Articles tagged with Anthrax
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Researchers at USAMRIID have found a novel approach to defeating the anthrax pathogen by inducing high levels of CapD enzyme, releasing capsule fragments and leaving bacteria vulnerable to immune destruction. This breakthrough could lead to new treatment options for anthrax infection.
Scientists have engineered Bacillus anthracis to produce higher-than-normal amounts of capsule depolymerase, releasing the protective capsule and leaving the bacterium vulnerable to detection and destruction by the immune system.
A national poll found that most Americans would follow public health recommendations to obtain prophylactic antibiotics in response to a hypothetical anthrax attack. However, a significant minority would delay taking the recommended medication, which could put them at greater risk of serious illness.
Einstein scientists have identified two small protein fragments that could be developed into an anthrax vaccine, potentially causing fewer side effects than the current vaccine. The research focuses on the protein toxin used in the current vaccine, looking for peptides that can trigger protective antibodies when injected into animals.
Research published in Cell Host and Microbe reveals a minor reduction in CD45 levels provides protection against both Ebola virus and Bacillus anthracis. Mice expressing reduced CD45 levels showed enhanced viral clearance and increased protection against infection.
A new study by Weill Cornell Medical School researchers highlights the importance of quick detection and treatment in defense against anthrax attacks. Delays beyond three days could overwhelm hospitals with critically ill people, necessitating powerful antibiotic treatments.
Raxibacumab, a human monoclonal antibody drug, shows high efficacy in treating inhalation anthrax with a single dose. The treatment targets anthrax toxins after they are released by the bacteria into the blood and tissues.
The Veritide Ceeker portable bacterial detection device has been shown to accurately identify anthrax spores and distinguish them from hoax substances. With results produced in minutes, the device enables first responders to rapidly determine whether a situation is a nuisance or a major threat to public health.
A new statistical method estimates the source location and geographic extent of an aerosolized anthrax release based on early cases and weather information. This enables public health decision makers to identify people at risk and treat them promptly to save lives.
Researchers found a citric acid-based Achilles heel in the African Violet houseplant pathogen that could be exploited to treat Anthrax. A common strategy to block both Anthrax and African Violet siderophore synthesis pathways has been identified, offering new possibilities for combating infections.
Scientists at North Carolina State University have found that Lactobacillus acidophilus can deliver vaccines into the small intestine, where they trigger an immune response. The approach could potentially be used to create oral vaccines for other viruses and pathogens.
A University of Pittsburgh study analyzed reactions to the 2001 US Postal Service anthrax attacks, finding that confusion, distrust, and conflicting information from media organizations shaped postal worker responses. The study highlights the importance of trust-building and education to facilitate clear communication during bioterrori...
A randomized clinical trial found that changing dosing and administration of an anthrax vaccine to intramuscular injection resulted in fewer adverse events while maintaining comparable effectiveness. The study also discovered that a reduced 3-dose schedule was noninferior to the licensed regimen.
Researchers have developed reliable methods to assess the concentration and viability of anthrax spores after prolonged storage using DNA analysis techniques. This study provides essential steps in developing a reliable reference standard for anthrax detection and decontamination.
A new study reveals that black tea can effectively inhibit the activity of Bacillus anthracis, a deadly bacterium causing anthrax. Adding whole milk to tea completely inhibits its antibacterial activity.
Researchers have developed a rapid and non-disruptive decontamination system that can kill anthrax spores in two to three hours without lingering effects. The system uses X-rays and ultraviolet-C light simultaneously to attack and destroy the bacteria, making it an improvement over existing methods.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have uncovered the biological gateway that allows anthrax to enter healthy cells. The study reveals how the bacteria uses the Mac-1 receptor to proliferate and trigger lethal consequences, paving the way for new drugs and vaccines.
Researchers developed a mutated anthrax toxin that targets melanoma cells, with 100% of mice tolerated lethal doses. The toxin was more specific and effective than natural toxin, inhibiting angiogenesis and killing other tumors like colon and lung.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a method to remotely deactivate protein-wrapped carbon nanotubes using light, rendering them harmless. This technique holds promise for new antibacterial coatings and cancer treatment methods.
A purified bacterial extract spray administered to laboratory mice provided powerful protection against all four major classes of pathogens, including anthrax and bubonic plague. The treatment was shown to stimulate a healthy immune response and increase antimicrobial polypeptides in the lung lining fluid.
Scripps researchers created a dual-action compound that leapfrogs current efforts to develop an anthrax vaccine. The new agent protects against lethal toxin exposure after only one injection, with a potent immune response faster and stronger than any currently available vaccine.
