensis isolates by cluster analysis of the whole-genome macrorestriction enzyme digestion patterns generated by noti. | 2007 | 17400781 |
| monochloramine inactivation of bacterial select agents. | seven species of bacterial select agents were tested for susceptibility to monochloramine. under test conditions, the monochloramine routinely maintained in potable water would reduce six of the species by 2 orders of magnitude within 4.2 h. bacillus anthracis spores would require up to 3.5 days for the same inactivation with monochloramine. | 2007 | 17400782 |
| systematic urokinase-activated anthrax toxin therapy produces regressions of subcutaneous human non-small cell lung tumor in athymic nude mice. | the novel recombinant anthrax toxin, pragu2/fp59, composed of the urokinase-activated protective antigen and a fusion protein of pseudomonas exotoxin and lethal factor was tested for anti-lung cancer efficacy in an in vivo human tumor model. male athymic nude mice (age 4-6 weeks) were inoculated s.c. with 10 million h1299 non-small cell lung cancer (nsclc) cells in the left flank. when tumor volumes reached 200 mm(3) (6-8 days), i.p. injection of 100 mul saline or different ratios and doses of p ... | 2007 | 17409442 |
| immunogens related to the synthetic tetrasaccharide side chain of the bacillus anthracis exosporium. | the known methyl 2-o-acetyl-3,4-di-o-benzyl-1-thio-alpha-l-rhamnopyranoside (3) was converted to the corresponding 5-methoxycarbonylpentyl glycoside 4 which was deacetylated. the product 5 was used as the initial glycosyl acceptor to construct two trirhamnoside glycosyl acceptors having ho-3(iii) flanked by either benzoyl or benzyl groups, compounds 10 and 29, respectively [fully protected, except ho-3(iii), alpha-l-rha-(1-->3)-alpha-l-rha-(1-->2)-alpha-l-rha-1-o-(ch2)5cooch3]. when these were g ... | 2007 | 17412599 |
| induction of cytotoxic t lymphocyte response against mycobacterial antigen using domain i of anthrax edema factor as antigen delivery system. | we have investigated the efficiency of n-terminal 1-260 residues of edema factor (efn) as a delivery system for esat-6, an antigenic protein of mycobacterium tuberculosis h(37)r(v), into the cytosol of mammalian cells. the efn.esat-6 recombinant protein was obtained by genetic fusion of efn and esat-6 dna. our data shows that in the presence of pa, efn.esat-6 fusion protein is internalized into the cytosol of antigen presenting cells, and the splenocytes produced both th1 and th2 cytokines in vi ... | 2007 | 17416345 |
| identification and characterization of a novel toxin-antitoxin module from bacillus anthracis. | comparative genome analysis of bacillus anthracis revealed a pair of linked genes encoding pemk (k, killer protein) and pemi (i, inhibitory protein) homologous to pem loci of other organisms. expression of pemk in escherichia coli and bacillus anthracis was bacteriostatic whereas the concomitant expression of pemi reversed the growth arrest. pemk expression effectively inhibited protein synthesis with no significant effect on dna replication. coexpression and interaction of these proteins confir ... | 2007 | 17416361 |
| the multiple mechanisms of ca2+ signalling by listeriolysin o, the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin of listeria monocytogenes. | cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (cdcs) represent a large family of conserved pore-forming toxins produced by several gram-positive bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes, streptococcus pyrogenes and bacillus anthracis. these toxins trigger a broad range of cellular responses that greatly influence pathogenesis. using mast cells, we demonstrate that listeriolysin o (llo), a prototype of cdcs produced by l. monocytogenes, triggers cellular responses such as degranulation and cytokine synthesis i ... | 2007 | 17419718 |
| bacillus anthracis anthrolysin o and three phospholipases c are functionally redundant in a murine model of inhalation anthrax. | although traditionally considered to be an extracellular pathogen, bacillus anthracis has a brief intracellular step to initiate anthrax. at the onset of infection, b. anthracis must withstand the bactericidal activities of the macrophage. recently, three phospholipases c (plcs) were shown to contribute to macrophage-associated growth of b. anthracis by presumably aiding in the escape of the bacterium from phagocytic vacuoles following phagocytosis. however, in the absence of all three plcs, veg ... | 2007 | 17419764 |
