Anthrax Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anthrax, including details on bacillus anthracis, contagiousness, exposure, effects.

Symmetry requirements for the effective blocking of pore-forming toxins: Comparative study with {alpha}-, {beta}-, and {gamma}-cyclodextrin derivatives.

Yannakopoulou K, Jicsinszky L, Aggelidou C, Mourtzis N, Robinson TM, Yohannes A, Nestorovich EM, Bezrukov SM, Karginov VA

Institute of Physical Chemistry, National Center for Scientific Research"Demokritos", Aghia Paraskevi 15310, Athens, Greece.

We compared the ability of structurally related cationic cyclodextrins to inhibit Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin and Staphylococcus aureus α-hemolysin. We found that both β- and γ-cyclodextrin derivatives effectively inhibited anthrax toxin action by blocking the trans-membrane oligomeric pores formed by the PA subunit of the toxin, whereas α-cyclodextrins were ineffective. In contrast, α-hemolysin was selectively blocked only by β- cyclodextrin derivatives, demonstrating that both symmetry and size of the inhibitor and the pore are important.

Published 10 May 2011 in Antimicrob Agents Chemother.
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Articles on Anthrax published 9 May 2011:

Sensitive detection of an Anthrax biomarker using a glassy carbon electrode with a consecutively immobilized layer of polyaniline/carbon nanotube/peptide.   Biosens Bioelectron.

Sensitivity of Anthrax protective antigen (PA) detection has been improved by directly immobilizing a PA-specific peptide onto a multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT). The MWCNT was covalently immobilized onto a polyaniline (PANI) electrode, which was prepared via electropolymerization of the aniline monomer onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Then, the PA-specific peptide was covalently immobilized to the MWCNT layer for measurement. When comparing this technique to that of PA immobilization on ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Anthrax published 6 May 2011:

Multivalent display of proteins on viral nanoparticles using molecular recognition and chemical ligation strategies.   Biomacromolecules.

Multivalent display of heterologous proteins on viral nanoparticles forms a basis for numerous applications in nanotechnology, including vaccine development, targeted therapeutic delivery and tissue-specific bio-imaging. In many instances, precise placement of proteins is required for optimal functioning of the supramolecular assemblies, but orientation- and site-specific coupling of proteins to viral scaffolds remains a significant technical challenge. We have developed two strategies that ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Anthrax published 4 May 2011:

The CodY pleiotropic repressor controls virulence in Gram-positive pathogens.   FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol.

The highly conserved pleiotropic repressor CodY is involved in the post-exponential adaptive response to starvation in at least 30 different low G+C gram-positive bacteria. After dimerization and activation by co-factor binding, CodY binds to a consensus palindromic DNA sequence, leading to the repression of approximately 5% of the genome. CodY binds in front of its native promoter creating a negative feedback loop also called auto-repression. CodY represses the transcription of target genes ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Crystal structure of the Vibrio cholerae cytolysin heptamer reveals common features among disparate pore-forming toxins.   Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 108(18): 7385-90.

Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are potent cytolytic agents secreted by pathogenic bacteria that protect microbes against the cell-mediated immune system (by targeting phagocytic cells), disrupt epithelial barriers, and liberate materials necessary to sustain growth and colonization. Produced by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria alike, PFTs are released as water-soluble monomeric or dimeric species, bind specifically to target membranes, and assemble transmembrane channels leading to cell ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Antibody responses to a spore carbohydrate antigen as a marker of nonfatal inhalation anthrax in rhesus macaques.   Clin Vaccine Immunol, 18(5): 743-8.

The Bacillus anthracis exosporium protein BclA contains an O-linked antigenic tetrasaccharide whose terminal sugar is known as anthrose (J. M. Daubenspeck et al., J. Biol. Chem. 279:30945-30953, 2004). We hypothesized that serologic responses to anthrose may have diagnostic value in confirming exposure to aerosolized B. anthracis. We evaluated the serologic responses to a synthetic anthrose-containing trisaccharide (ATS) in a group of five rhesus macaques that survived inhalation anthrax ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Anthrax published 2 May 2011:

Post-exposure therapy of inhalational anthrax in the common marmoset.   Int J Antimicrob Agents.

The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of ciprofloxacin as post-exposure therapy against inhalational anthrax in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) with other non-human primate models in order to determine whether the marmoset is a suitable model to test post-exposure therapies for anthrax. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and efficacy studies with ciprofloxacin were performed in the marmoset. Ciprofloxacin plasma pharmacokinetics were determined in six animals in ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Anthrax published 28 April 2011:

Anthrax vaccination induced anti-lethal factor IgG: Fine specificity and neutralizing capacity.   Vaccine, 29(20): 3670-8.

The efficacy biomarker of the currently licensed anthrax vaccine (AVA) is based on quantity and neutralizing capacity of anti-protective antigen (anti-PA) antibodies. However, animal studies have demonstrated that antibodies to lethal factor (LF) can provide protection against in vivo bacterial spore challenges. Improved understanding of the fine specificities of humoral immune responses that provide optimum neutralization capacity may enhance the efficacy of future passive immune globulin ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Anthrax published 27 April 2011:

Internet-based reporting to the vaccine adverse event reporting system: a more timely and complete way for providers to support vaccine safety.   Pediatrics, 127: S39-44.

[Abstract] [Full-text]

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