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.

Correlation between lethal toxin-neutralizing antibody titers and protection from intranasal challenge with Bacillus anthracis Ames strain spores in mice after transcutaneous immunization with recombinant anthrax protective antigen.

Peachman KK, Rao M, Alving CR, Burge R, Leppla SH, Rao VB, Matyas GR

Department of Vaccine Production and Delivery, Division of Retrovirology, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.

Transcutaneous immunization of mice with recombinant protective antigen (rPA) of Bacillus anthracis resulted in significantly higher lethal toxin-neutralizing antibody titers than did intramuscular injection of alum-adsorbed rPA. Immunized mice were partially protected against intranasal challenge with 235,000 (10 50% lethal doses) Ames strain B. anthracis spores. A highly significant correlation was observed between toxin-neutralizing antibody titer and survival after challenge. Future experiments with rabbits and nonhuman primates should confirm the significance of protection by this vaccine strategy.

Published 21 December 2005 in Infect Immun, 74(1): 794-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Anthrax Research Today. All Rights Reserved.