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Vaccines Feb 2024Vaccination against is the best preventive measure against the development of deadly anthrax disease in the event of exposure to anthrax either as a bioweapon or in its... (Review)
Review
Vaccination against is the best preventive measure against the development of deadly anthrax disease in the event of exposure to anthrax either as a bioweapon or in its naturally occurring form. Anthrax vaccines, however, have historically been plagued with controversy, particularly related to their safety. Fortunately, recent improvements in anthrax vaccines have been shown to confer protection with reduced short-term safety concerns, although questions about long-term safety remain. Here, we (a) review recent and ongoing advances in anthrax vaccine development, (b) emphasize the need for thorough characterization of current (and future) vaccines, (c) bring to focus the importance of host immunogenetics as the ultimate determinant of successful antibody production and protection, and (d) discuss the need for the systematic, active, and targeted monitoring of vaccine recipients for possible Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI).
PubMed: 38400142
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020159 -
Toxins Jan 2024Institut Pasteur and have enjoyed a relationship lasting almost 120 years, starting from its foundation and the pioneering work of Louis Pasteur in the nascent fields... (Review)
Review
Institut Pasteur and have enjoyed a relationship lasting almost 120 years, starting from its foundation and the pioneering work of Louis Pasteur in the nascent fields of microbiology and vaccination, and blooming after 1986 following the molecular biology/genetic revolution. This contribution will give a historical overview of these two research eras, taking advantage of the archives conserved at Institut Pasteur. The first era mainly focused on the production, characterisation, surveillance and improvement of veterinary anthrax vaccines; the concepts and technologies with which to reach a deep understanding of this research field were not yet available. The second period saw a new era of research at Institut Pasteur, with the anthrax laboratory developing a multi-disciplinary approach, ranging from structural analysis, biochemistry, genetic expression, and regulation to bacterial-host cell interactions, pathogenicity, and therapy development; this led to the comprehensive unravelling of many facets of this toxi-infection. may exemplify some general points on how science is performed in a given society at a given time and how a scientific research domain evolves. A striking illustration can be seen in the additive layers of regulations that were implemented from the beginning of the 21st century and their impact on research. and anthrax are complex systems that raise many valuable questions regarding basic research. One may hope that research will be re-initiated under favourable circumstances later at Institut Pasteur.
Topics: Humans; Bacillus anthracis; Anthrax; Charcoal; Bacterial Toxins; Virulence; Antigens, Bacterial
PubMed: 38393144
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16020066 -
MMWR. Recommendations and Reports :... Nov 2023Bacillus anthracis spores if resources become limited or a multidrug-resistant B. anthracis strain is used (Hendricks KA, Wright ME, Shadomy SV, et al.; Workgroup on...
THIS REPORT UPDATES PREVIOUS CDC GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON PREFERRED PREVENTION AND TREATMENT REGIMENS REGARDING NATURALLY OCCURRING ANTHRAX. ALSO PROVIDED ARE A WIDE RANGE OF ALTERNATIVE REGIMENS TO FIRST-LINE ANTIMICROBIAL DRUGS FOR USE IF PATIENTS HAVE CONTRAINDICATIONS OR INTOLERANCES OR AFTER A WIDE-AREA AEROSOL RELEASE OF
Bacillus anthracis spores if resources become limited or a multidrug-resistant B. anthracis strain is used (Hendricks KA, Wright ME, Shadomy SV, et al.; Workgroup on Anthrax Clinical Guidelines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expert panel meetings on prevention and treatment of anthrax in adults. Emerg Infect Dis 2014;20:e130687; Meaney-Delman D, Rasmussen SA, Beigi RH, et al. Prophylaxis and treatment of anthrax in pregnant women. Obstet Gynecol 2013;122:885-900; Bradley JS, Peacock G, Krug SE, et al. Pediatric anthrax clinical management. Pediatrics 2014;133:e1411-36). Specifically, this report updates antimicrobial drug and antitoxin use for both postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) and treatment from these previous guidelines best practices and is based on systematic reviews of the literature regarding 1) in vitro antimicrobial drug activity against B. anthracis; 2) in vivo antimicrobial drug efficacy for PEP and treatment; 3) in vivo and human antitoxin efficacy for PEP, treatment, or both; and 4) human survival after antimicrobial drug PEP and treatment of localized anthrax, systemic anthrax, and anthrax meningitis.
CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS CDC GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE AN EXPANDED LIST OF ALTERNATIVE ANTIMICROBIAL DRUGS TO USE WHEN FIRST-LINE ANTIMICROBIAL DRUGS ARE CONTRAINDICATED OR NOT TOLERATED OR AFTER A BIOTERRORISM EVENT WHEN FIRST-LINE ANTIMICROBIAL DRUGS ARE DEPLETED OR INEFFECTIVE AGAINST A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED RESISTANT
B. anthracis strain. In addition, these updated guidelines include new recommendations regarding special considerations for the diagnosis and treatment of anthrax meningitis, including comorbid, social, and clinical predictors of anthrax meningitis. The previously published CDC guidelines and recommendations described potentially beneficial critical care measures and clinical assessment tools and procedures for persons with anthrax, which have not changed and are not addressed in this update. In addition, no changes were made to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for use of anthrax vaccine (Bower WA, Schiffer J, Atmar RL, et al. Use of anthrax vaccine in the United States: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, 2019. MMWR Recomm Rep 2019;68[No. RR-4]:1-14). The updated guidelines in this report can be used by health care providers to prevent and treat anthrax and guide emergency preparedness officials and planners as they develop and update plans for a wide-area aerosol release of B. anthracis.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Female; Child; Pregnancy; United States; Anthrax; Anthrax Vaccines; Bacillus anthracis; Anti-Infective Agents; Antitoxins; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; Aerosols; Meningitis
PubMed: 37963097
DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.rr7206a1 -
Nature Communications Nov 2023The Gram-positive spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax, a deadly disease mostly affecting wildlife and livestock, as well as...
The Gram-positive spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax, a deadly disease mostly affecting wildlife and livestock, as well as representing a bioterrorism threat. Its cell surface is covered by the mutually exclusive S-layers Sap and EA1, found in early and late growth phases, respectively. Here we report the nanobody-based structural characterization of EA1 and its native lattice contacts. The EA1 assembly domain consists of 6 immunoglobulin-like domains, where three calcium-binding sites structure interdomain contacts that allow monomers to adopt their assembly-competent conformation. Nanobody-induced depolymerization of EA1 S-layers results in surface defects, membrane blebbing and cell lysis under hypotonic conditions, indicating that S-layers provide additional mechanical stability to the cell wall. Taken together, we report a complete model of the EA1 S-layer and present a set of nanobodies that may have therapeutic potential against Bacillus anthracis.
Topics: Bacillus anthracis; Membrane Glycoproteins; Binding Sites; Cell Membrane; Cell Wall; Bacterial Proteins
PubMed: 37923757
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42826-x -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Sep 2023peptidoglycan (PGN) is a major component of the bacterial cell wall and a key pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) contributing to anthrax pathology, including...
peptidoglycan (PGN) is a major component of the bacterial cell wall and a key pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) contributing to anthrax pathology, including organ dysfunction and coagulopathy. Increases in apoptotic lymphocytes are a late-stage feature of anthrax and sepsis, suggesting there is a defect in apoptotic clearance. Here, we tested the hypothesis that PGN inhibits the capacity of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MΦ) to efferocytose apoptotic cells. Exposure of CD163CD206 MΦ to PGN for 24h impaired efferocytosis in a manner dependent on human serum opsonins but independent of complement component C3. PGN treatment reduced cell surface expression of the pro-efferocytic signaling receptors MERTK, TYRO3, AXL, integrin αVβ5, CD36 and TIM-3, whereas TIM-1, αVβ3, CD300b, CD300f, STABILIN-1 and STABILIN-2 were unaffected. ADAM17 is a major membrane-bound protease implicated in mediating efferocytotic receptor cleavage. We found multiple ADAM17-mediated substrates increased in PGN-treated supernatant suggesting involvement of membrane-bound proteases. ADAM17 inhibitors TAPI-0 and Marimastat prevented TNF release, indicating effective protease inhibition, and modestly increased cell-surface levels of MerTK and TIM-3 but only partially restored efferocytic capacity by PGN-treated MΦ. We conclude that human serum factors are required for optimal recognition of PGN by human MΦ and that PGN inhibits efferocytosis in part by reducing cell surface expression of MERTK and TIM-3.