| genome-wide identification of francisella tularensis virulence determinants. | francisella tularensis is a gram-negative pathogen that causes life-threatening infections in humans and has potential for use as a biological weapon. the genetic basis of the f. tularensis virulence is poorly understood. this study screened a total of 3,936 transposon mutants of the live vaccine strain for infection in a mouse model of respiratory tularemia by signature-tagged mutagenesis. we identified 341 mutants attenuated for infection in the lungs. the transposon disruptions were mapped to ... | 2007 | 17420240 |
| responding to a small-scale bioterrorist anthrax attack: cost-effectiveness analysis comparing preattack vaccination with postattack antibiotic treatment and vaccination. | in 2001, a small-scale bioterrorism-related anthrax attack was perpetrated via the us mail. the optimal future response may require strategies different from those required in a large-scale attack. | 2007 | 17420423 |
| raman chemical imaging spectroscopy reagentless detection and identification of pathogens: signature development and evaluation. | an optical detection method, raman chemical imaging spectroscopy (rcis), is reported, which combines raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and digital imaging. using this method, trace levels of biothreat organisms are detected in the presence of complex environmental backgrounds without the use of amplification or enhancement techniques. rcis is reliant upon the use of raman signatures and automated recognition algorithms to perform species-level identification. the rationale and steps ... | 2007 | 17338507 |
| anthrax edema toxin sensitizes dba/2j mice to lethal toxin. | anthrax toxin is made up of three separate protein components: the receptor-binding protective antigen (pa), the adenylyl cyclase edema factor (ef), and the metalloproteinase lethal factor (lf). ef and pa constitute edema toxin (et), which causes edema when injected subcutaneously. at higher doses, et causes severe pathologies and death in balb/cj mice (a. m. firoved et al., am. j. pathol. 167:1309-1320, 2005). a striking effect of et at lethal doses is adrenal necrosis. here we show that low do ... | 2007 | 17339348 |
| role of bacillus anthracis spore structures in macrophage cytokine responses. | the innate immune response of macrophages (mphi) to spores, the environmentally acquired form of bacillus anthracis, is poorly characterized. we therefore examined the early mphi cytokine response to b. anthracis spores, before germination. mphi were exposed to bacilli and spores of sterne strain 34f2 and its congenic nongerminating mutant (deltagerh), and cytokine expression was measured by real-time pcr and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. the exosporium spore layer was retained (exo+) or ... | 2007 | 17339355 |
| evaluation of the mets and murb loci for antibiotic discovery using targeted antisense rna expression analysis in bacillus anthracis. | the biowarfare-relevant bacterial pathogen bacillus anthracis contains two paralogs each of the mets and murb genes, which encode the important antibiotic target functions methionyl-trna synthetase and udp-n-acetylenolpyruvoylglucosamine reductase, respectively. empirical screens were conducted to detect and characterize gene fragments of each of these four genes that could cause growth reduction of b. anthracis when inducibly expressed from a plasmid-borne promoter. numerous such gene fragments ... | 2007 | 17339372 |
| a case of naturally acquired inhalation anthrax: clinical care and analyses of anti-protective antigen immunoglobulin g and lethal factor. | this report describes the first case of naturally acquired inhalation anthrax in the united states since 1976. the patient's clinical course included adjunctive treatment with human anthrax immunoglobulin. clinical correlation of serologic assays for the lethal factor component of lethal toxin and anti-protective antigen immunoglobulin g are also presented. | 2007 | 17342650 |
| characterization and analysis of early enzymes for petrobactin biosynthesis in bacillus anthracis. | recently, iron acquisition and, more specifically, enzymes involved in siderophore biosynthesis have become attractive targets for discovery of new antibiotics. accordingly, targeted inhibition of the biosynthesis of petrobactin, a virulence-associated siderophore encoded by the asb locus in bacillus anthracis, may hold promise as a potential therapy against anthrax. this study describes the biochemical characterization of asbc, the first reported 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid-amp ligase, and a key ... | 2007 | 17346033 |
