Publications

extraction and analysis of human nuclear and mitochondrial dna from electron beam irradiated envelopes.	the united states postal service is considering methods such as electron beam irradiation to neutralize biological agents sent through the mail. while this is proven to reduce/eliminate pathogenic organisms, it may also degrade human genomic dna and therefore hinder the ability to garner forensically informative genetic profiles. to determine the effects of electron beam irradiation on dna typing, 16 white, standard letter-sized envelopes were licked. half of the envelopes served as nonirradiate ...	2003	14640275
defensive applications of gene transfer technology in the face of bioterrorism: dna-based vaccines and immune targeting.	gene transfer involves the introduction of an engineered gene into a person's cells with the expectation that the protein expressed from the gene will produce a therapeutic benefit. strategies based on this principle have led to the approval of > 600 clinical trials and enrollment of approximately 3500 subjects worldwide in attempts to treat diseases ranging from cancer to aids to cystic fibrosis. while gene therapy has met with limited success and still has many hurdles to overcome before it se ...	2003	14640954
simulation modeling of anthrax spore dispersion in a bioterrorism incident.	recent events have increased awareness of the risk posed by terrorist attacks. bacillus anthracis has resurfaced in the 21st century as a deadly agent of bioterrorism because of its potential for causing massive civilian casualties. this analysis presents the results of a computer simulation of the dispersion of anthrax spores in a typical 50-story, high-rise building after an intentional release during a bioterrorist incident. the model simulates aerosol dispersion in the case of intensive, sma ...	2003	14641889
bioterrorism. anthrax powder: state of the art?		2003	14645823
syndromic surveillance and bioterrorism-related epidemics.		2003	14609452
gastrointestinal anthrax: review of the literature.	recent events have drawn attention to cases of inhalational and cutaneous anthrax associated with contaminated mail. gastrointestinal anthrax, the disease caused by ingestion of bacillus anthracis organisms, has rarely been reported in the united states. this review provides background information on the gastrointestinal form of the disease. we describe the clinical course of gastrointestinal anthrax, outline current therapy, review the microbiology of b anthracis, examine the epidemiology of na ...	2003	14609791
[genomics and bioterrorism].	the use of biological weapons has been recorded throughout history. however, the anthrax-tainted letters of the fall of 2001 caused shock and panic in several countries. knowledge of the principal bacteriological weapons allows design of novel rapid dna-based diagnostic tests that should help defuse the impact of future bioterrorist attacks. less than one-hour real-time pcr identification of bacteria and their associated antibiotic resistance genes will revolutionize the practice of medicine.	2003	14613008
a canadian national survey of attitudes and knowledge regarding preventive vaccines.	background: vaccines have virtually eliminated many diseases, but public concerns about their safety could undermine future public health initiatives. objective: to determine canadians' attitudes and knowledge about vaccines, particularly in view of increasing public concern about bioterrorism and the possible need for emergency immunizations after weaponized anthrax incidents and the events of september 11, 2001. method: a 20-question survey based on well-researched dimensions of vaccine respon ...	2003	14613575
a reusable flow-through polymerase chain reaction instrument for the continuous monitoring of infectious biological agents.	continuous monitoring of the environment for infectious diseases and related biowarfare agents requires the implementation of practical cost-effective methodologies that are highly sensitive and specific. one compatible method employed in clinical diagnostics is real-time polymerase chain reaction (pcr) analysis. the utility of this technique for environmental monitoring is limited, however, by the utilization of single-use consumables in commercial pcr instruments. this greatly increases mechan ...	2003	14570196
anthrax toxin.	anthrax toxin consists of three nontoxic proteins that associate in binary or ternary combinations to form toxic complexes at the surface of mammalian cells. one of these proteins, protective antigen (pa), transports the other two, edema factor (ef) and lethal factor (lf), to the cytosol. lf is a zn2+-protease that cleaves certain map kinase kinases, leading to death of the host via a poorly defined sequence of events. ef, a calmodulin- and ca2+-dependent adenylate cyclase, is responsible for th ...	2003	14570563
purification and characterization of the pcra helicase of bacillus anthracis.	pcra is an essential helicase in gram-positive bacteria, and a gene encoding this helicase has been identified in all such organisms whose genomes have been sequenced so far. the precise role of pcra that makes it essential for cell growth is not known; however, pcra does not appear to be necessary for chromosome replication. the pcra gene was identified in the genome of bacillus anthracis on the basis of its sequence homology to the corresponding genes of bacillus subtilis and staphylococcus au ...	2003	14594837