PubMed: 37066181
DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.30.535001 -
Analytical Biochemistry Aug 2023A biosensor is an analytical device whose main components include transducer and bioreceptor segments. The combination of biological recognition with the ligand is... (Review)
Review
A biosensor is an analytical device whose main components include transducer and bioreceptor segments. The combination of biological recognition with the ligand is followed by transformation into physical or chemical signals. Many publications describe biological sensors as user-friendly, easy, portable, and less time-consuming than conventional methods. Among major categories of methods for the detection of Bacillus anthracis, such as culture-based microbiological method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), microarray-based techniques sensors with bioreceptors have been highlighted which particular emphasis is placed on herein. There are several types of biosensors based on various chemical or physical transducers (e.g., electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, thermal or magnetic electrodes) and the type of biological materials used (e.g., enzymes, nucleic acids, antibodies, cells, phages or tissues). In recent decades, antibody-based sensors have increasingly gained popularity due to their reliability, sensitivity and rapidness. The fundamental principle of antibody-based sensors is mainly based on the molecular recognition between antigens and antibodies. Therefore, immunosensors that detect B. anthracis surface antigens can provide a rapid tool for detecting anthrax bacilli and spores, especially in situ. This review provides a comprehensive summary of immunosensor-based methods using electrochemical, optical, and mass-based transducers to detect B. anthracis.
Topics: Bacillus anthracis; Biosensing Techniques; Reproducibility of Results; Immunoassay; Antibodies; Spores, Bacterial
PubMed: 37343693
DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2023.115215 -
Microorganisms Sep 2023Anthrax, a severe zoonotic disease, is infrequently reported in anthrax-endemic regions of Pakistan. Despite clinical reports indicating its presence, particularly...
Anthrax, a severe zoonotic disease, is infrequently reported in anthrax-endemic regions of Pakistan. Despite clinical reports indicating its presence, particularly cutaneous anthrax, there is insufficient laboratory evidence regarding disease occurrence and environmental persistence. The present study aimed to confirm presence, accountable for animal mortality and human infection, while exploring environmental transmission factors. Between March 2019 and July 2021, a total of 19 outbreaks were documented. Of these, 11 affected sheep/goats in Zhob district and 8 affected cattle/sheep in Bajour Agency. Clinical signs suggestive of outbreak were observed in 11 animals. Blood and swab samples were collected for confirmation. The study followed a One Health approach, analyzing animal, environmental (soil/plant), and human samples. Of the 19 outbreaks, 11 were confirmed positive for anthrax based on growth characteristics, colony morphology, and PCR. Soil and plant root samples from the outbreak areas were collected and analyzed microscopically and molecularly. Cutaneous anthrax was observed in six humans, and swab samples were taken from the lesions. Human serum samples ( = 156) were tested for IgG antibodies against PA toxin and quantitative analysis of anthrax toxin receptor 1 (ANTXR1). was detected in 65 out of 570 (11.40%) soil samples and 19 out of 190 (10%) plant root samples from the outbreak areas. Four out of six human samples from cutaneous anthrax lesions tested positive for . Human anthrax seroprevalence was found to be 11% and 9% in two districts, with the highest rates among butchers and meat consumers. The highest ANTXR1 levels were observed in butchers, followed by meat consumers, farm employees, meat vendors, veterinarians, and farm owners. These findings highlight the persistence of anthrax in the region and emphasize the potential public health risks.
PubMed: 37894120
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102462