A vaccine against anthrax has been developed using nanoparticles, which triggers a strong immune response and induces immunity on mucous membranes, providing protection after bioterror attacks. The new vaccine is easy to store and administer without needles, making it a valuable tool for health authorities.
The study provides a complete picture of how anthrax-causing bacteria survive and grow inside immune cells, identifying key genes and enzymes that play crucial roles. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more effective and easily tolerated treatments for anthrax infections.
Researchers at UF discovered that anthrax's lethal toxin immobilizes neutrophils by preventing actin assembly, leaving them unable to protect against infection. This finding may lead to a diagnostic blood test within hours of detection, allowing for quicker treatment and potentially saving lives.
Researchers create femtosecond adaptive spectroscopic techniques via CARS (FAST-CARS) to detect anthrax spores, using ultrashort pulses to minimize background noise. The technique can identify bacterial endospores in real-time, with potential applications in monitoring glucose levels and scanning the atmosphere.
A new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases found that more people were at risk of anthrax infection after the 2001 attack on Sen. Tom Daschle's office than previously known. Prompt intervention with antibiotics and vaccination appeared to be highly effective against the disease, with no deaths resulting from the act.
Researchers have discovered a human protein that disrupts anthrax bacteria's iron scavenging system, potentially leading to new anti-anthrax drugs and diagnostic tools. The study found that siderocalin binds to bacillibactin, preventing it from capturing iron, while petrobactin is not bound by the protein.
Researchers at Clemson University have created a nanotechnology-based countermeasure to render anthrax spores harmless. The method uses sugar-coated carbon nanotubes to bind with the spores, preventing their inhalation and destruction.
Researchers at UGA have discovered a species-specific cell-wall carbohydrate in B. anthracis, making it an important target for diagnostic tests and potential vaccine additives. The molecule's unique structure could help develop new vaccines and diagnostics to combat anthrax.
Researchers developed an inhibitor that blocks anthrax toxin receptors, increasing potency by 50,000-fold. The new approach could combat antibiotic-resistant strains and improve survival rates for inhalational anthrax victims.
A team of researchers developed a new method to specifically recognize anthrax spores using monoclonal antibodies that target a unique sugar component called anthrose. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for rapid and accurate diagnosis, potentially reducing the risk of death from anthrax if treatment is delayed.
A new study published in Vaccine found that a recombinant Protective Antigen (PA) protein vaccine produced the desired immune response in healthy adults, justifying further testing. The investigational vaccine demonstrated a clear relationship between the amount of vaccine administered and the subsequent immune response.
Researchers found that a vaccine combined with short-term antibiotic treatment can protect nonhuman primates from inhalational anthrax. The study suggests that this combination may be crucial for successful defense against large-scale anthrax attacks, minimizing the risk of adverse events and improving public health management.
Researchers developed a peptide, D6R, that blocks lethal toxins of anthrax by inhibiting furin activity. The peptide has shown promising therapeutic potential against various bacterial infections, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Ebola, without invoking a cytokine response.
A new anthrax antitoxin has been designed using a fatty bubble studded with small proteins that can effectively neutralize the toxin. The polyvalent inhibitor showed 10,000 times more potency than unattached peptides and prevented five out of nine rats from becoming ill when given in combination with antibiotics.
A polyvalent inhibitor has been developed that recognizes multiple sites on the anthrax toxin molecular structure, making it four orders of magnitude more potent. The inhibitor was tested in rats and protected them from anthrax toxin, showing promise as a potential therapeutic for anthrax exposure.
Researchers have identified a new protein called PlyPH that can kill anthrax bacteria by bursting their cell walls. This protein has a wide pH range and is highly specific to anthrax bacteria, making it an attractive option for environmental decontamination and treatment.
Researchers discovered that human cells deficient in LRP6 become resistant to anthrax toxin, while antibodies targeting LRP6 protect cells from toxicity. This finding suggests potential new avenues for treating late-stage anthrax disease.
The study found that timely antibiotic treatment was key to patients' survival, with a mortality rate of nearly 80% when treatment was delayed beyond six days. Anthrax progression to its advanced stage often leads to certain death, even with modern care.
Researchers found that anthrax spores can tolerate water treatment and attach to pipes, potentially allowing them to pass through the system. Higher chlorine concentrations were more effective in killing the spores, but at high levels could make water undrinkable.
A seminar review by Emory University School of Medicine experts highlights the importance of physicians' ability to recognize smallpox. The disease's clinical features must be distinguished from other illnesses, such as chickenpox, to prevent misdiagnosis and effective response.