scientific triumphalism and learning from facts: bacteriology and the "spanish flu" challenge of 1918.	the devastating influenza pandemic known as 'spanish flu', which killed at least 20 million people all over the world in 1918, was responsible for the first bitter blow inflicted on triumphant bacteriology, fortified by the series of resounding successes achieved in identifying the pathogenic agents of terrible diseases such as anthrax, cholera, tuberculosis, plague, and syphilis. over-confidence and the idea, born of the pasteur revolution, that every infectious disease was caused by a bacteriu ...	2003	14598819
bacteriocidal activity of garlic powder against bacillus anthracis.	the antibacterial activity of garlic powder was examined against bacillus anthracis using agar plate cultivation and test tube methods. on the agar plate test, 1-5% garlic powder inhibited the growth of b. anthracis and escherichia coli o157 used as references. a 1% water solution of garlic powder in the test tube method killed b. anthracis at 10(7) cfu/ml within 3 h of treatment at room temperature. a number of intestinal bacteria in a balb/c mouse decreased after the oral administration of 1 m ...	2003	14598920
identification of genomic islands in the genome of bacillus cereus by comparative analysis with bacillus anthracis.	horizontal gene transfer has been recognized as a universal event throughout bacterial evolution. the availability of both complete genome sequences of bacillus cereus and b. anthracis provides the possibility to perform comparative analysis based on their genomes. by using a windowless method to display the distribution of the genomic gc content of b. cereus and b. anthracis, we have found three genomic islands in the genome of b. cereus, i.e., bcgi-1, bcgi-2, and bcgi-3, respectively, which ar ...	2003	14600214
sequencing and characterization of pbm400 from bacillus megaterium qm b1551.	bacillus megaterium qm b1551 plasmid pbm400, one of seven indigenous plasmids, has been labeled with a selectable marker, isolated, completely sequenced, and partially characterized. a sequence of 53,903 bp was generated, revealing a total of 50 predicted open reading frames (orfs); 33 were carried on one strand and 17 were carried on the other. these orfs comprised 57% of the pbm400 sequence. besides the replicon region and a complete rrna operon that have previously been described, several int ...	2003	14602653
tnf-alpha detection using a flow cytometric assay to determine cellular responses to anthrax vaccine.	this study describes a four-color flow cytometric assay that detects cd4+ t cell responses to the anthrax vaccine. whole blood from seven volunteers who previously obtained the anthrax vaccine was inoculated in vitro with varying concentrations of the anthrax antigen. tnf-alpha and ifn-gamma production from memory cd4+ t cells were measured and compared to a control group who never received the anthrax vaccine. the optimal antigen concentration for tnf-alpha was determined to be around 7.5 micro ...	2003	14604550
sensitive and rapid quantitative detection of anthrax spores isolated from soil samples by real-time pcr.	quantitative analysis of anthrax spores from environmental samples is essential for accurate detection and risk assessment since bacillus anthracis spores have been shown to be one of the most effective biological weapons. using taqman real-time pcr, specific primers and probes were designed for the identification of pathogenic b. anthracis strains from pag gene and cap gene on two plasmids, pxo1 and pxo2, as well as a sap gene encoded on the s-layer. to select the appropriate lysis method of an ...	2003	14605435
anthrax mounts a nuclear attack on glucocorticoid signaling.	anthrax causes profound inflammation and systemic shock. a recent study has shown that anthrax lethal toxin represses the transcriptional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor, which is a crucial component of the body's defenses against inflammation. the study reports evidence that lethal toxin blocks the glucocorticoid receptor by inhibiting the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. thus, these findings suggest that glucocorticoid receptor inactivation contributes to anthrax toxicity ...	2003	14607073
identification of foodborne bacteria by infrared spectroscopy using cellular fatty acid methyl esters.	identification of bacterial species by profiling fatty acid methyl esters (fames) has commonly been carried out by using a 20-min capillary gas chromatographic procedure followed by library matching of fame profiles using commercial midi databases and proprietary pattern recognition software. fast gc (5 min) fame procedures and mass spectrometric methodologies that require no lipid separation have also been reported. in this study, bacterial identification based on the rapid (2 min) infrared mea ...	2003	14607413
phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase c and sphingomyelinase activities in bacteria of the bacillus cereus group.	bacillus anthracis is nonhemolytic, even though it is closely related to the highly hemolytic bacillus cereus. hemolysis by b. cereus results largely from the action of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase c (pc-plc) and sphingomyelinase (sph), encoded by the plc and sph genes, respectively. in b. cereus, these genes are organized in an operon regulated by the global regulator plcr. b. anthracis contains a highly similar cereolysin operon, but it is transcriptionally silent because the b. ...	2003	14573681
molecular diagnostics in an insecure world.	as of october 2001, the potential for use of infectious agents, such as anthrax, as weapons has been firmly established. it has been suggested that attacks on a nations' agriculture might be a preferred form of terrorism or economic disruption that would not have the attendant stigma of infecting and causing disease in humans. highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is on every top ten list available for potential agricultural bioweapon agents, generally following foot and mouth disease virus an ...	2003	14575112