| first detection of bacillus anthracis in feces of free-ranging raptors from central argentina. | prevalence of anthrax spores in feces of raptors was determined from samples collected in november-december 2000 and april-may 2001 in an agricultural region of santa fé province, argentina. feces were tested from 48 birds of six raptor species. one of 14 chimango caracaras (milvago chimango) and one of eight road-side hawks (buteo magnirostris) tested positive. the prevalence of bacillus anthracis spores in feces for the six species was 4% (n=48). the prevalence was 7% (n=14) for chimango carac ... | 2007 | 17347404 |
| pathobiology and management of laboratory rodents administered cdc category a agents. | the centers for disease control and prevention category a infectious agents include bacillus anthracis (anthrax), clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism), yersinia pestis (plague), variola major virus (smallpox), francisella tularensis (tularemia), and the filoviruses and arenaviruses that induce viral hemorrhagic fevers. these agents are regarded as having the greatest potential for adverse impact on public health and therefore are a focus of renewed attention in infectious disease research. fre ... | 2007 | 17348288 |
| identification of in vivo-expressed immunogenic proteins by serological proteome analysis of the bacillus anthracis secretome. | in a previous comparative proteomic study of bacillus anthracis examining the influence of the virulence plasmids and of various growth conditions on the composition of the bacterial secretome, we identified 64 abundantly expressed proteins (t. chitlaru, o. gat, y. gozlan, n. ariel, and a. shafferman, j. bacteriol. 188:3551-3571, 2006). using a battery of sera from b. anthracis-infected animals, in the present study we demonstrated that 49 of these proteins are immunogenic. thirty-eight b. anthr ... | 2007 | 17353282 |
| murine aerosol challenge model of anthrax. | the availability of relevant and useful animal models is critical for progress in the development of effective vaccines and therapeutics. the infection of rabbits and non-human primates with fully virulent bacillus anthracis spores provides two excellent models of anthrax disease. however, the high cost of procuring and housing these animals and the specialized facilities required to deliver fully virulent spores limit their practical use in early stages of product development. conversely, the s ... | 2007 | 17353290 |
| adverse reactions to anthrax vaccine (eg, optic neuritis) may be more complex or delayed than reported initially by payne et al (2006). | 2007 | 17353397 | |
| jnk1 contributes to metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent long-term depression and short-term synaptic plasticity in the mice area hippocampal ca1. | several recent reports implicate an important role played by c-jun n-terminal kinases (jnks) in long-term potentiation (ltp). however, little is known about how the isoforms of jnks participate in synaptic plasticity. here we showed that short-term synaptic plasticity was impaired in the hippocampal area ca1 of jnk1-deficient (jnk1-/-) mice; these mice showed normal ltp in response to a strong tetanus and no alteration of n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-dependent long-term depression (ltd) in the ... | 2007 | 17284179 |
| specific electrochemical phage sensing for bacillus cereus and mycobacterium smegmatis. | the rapid and reliable detection of pathogenic microorganisms is an important issue for the safety and security of our society. here we describe the use of a sensitive, inexpensive, amperometric, phage-based biosensor for the detection of extremely low concentrations of bacillus cereus and mycobacterium smegmatis as models for bacillus anthracis (the causative agent of anthrax) and for mycobacterium tuberculosis (the causative agent of tuberculosis), respectively. the detection procedure develop ... | 2007 | 16725377 |
| combimatrix oligonucleotide arrays: genotyping and gene expression assays employing electrochemical detection. | electrochemical detection has been developed and assay performances studied for the combimatrix oligonucleotide microarray platform that contains 12,544 individually addressable microelectrodes (features) in a semiconductor matrix. the approach is based on the detection of redox active chemistries (such as horseradish peroxidase (hrp) and the associated substrate tmb) proximal to specific microarray electrodes. first, microarray probes are hybridized to biotin-labeled targets, second, the hrp-st ... | 2007 | 16891109 |