A UCSD study reveals that anthrax toxins, known as lethal factor and edema factor, can cause cellular damage and death in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The findings suggest that fruit flies can be used to test the effects of anthrax toxins on signaling pathways shared by flies and humans.
A UCF-led study successfully grew a safe and effective anthrax vaccine in tobacco plants, producing potent doses without bacterial toxins. The breakthrough method could help alleviate supply shortages and make vaccines more accessible worldwide.
A new high-affinity antibody successfully eliminated anthrax bacteria and its deadly toxins in animal tests, offering a promising treatment for late-stage anthrax infection. The antibody produced in bacterial cells could lead to a simpler and cheaper way to treat anthrax, providing an effective treatment that doesn't require antibiotics.
A newly discovered protein called alpha-defensin can kill Bacillus anthracis bacteria, the causative agent of anthrax. The skin form of anthrax is harmless due to neutrophils' ability to identify and kill microbes, whereas the lung form remains fatal, prompting hope for new treatments.
A study by Sandia National Laboratories found that traditional sampling methods for detecting anthrax spores are ineffective, leaving up to 80% of spores behind. The researchers used coupons seeded with Bacillus atrophaeus spores and found that no method was very efficient, with the vacuum method collecting only 20% of the spores.
A study found that physicians' ability to diagnose and treat bioterrorism-related diseases improved significantly after completing an online course. The online training showed a marked increase in correct diagnosis rates, with smallpox diagnosed correctly by 79% of doctors after the course.
Researchers found that anthrax's lethal toxin can block neutrophil production of filaments by nearly 60% in just two hours. This paralysis allows the bacteria to move freely in the body, leading to fatal outcomes in inhalation anthrax victims.
Researchers at Salk Institute and Harvard Medical School found that anthrax toxin entry occurs under two different pH conditions, depending on the receptor type. This discovery could lead to the development of more effective drugs targeting a single pathway.
Researchers create lab method to detect active anthrax proteins in blood samples with extremely low levels of concentration. The new system produces unambiguous results in about an hour, significantly faster than current methods.
Scientists have traced the critical step in how anthrax toxins enter host cells, revealing that a pore protein plays an active role in translocation. The 'phi-clamp', a collection of hydrophobic amino acids, acts as a chaperone to shepherd unfolded lethal factor and edema factor molecules through the heptameric channel.
The NIST Guide for the Selection of Biological Agent Detection Equipment for Emergency First Responders provides a comprehensive resource for selecting biological agent detection equipment. The guide cites 19 performance parameters to consider, including sensitivity and ease-of-use, to help first responders make informed decisions.
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Institute have identified three lead compounds that inhibit anthrax lethal factor (LF) with high potency and selectivity. The compounds, when combined with antibiotics like Ciprofloxacin, showed a two-fold increase in survival rate for mice infected with anthrax spores.
A new study on anthrax attacks suggests post-attack vaccination plus antibiotic therapy is the most effective strategy. Meanwhile, an analysis of data from a large randomized trial found that both metformin and lifestyle changes can slow metabolic syndrome progression, with lifestyle change providing greater benefits.
Researchers found that combination therapy with antibiotics and vaccination is the best strategy for preventing death and disease, while also being the least costly option. The study suggests that widespread pre-attack vaccination is not particularly effective due to high costs, emphasizing the need for rapid distribution systems.
Researchers aim to develop drugs that block anthrax spore germination by understanding the role of Coenzyme A in regulating the process. By studying three-dimensional protein structures, they hope to identify vulnerabilities for new therapeutic agents.
Researchers have discovered that treated fabric can effectively kill anthrax spores, a significant finding in the field of antimicrobial textiles. The treatment shows promise for various applications, including clothing and outdoor gear, providing a potential solution for exposure to microorganisms.
Researchers developed plant-derived antibodies that protect against anthrax infection, providing immediate protection and a safe alternative to traditional vaccination methods. The plant-produced antibodies can be used before or after exposure and are stable for long periods, making them an attractive solution for stockpiling.
Researchers have found that nisin can effectively neutralize both anthrax and Bacillus cereus spores. The natural antimicrobial peptide has been shown to remain dormant on treated spores, preventing germination and disease in mice. Further development of nisin-based formulations for human skin decontamination is underway.
Max Planck scientists have developed a novel therapeutic strategy against anthrax using defensins. These molecules can neutralize the lethal toxin of anthrax bacilli, preventing its deadly effect and protecting against fatal consequences.