comparative evaluation of protective antigen produced from bacillus anthracis & escherichia coli.	anthrax has been reported from almost every country and india is endemic for this disease. there is considerable under reporting of the disease because of lack of microbiological facilities and diagnostic reagents. in india only conventional methods which have limitations, are being used to diagnose the disease. hence the aim of this study was to isolate and purify protective antigen (pa) using different protocols and to use this pa for detection of anti-pa antibodies from sera samples.	2003	14575176
acid induced unfolding of anthrax protective antigen.	acidic ph plays an important role in the membrane insertion of protective antigen (pa) of anthrax toxin leading to the translocation of the catalytic moieties. the structural transitions occurring in pa as a consequence of change in ph were investigated by fluorescence and circular dichroism measurements. our studies revealed the presence of two intermediates on-pathway of acid induced unfolding; one at ph 2.0 and other at ph 4-5. intrinsic fluorescence measurements of these intermediates showed ...	2003	14575718
milker's nodule in a healthy young woman.	milker's nodules (pseudocowpox) are harmless skin lesions most commonly seen in persons whose occupation regularly brings them into close contact with cattle. they are caused by the paravaccinia virus, a member of the poxvirus family. awareness of their clinical and histopathologic features is important, especially with today's heightened awareness of the threat of biologic warfare, to distinguish them from more worrisome entities such as tularemia and anthrax.	2003	14576676
exposing a killer: pathologists angle for anthrax.		2003	14578167
susceptibility to anthrax lethal toxin is controlled by three linked quantitative trait loci.	anthrax lethal toxin (lt) is the principal virulence factor associated with lethal pathologies following infection with bacillus anthracis. macrophages are the primary effector cells mediating lethality since macrophage-depleted mice are resistant to lt challenge. recently, ltxs1, the gene controlling differential susceptibility of murine macrophages to cytolysis following in vitro exposure to lt, was identified as kif1c. to directly assess the in vivo role of kif1c alleles in mortality, we stud ...	2003	14578173
the critical role of pathology in the investigation of bioterrorism-related cutaneous anthrax.	cutaneous anthrax is a rare zoonotic disease in the united states. the clinical diagnosis traditionally has been established by conventional microbiological methods, such as culture and gram staining. however, these methods often yield negative results when patients have received antibiotics. during the bioterrorism event of 2001, we applied two novel immunohistochemical assays that can detect bacillus anthracis antigens in skin biopsy samples even after prolonged antibiotic treatment. these ass ...	2003	14578189
real-time multicolor dna detection with chemoresponsive diffraction gratings and nanoparticle probes.	we report a real-time dna detection method that utilizes single-strand dna-modified nanoparticle probes and micropatterned chemoresponsive diffraction gratings interrogated simultaneously at multiple laser wavelengths. the surface-bound nanoparticle probe based assay with the chemoresponsive diffraction grating signal transduction scheme results in an experimentally simple dna detection protocol, displaying attributes of both detection methodologies: the high sensitivity and selectivity afforded ...	2003	14583051
[guidelines for clinical management of bioterrorism bacterial diseases: anthrax, plague, turalemia and brucellosis].		2003	14585044
lymphocytic vasculitis associated with the anthrax vaccine: case report and review of anthrax vaccination.	anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacteria bacillus anthracis. it occurs naturally, but recently has been manufactured as a biological warfare agent. this makes prophylaxis for anthrax an urgent concern and efforts are ongoing for the production of an efficient and safe vaccine. side effects to the current anthrax vaccine are usually minor and mainly consist of local skin reactions. occasionally an unusual complication may occur; a case of a patient with lymphocytic vasculitis temporally as ...	2003	14585454
anthrax--an overview.	anthrax, a disease of mammals (including humans), is caused by a spore-forming gram-positive bacilli called bacillus anthracis. anthrax is one of the oldest threats to humanity, and remains endemic in animals in many parts of the world. the incidence of anthrax has decreased in developed countries, but it remains a considerable health problem in developing countries. the disease is transmitted to humans by contact with sick animals or their products, such as wool, skin, meat etc. capsular polype ...	2003	14586293
terrorism preparedness in state health departments--united states, 2001-2003.	the anthrax attacks in fall 2001 highlighted the role of infectious disease (id) epidemiologists in terrorism preparedness and response. beginning in 2002, state health departments (shds) received approximately 1 billion dollars in new federal funding to prepare for and respond to terrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and other public health threats and emergencies. this funding is being used in part to improve epidemiologic and surveillance capabilities. to determine how states have used a p ...	2003	14586300