| discernment between deliberate and natural infectious disease outbreaks. | public health authorities should be vigilant to the potential for outbreaks deliberately caused by biological agents (bioterrorism). such events require a rapid response and incorporation of non-traditional partners for disease investigation and outbreak control. the astute application of infectious disease epidemiological principles can promote an enhanced index of suspicion for such events. we discuss epidemiological indicators that should be considered during outbreak investigations, and also ... | 2007 | 16893485 |
| mechanistic differences between in vitro assays for hydrazone-based small molecule inhibitors of anthrax lethal factor. | a systematically generated series of hydrazones were analyzed as potential inhibitors of anthrax lethal factor. the hydrazones were screened using one uv-based and two fluorescence-based in vitro assays. the study identified several inhibitors with ic50 values in the micromolar range, and importantly, significant differences in the types of inhibition were observed with the different assays. | 2007 | 16949126 |
| increased potency of biothrax anthrax vaccine with the addition of the c-class cpg oligonucleotide adjuvant cpg 10109. | the inclusion of an adjuvant, in addition to the existing aluminum hydroxide, in the formulation of the licensed anthrax vaccine biothrax may have the potential to positively modify immune responses. some potential desirable outcomes from the inclusion of an additional adjuvant include increased immune response kinetics, increased response rates, more prolonged antibody decay rates, and the ability to use less antigen per dose or fewer doses to achieve immunity. one promising group of adjuvants ... | 2007 | 16973247 |
| murine splenocytes produce inflammatory cytokines in a myd88-dependent response to bacillus anthracis spores. | bacillus anthracis is a sporulating gram-positive bacterium that causes the disease anthrax. the highly stable spore is the infectious form of the bacterium that first interacts with the prospective host, and thus the interaction between the host and spore is vital to the development of disease. we focused our study on the response of murine splenocytes to the b. anthracis spore by using paraformaldehyde-inactivated spores (fis), a treatment that prevents germination and production of products a ... | 2007 | 16978234 |
| plasmid exchanges among members of the bacillus cereus group in foodstuffs. | the bacillus cereus sensu lato group is genetically very close and possesses a remarkable plasmid gene pool that encodes a variety of functions such as virulence and self-transfer capabilities. the potential for horizontal transfer among the various subspecies of this group, which includes the human opportunistic pathogens b. cereus sensu stricto and b. anthracis as well as the biopesticide b. thuringiensis, has led to growing concerns regarding food safety and public health. in this study, the ... | 2007 | 16996631 |
| immunization against anthrax using bacillus subtilis spores expressing the anthrax protective antigen. | protective immunity to anthrax can be achieved by antibodies raised against the secreted protective antigen (pa) and this forms the basis of the current acellular vaccines for human use. bacillus subtilis spores have previously been used for delivery of heterologous antigens by the oral and nasal routes and their intrinsic heat-stability make them attractive vaccine vehicles. in this study we have expressed pa, or segments of pa, in b. subtilis using two strategies. first, display on the spore c ... | 2007 | 17007969 |
| bacillus anthracis: a multi-faceted role for anthrax lethal toxin in thwarting host immune defenses. | lethal factor (lf), along with its receptor-binding partner protective antigen (pa), forms lethal toxin (lt), a critical virulence factor for bacillus anthracis. lf is a zn(2+) protease that cleaves specific mitogen activated protein kinase kinases (mapkks), inactivating signal transduction intermediates required for normal immune function. initial research emphasized the role of lt in attenuating pro-inflammatory responses by macrophages, the primary targets of infection. more recent studies ha ... | 2007 | 17008119 |
| cloning and expression in e. coli of a functional fab fragment obtained from single human lymphocyte against anthrax toxin. | human lymphocytes derived from the blood of a donor immunized with anthrax vaccine were isolated and enriched for b-cells by nycoprep density centrifugation. individual anti-anthrax protective antigen (pa) b-cells were isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting with fluorescence-labeled recombinant pa (rpa). the rna from sorted single b-cells was extracted using plant total rna as the carrier prior to purification by nanoprep rna isolation columns and then cdna was prepared. donor specific ... | 2007 | 17045651 |