electrogenerated chemiluminescence. 72. determination of immobilized dna and c-reactive protein on au(111) electrodes using tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(ii) labels.	anodic electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ecl) with tri-n-propylamine (tpra) as a coreactant was used to determine dna and c-reactive protein (crp) by immobilizations on au(111) electrodes using tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(ii) (ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) labels. a 23-mer synthetic single-stranded (ss) dna derived from the bacillus anthracis with an amino-modified group at the 5' end position was covalently attached to the au(111) substrate precoated with a self-assembled thiol monolayer of 3-mercaptopro ...	2003	14588023
bacterial agents used for bioterrorism.	bacterial pathogens and their products are potential agents of biological terrorism and biological warfare. these agents can be deployed through simple aerosol delivery systems and thereby cause widespread disease and death.	2003	14588163
xp38gamma/sapk3 promotes meiotic g(2)/m transition in xenopus oocytes and activates cdc25c.	we have studied the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (mapks) in the meiotic maturation of xenopus oocytes. overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of the p38 activator mkk6 accelerates progesterone-induced maturation. immunoprecipit ation experiments indicate that p38gamma/sapk3 is the major p38 activated by mkk6 in the oocytes. we have cloned xenopus p38gamma (xp38gamma) and show that co-expression of active mkk6 with xp38gamma induces oocyte maturation in the absence of p ...	2003	14592973
inhalational anthrax: radiologic and pathologic findings in two cases.		2003	14500233
when bioterrorism strikes: diagnosis and management of inhalational anthrax.	in october and november, 2001, reports of patients with inhalational anthrax reacquainted the public with this ancient disease and introduced the harsh reality of a bioterrorist act. bacillus anthracis, a rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium, primarily infects herbivores. humans traditionally have acquired the disease from occupational or agricultural exposure to infected animals and animal products. recent events saw the intentional release of anthrax spores, using the u.s. postal system as an u ...	2003	14505276
using a structured medical note for determining the safety profile of anthrax vaccine for us soldiers in korea.	selected military personnel are immunized with an fda-licensed anthrax vaccine unless there are clinical contraindications. the objective of this analysis is to capture the experience of soldiers receiving anthrax vaccine to assist in better patient-provider communication and clarify the safety profile of the vaccine in this population as a quality-assurance initiative. between august 1998 and july 1999, 2824 soldiers immunized against anthrax at one military clinic completed a structured medica ...	2003	14505923
'we're looking for zebras now'.		2003	14507083
binding of anthrax toxin to its receptor is similar to alpha integrin-ligand interactions.	the secreted protein toxin produced by bacillus anthracis contributes to virulence of this pathogen and can cause many of the symptoms seen during an anthrax infection, including shock and sudden death. the cell-binding component of anthrax toxin, protective antigen, mediates entry of the toxin into cells by first binding directly to the extracellular integrin-like inserted (i) domain of the cellular anthrax toxin receptor, atr. here we report that this interaction requires an intact metal ion-d ...	2003	14507921
mutations in the gene encoding capillary morphogenesis protein 2 cause juvenile hyaline fibromatosis and infantile systemic hyalinosis.	juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (jhf) and infantile systemic hyalinosis (ish) are autosomal recessive conditions characterized by multiple subcutaneous skin nodules, gingival hypertrophy, joint contractures, and hyaline deposition. we previously mapped the gene for jhf to chromosome 4q21. we now report the identification of 15 different mutations in the gene encoding capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (cmg2) in 17 families with jhf or ish. cmg2 is a transmembrane protein that is induced during capi ...	2003	14508707
molecular diagnostic techniques for use in response to bioterrorism.	the use of micro-organisms as agents of biological warfare is considered inevitable for several reasons, including ease of production and dispersion, delayed onset of symptoms, ability to cause high rates of morbidity and mortality and difficulty in diagnosis. therefore, the clinical presentation and pathogenesis of the organisms posing the highest threat (variola major, bacillus anthracis, yersinia pestis, clostridium botulinum toxin, francisella tularensis, filoviruses, arenaviruses and brucel ...	2003	14510181
calls about anthrax to the texas poison center network in relation to the anthrax bioterrorism attack in 2001.	between october 4, 2001 and november 20, 2001, 22 cases of anthrax were identified in a bioterrorism attack on the us. this study examined the patterns of anthrax calls before and after the bioterrorist attack based on calls received by poison centers in texas, a state that reported no anthrax cases as a result of the attack. during 1998-2002, 553 calls about anthrax were received. the majority of the anthrax calls occurred in 2001 (n = 489, 88.4%) and 2002 (n = 52, 9.4%). the number of calls in ...	2003	14513892
anthrax: forms, symptoms and treatment.	background: this article examines the history of anthrax, the organism, the different forms of human anthrax, its symptoms and treatment. set against fears of a bioterrorist attack, the article also examines the potential threat of anthrax as a weapon. conclusion: frontline staff such as nurses can contribute greatly to increasing survival by recognising symptoms, treating patients promptly and helping to allay public concern.	2003	14515539
toxin-induced resistance in bacillus anthracis lethal toxin-treated macrophages.	in the current study, we show that macrophages adaptively resist anthrax lethal toxin (lt) through a toxin-activated process termed toxin-induced resistance (tir). tir was triggered by pretreatment of raw 264.7 or j774a.1 macrophages with a low dose of lt for at least 6 h, which resulted in resistance to high doses of lt for 96 h. activation of tir required functional toxin, because lt subunits, mutants, and heat-inactivated toxin were unable to trigger resistance. tir macrophages were not alter ...	2003	14519843
the growing pains of biodefense.		2003	14523029
follow-up of deaths among u.s. postal service workers potentially exposed to bacillus anthracis--district of columbia, 2001-2002.	in october 2001, two letters contaminated with bacillus anthracis spores were processed by mechanical and manual methods at the u.s. postal service (usps) brentwood mail processing and distribution center in the district of columbia. four postal workers at the brentwood facility became ill with what was diagnosed eventually as inhalational anthrax; two died. the facility was closed on october 21, and postexposure prophylaxis was recommended for approximately 2,500 workers and business visitors. ...	2003	14523371
[bacillus anthracis and anthrax].		2003	14524244
anthrax: lessons learned from the u.s. capitol experience.		2003	14527185
advances in molecular-based diagnostics in meeting crop biosecurity and phytosanitary issues.	awareness of crop biosecurity and phytosanitation has been heightened since 9/11 and the unresolved anthrax releases in october 2001. crops are highly vulnerable to accidental or deliberate introductions of crop pathogens from outside u.s. borders. strategic thinking about protection against deliberate or accidental release of a plant pathogen is an urgent priority. rapid detection will be the key to success. this review summarizes recent progress in the development of rapid real-time pcr protoc ...	2003	14527331
detection of the sentinel anthrax case in the united states.	first-hand knowledge of the detection of the first bioweapon in modern united states history is described in this article. the method by which the presumptive diagnosis of anthrax meningitis was made within 13 hours of the patient presenting to the emergency department is described using pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic phases. the lessons learned from this process are briefly presented so that other laboratories may learn from our experience: how to prepare; how to quickly analyze a po ...	2003	14531222
innate immunity and biodefence vaccines.	host defence in vertebrates is achieved by the integration of two distinct arms of the immune system: the innate and adaptive responses. the innate response acts early after infection (within minutes), detecting and responding to broad cues from invading pathogens. the adaptive response takes time (days to weeks) to become effective, but provides the fine antigenic specificity required for complete elimination of the pathogen and the generation of immunologic memory. antigen-independent recognit ...	2003	14531891
species-specific peptide ligands for the detection of bacillus anthracis spores.	currently available detectors for spores of bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, are inadequate for frontline use and general monitoring. there is a critical need for simple, rugged, and inexpensive detectors capable of accurate and direct identification of b. anthracis spores. necessary components in such detectors are stable ligands that bind tightly and specifically to target spores. by screening a phage display peptide library, we identified a family of peptides, with the cons ...	2003	14532093
use of denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography to identify bacillus anthracis by analysis of the 16s-23s rrna interspacer region and gyra gene.	denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dhplc) was evaluated as a method for identifying bacillus anthracis by analyzing two chromosomal targets, the 16s-23s intergenic spacer region (isr) and the gyra gene. the 16s-23s isr was analyzed by this method with 42 strains of b. anthracis, 36 strains of bacillus cereus, and 12 strains of bacillus thuringiensis; the gyra gene was analyzed by this method with 33 strains of b. anthracis, 27 strains of b. cereus, and 9 strains of b. thuringiens ...	2003	14532217
molecular characterization of anthrax in positive powders: a mexican experience.		2003	14532260
anthrax toxin induces hemolysis: an indirect effect through polymorphonuclear cells.	anthrax toxin can induce hemolysis in the presence of polymorphonuclear cells (pmns), an activity primarily mediated by protective antigen, with synergic effects provided by lethal factor and edema factor. lethal factor and edema factor, individually or in combination, are incapable of lysing red blood cells. the requirement for the presence of pmns indicates that hemolysis associated with bacillus anthracis infection is indirect rather than direct, as observed in many other bacterial infections ...	2003	14551883
a new world order for human experiments.		2003	14552300