| evaluation of the rapid analyte measurement platform (ramp) for the detection of bacillus anthracis at a crime scene. | the aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the rapid analyte measurement platform (ramp) for presumptive identification of bacillus anthracis spores. test samples consisted of serial dilutions of spore preparations of several bacillus species, including b. anthracis, which were tested, using the ramp anthrax test cartridge, according to the manufacturer's instructions. the fluorescence labelled antibody-antigen complexes were detected in the portable reader after 15 mi ... | 2007 | 17049777 |
| complete sequence analysis of novel plasmids from emetic and periodontal bacillus cereus isolates reveals a common evolutionary history among the b. cereus-group plasmids, including bacillus anthracis pxo1. | the plasmids of the members of the bacillus cereus sensu lato group of organisms are essential in defining the phenotypic traits associated with pathogenesis and ecology. for example, bacillus anthracis contains two plasmids, pxo1 and pxo2, encoding toxin production and encapsulation, respectively, that define this species pathogenic potential, whereas the presence of a bt toxin-encoding plasmid defines bacillus thuringiensis isolates. in this study the plasmids from b. cereus isolates that prod ... | 2007 | 17041058 |
| heat activation/shock temperatures for bacillus anthracis spores and the issue of spore plate counts versus true numbers of spores. | assessing true numbers of viable anthrax spores is complex. optimal heat activation conditions vary with species, media and germinants. published time/temperature combinations for bacillus anthracis spores range from 60 degrees c for <or=90 min to boiling for 1 min. results presented here indicate that temperatures are best kept to <or=70 degrees c and holding times need not exceed 15-30 min. under conditions of 60 degrees c for 90 min, 62-23 degrees c for 15 min and 70 degrees c for 15 or 30 mi ... | 2007 | 17055602 |
| the hc fragment of tetanus toxin forms stable, concentration-dependent dimers via an intermolecular disulphide bond. | protein oligomerisation is a prerequisite for the toxicity of a number of bacterial toxins. examples include the pore-forming cytotoxin streptolysin o, which oligomerises to form large pores in the membrane and the protective antigen of anthrax toxin, where a heptameric complex is essential for the delivery of lethal factor and edema factor to the cell cytosol. binding of the clostridial neurotoxins to receptors on neuronal cells is well characterised, but little is known regarding the quaternar ... | 2007 | 17056064 |
| protective and immunochemical activities of monoclonal antibodies reactive with the bacillus anthracis polypeptide capsule. | bacillus anthracis is surrounded by a polypeptide capsule composed of poly-gamma-d-glutamic acid (gammadpga). in a previous study, we reported that a monoclonal antibody (mab f26g3) reactive with the capsular polypeptide is protective in a murine model of pulmonary anthrax. the present study examined a library of six mabs generated from mice immunized with gammadpga. evaluation of mab binding to the capsule by a capsular "quellung" type reaction showed a striking diversity in capsular effects. m ... | 2007 | 17060470 |
| structure of a carbohydrate esterase from bacillus anthracis. | 2007 | 17063474 | |
| inhibition of anthrax protective antigen outside and inside the cell. | in the course of bacillus anthracis infection, b. anthracis lethal factor (lf) and edema factor bind to a protective antigen (pa) associated with cellular receptors antxr1 (tem8) or antxr2 (cmg2), followed by internalization of the complex via receptor-mediated endocytosis. a new group of potential antianthrax drugs, beta-cyclodextrins, has recently been described. a member of this group, per-6-(3-aminopropylthio)-beta-cyclodextrin (amprbetacd), was shown to inhibit the toxicity of lf in vitro a ... | 2007 | 17074791 |
| poly-gamma-glutamate capsule-degrading enzyme treatment enhances phagocytosis and killing of encapsulated bacillus anthracis. | the poly-gamma-d-glutamic acid capsule confers antiphagocytic properties on bacillus anthracis and is essential for virulence. in this study, we showed that capd, a gamma-polyglutamic acid depolymerase encoded on the b. anthracis capsule plasmid, degraded purified capsule and removed the capsule from the surface of anthrax bacilli. treatment with capd induced macrophage phagocytosis of encapsulated b. anthracis and enabled human neutrophils to kill encapsulated organisms. a second glutamylase, p ... | 2007 | 17074794 |