novel protein targeted therapy of metastatic melanoma.	metastatic melanoma patients have a dismal prognosis with poor responsiveness to chemotherapy, radiation therapy and current immunotherapy regimens and a median survival of less than six months. novel therapies directed at melanoma-selective molecular targets are urgently needed. based on the frequent constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (mapk) signaling pathway in malignant melanomas and the selective inhibition of mapk signaling by anthrax lethal factor which proteol ...	2003	14552326
prevention and treatment of bacterial diseases caused by bacterial bioterrorism threat agents.	there is general consensus that the bacterial agents or products most likely to be used as weapons of mass destruction are bacillus anthracis, yersinia pestis, francisella tularensis and the neurotoxin of clostridium botulinum. modern supportive and antimicrobial therapy for inhalational anthrax is associated with a 45% mortality rate, reinforcing the need for better adjunctive therapy and prevention strategies. pneumonic plague is highly contagious, difficult to recognize and is frequently fata ...	2003	14554016
human antibodies from immunized donors are protective against anthrax toxin in vivo.	a panel of fabs that neutralize anthrax toxin in vitro was selected from libraries generated from human donors vaccinated against anthrax. at least two of these antibodies protect rats from anthrax intoxication in vivo. fabs 83k7c and 63l1d bind with subnanomolar affinity to protective antigen (pa) 63, and fab 63l1d neutralizes toxin substoichiometrically, inhibits lethal factor (lf) interaction with pa63 and binds to a conformational epitope formed by pa63.	2003	14555959
cutaneous anthrax in adults: a review of 25 cases in the eastern anatolian region of turkey.	the clinical features, therapy and outcome of anthrax cases from the elazig province (the eastern anatolian region) of turkey seen in our clinic over an 8-year period were reviewed.	2003	14556058
anthrax--cdc review.		2003	14556368
statistical analysis of microarray data: a bayesian approach.	the potential of microarray data is enormous. it allows us to monitor the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. a common task with microarray is to determine which genes are differentially expressed between two samples obtained under two different conditions. recently, several statistical methods have been proposed to perform such a task when there are replicate samples under each condition. two major problems arise with microarray data. the first one is that the number of replicates ...	2003	14557114
differential processing of cd4 t-cell epitopes from the protective antigen of bacillus anthracis.	we have mapped cd4+ t-cell epitopes located in three domains of the recombinant protective antigen of bacillus anthracis. mouse t-cell hybridomas specific for these epitopes were generated to study the mechanisms of proteolytic processing of recombinant protective antigen for antigen presentation by bone marrow-derived macrophages. overall, epitopes differed considerably in their processing requirements. in particular, the kinetics of presentation, ranging from 15 (fast) to 120 min (slow), sugge ...	2003	14561737
morphogenesis of bacillus spore surfaces.	spores produced by bacilli are encased in a proteinaceous multilayered coat and, in some species (including bacillus anthracis), further surrounded by a glycoprotein-containing exosporium. to characterize bacillus spore surface morphology and to identify proteins that direct formation of coat surface features, we used atomic-force microscopy (afm) to image the surfaces of wild-type and mutant spores of bacillus subtilis, as well as the spore surfaces of bacillus cereus 569 and the sterne strain ...	2003	14563859
[first research work by robert koch on etiology of anthrax-in cooperation with józef knechtel, polish apothecary].	terroristic attack on united states of america 11 september 2001 and just after many cases of anthrax spores employment as biological warfare called our attention to robert koch. he determined anthrax etiology and enclosed it in his first research work: die aetiologie der milzbrand-kranheit begrundet auf die entwicklungsgeschichte des bacillus anthracis. the results of this research are widely described. in the scientific researches participated j. knechtel, pole, pharmacist, pharmacy owner in w ...	2003	14565192
bioterrorism and the nervous system.	recent events of war, terrorist attacks, and mail-borne anthrax exposure have produced increasing awareness of potential bioterrorism attacks in the united states and other parts of the world. physicians and healthcare personnel play a key role in identifying potential bioterrorist attacks. early recognition and preparedness for bioterrorism-associated illnesses is especially important for neurologists because most bioterrorism agents can directly or indirectly affect the nervous system. this ar ...	2003	14565901
blinded by bioterrorism: public health and liberty in the 21st century.		2003	14569657
neutralizing monoclonal antibody against anthrax lethal factor inhibits intoxication in a mouse model.	anthrax toxin is the dominant virulence factor of bacillus anthracis; drugs blocking its action could therefore have therapeutic benefit. we report here the production of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mab) against anthrax lethal factor (lf) and the inhibition by the antibody of anthrax lethal toxin (letx) formation. the anti-lf monoclonal antibody lf8 neutralized the letx challenge both in vitro with macrophage j774a.1 cells and in vivo in nude mice. our data suggested that lf8 binds lf at ...	2003	15156101
introduction: consequences of terrorism.	recent acts of terrorism have ranged from the dissemination of anthrax spores to intentional contamination of food to the release of chemical weapons to suicide attacks using explosives. the prediction of such events is difficult, if not impossible. the recent attacks that have generated massive numbers of injured and dead may signal the crossing of a new threshold from multi-casualty events to the use of weapons of mass destruction. consequently, the medical and healthcare infrastructure must b ...	2003	15141852
aum shinrikyo and the japanese law on bioterrorism.	before the sarin incidents in tokyo and matsumoto, the aum shinrikyo (now aleph) had tried to conduct bioterrorism with botulinum toxin and bacillus anthracis. followers of the aum could not overcome technical difficulties inherent in developing biological weapons, and the perpetrators had not been prosecuted for their failed attempts of bioterrorism. but the aum's biological attack revealed several shortcomings in the japanese law that regulated biological weapons. since the missile experiment ...	2003	15141855
[neurological effects of chemical and biological weapons].	neurological manifestations of chemical and biological weapons are reviewed. nerve agents in current use, storage, or production include tabun, sarin, soman and vx. the initial effects of exposure to a nerve agent depend on the dose and on the route of exposure. sarin, the agent studied most thoroughly in man in matumoto and tokyo attacked by aum shinrikyo will cause miosis, rhinorrehea and shortness of breath are initial complaints immediately after inhalation exposure of the vapor. the severe ...	2003	15152492
[gamma radiation resistance of bacillus anthracis spores].	the aim of the presented study was determined the effectiveness of action the gamma radiation on water suspension b. anthracis spores. the irradiation was performed using a cobalt 60 (co 60) source, by using single and fractionary irradiation doses. in the investigations was used b. anthracis stain "sterne" 34f2. the obtained results show, that gamma radiation effectively inactivates b. anthracis spores. on the efficiency of sterilization process influence the irradiation's method and the number ...	2003	15103990
anthrax and other suspect powders: initial responses to an outbreak of hoaxes and scares.		2003	14981556
laboratory investigation of suspected bioterrorism incidents, new south wales, october 2001 to february 2002.		2003	14981557
terrorism symposium update and conclusion.		2003	14965028
terrorism in south korea.	south korea has experienced > 30 suspected terrorism-related events since 1958, including attacks against south korean citizens in foreign countries. the most common types of terrorism used have included bombings, shootings, hijackings, and kidnappings. prior to 1990, north korea was responsible for almost all terrorism-related events inside of south korea, including multiple assassination attempts on its presidents, regular kidnappings of south korean fisherman, and several high-profile bombing ...	2003	15074497
leading during times of trouble: a roundtable discussion of recent terror events.		2003	15040184
anthrax 2001: observations on the medical and public health response.		2003	15040187
the anthrax epidemiologic tool kit: an instrument for public health preparedness.		2003	15040188
biotechnology: impact on biological warfare and biodefense.	advances in biological research likely will permit development of a new class of advanced biological warfare (abw) agents engineered to elicit novel effects. in addition, biotechnology will have applications supporting abw weaponization, dissemination, and delivery. such new agents and delivery systems would provide a variety of new use options, expanding the bw paradigm. although abw agents will not replace threats posed by traditional biological agents such as bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and ...	2003	15040194
aerosols from insect control measures show dangers of bioterrorism.		2003	15040200
interview with david l. heymann, md, representative for polio eradication and former executive director, communicable diseases, world health organization. interview by madeline drexler.		2003	15040202
evaluating the success of terror risk communications.		2003	15040205
sources of bioterrorism information among emergency physicians during the 2001 anthrax outbreak.		2003	15040206
new york city's communication trials by fire, from west nile to sars.		2003	15040207
potential for aerosol dissemination of biological weapons: lessons from biological control of insects.		2003	15040213
under siege: one state's perspective of the anthrax events of october/november 2001.		2003	15040214
[anthrax and carbuncle: two sides of the same coin].	the disease caused by bacillus anthracis is one of the most critical concerns to the general public and public health authorities due both to the anthrax cases caused by the intentional release of the germ in the usa at the close of 2001 when letters and packages were contaminated with anthrax spores, and the current threat of biological warfare. after a brief excursus on the history of the terms anthrax and carbuncle, we survey the main evidence of anthrax found in the ancient literature, and d ...	2003	15020857
an overview of terrorism and its impact on biomedical research facilities.	since the '9/11' and anthrax-contaminated-letter events of 2001, american society has given the term "bioterrorism" much attention. the author clarifies the definitions associated with bioterrorism and terrorism, provides an historical perspective regarding bioweapons, defines and characterizes the types of agents used as bioweapons, reviews pertinent bioterrorism legislation, and concludes by assessing the impact of these elements on biomedical research facilities.	2003	15235681
public health response to bioterrorism with bacillus anthracis: coordinating public health laboratory, communication, and law enforcement.	in october 2001, public health departments across the united states were part of an intensive response to a bioterrorism event using anthrax spores delivered by mail. it is useful to examine this experience as an unscripted exercise of bioterrorism response capacity, more realistic than scenarios of planned exercises. the event particularly challenged public health laboratory and communications capacity, but it also tested surveillance and training capacity. the bioterrorism response demonstrate ...	2003	15503598
persistence of a mock bio-agent in cross-contaminated mail and mailboxes.	among the 22 confirmed or suspected cases of anthrax during the bioterrorism incidents in 2001, all but two seemed traceable to spores from threat letters. although no anthrax spores were found in the environments frequented by two females who died of the disease, a suspicion persists that the deaths were somehow related to the mail. this study assesses the spread and persistence of a mock biological agent from a source-letter to other mail and to a receiving mailbox. successive placement and re ...	2003	15503599
building academic-practice partnerships: the center for public health preparedness at the columbia university mailman school of public health, before and after 9/11.	the center for public health preparedness at the columbia university mailman school of public health is part of a national network of academic centers established by the centers for disease control and prevention to strengthen links between public health practice and academe, especially for public health workforce development. since its inception in fall 2000, the center has been working in partnership with the new york city department of health & mental hygiene (dohmh) on planning and competenc ...	2003	15503608
generation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to protective antigen of bacillus anthracis.	monoclonal antibodies (moabs) were generated following immunization of balb/c mice with protective antigen (pa) of b. anthracis. five clones reactive to this protein were stabilized and preserved. these moabs could detect nanogram levels of pa when tested in elisa. in western blotting, they reacted with all pa preparations tested and no cross-reactivity was observed with lethal factor, edema factor of b. anthracis and with other organisms. these moabs could detect pa from 22 confirmed clinical i ...	2003	15255603
detection of spores of bacillus anthracis from environment using polymerase chain reaction.	a sensitive pcr based detection of bacillus anthracis spores from environnment was standardized. specific 1247bp amplicon could be detected with template concentration as low as 13 pg. sensitivity was enhanced to 10 fold by nesting with second set of primers, forming 208bp amplicon. extraction of dna from spores purified from soil samples by aqueous polymer two-phase system followed by partial germination and freeze-thaw treatment yielded best results. soil sample spiked with spores (8x10(2)/g o ...	2003	15255613
anthrax toxin receptor proteins.	anthrax toxin is a key virulence factor for bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. here we discuss what is known about the anthrax toxin receptor (atr), the cellular receptor for anthrax toxin, and how this information is being used to develop treatments for anthrax as well as to understand aspects of cancer. atr was identified recently as a type i transmembrane protein with unknown function that contains an extracellular integrin-like inserted (i) domain. the atr i domain contains ...	2003	12527323
potent antitumor activity of a urokinase-activated engineered anthrax toxin.	the acquisition of cell-surface urokinase plasminogen activator activity is a hallmark of malignancy. we generated an engineered anthrax toxin that is activated by cell-surface urokinase in vivo and displays limited toxicity to normal tissue but broad and potent tumoricidal activity. native anthrax toxin protective antigen, when administered with a chimeric anthrax toxin lethal factor, pseudomonas exotoxin fusion protein, was extremely toxic to mice, causing rapid and fatal organ damage. replaci ...	2003	12525700
figs--the earliest known ancient drug for cutaneous anthrax.	anthrax is an often fatal bacterial infection, occurring in cutaneous, inhalational, gastrointestinal, and meningeal forms. evaluation of anthrax treatment from ancient history may help healthcare providers to handle this serious disease more efficiently.	2003	12549964
anthrax toxin triggers endocytosis of its receptor via a lipid raft-mediated clathrin-dependent process.	the protective antigen (pa) of the anthrax toxin binds to a cell surface receptor and thereby allows lethal factor (lf) to be taken up and exert its toxic effect in the cytoplasm. here, we report that clustering of the anthrax toxin receptor (atr) with heptameric pa or with an antibody sandwich causes its association to specialized cholesterol and glycosphingolipid-rich microdomains of the plasma membrane (lipid rafts). we find that although endocytosis of atr is slow, clustering it into rafts e ...	2003	12551953
a miniature biochip system for detection of aerosolized bacillus globigii spores.	the feasibility of using a novel detection scheme for the analysis of biological warfare agents is demonstrated using bacillus globigii spores, a surrogate species for bacillus anthracis. in this paper, a sensitive and selective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a novel fluorogenic alkaline phosphatase substrate (dimethylacridinone phosphate) is combined with a compact biochip detection system, which includes a miniature diode laser for excitation. detection of aerosolized spores was achie ...	2003	12553762