Navigation Links
Driver of anthrax toxicity could lead to late-stage therapy

A study in the March 24 Cell reports the discovery of a gene that drives anthrax bacteria's toxic effects. The gene could offer a potential new target for countermeasures against the lethal toxin, according to the researchers.

Such therapies might have the potential to protect against anthrax during the late stages of the disease, after antibiotics have lost their therapeutic value, they added.

The team found that human cells deficient in the so-called LDL receptor-related protein (LRP6) become resistant to anthrax toxin. Furthermore, antibodies against LRP6 protected cells from anthrax toxicity, reported study authors Wensheng Wei and Stanley Cohen of the Stanford University School of Medicine in collaboration with others at Stanford and the National Institutes of Health. The level of anthrax protection afforded by the antibodies rose with increasing dose.

Anthrax is a lethal disease of humans and other animals caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis, which has been the focus of biological interest and bioterrorism concern. The virulence of the bacteria depends on separate complexes formed by interaction of a carrier protein, protective antigen, with lethal and edema factors responsible for the toxic effects and swelling that impairs the host's immune response.

In the current study, the researchers inactivated genes randomly in human cells. They then examined the mutated cells for resistance to anthrax toxin in an effort to identify host genes that have important roles in infection, with the hope of finding possible new targets for therapies aimed at the host instead of the bacteria. The method allows for the identification of required host cell genes without pre-conceptions about their potential to play a role, the study authors said.

The study revealed that LRP6 acts as a co-receptor, enabling cells to take up anthrax toxin through its interactions with two distinct cell- surface proteins earlier shown to bi
'"/>

Source:Cell Press


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Scientists seek answers on what activates deadly anthrax spores
2. Antibodies from plants protect against anthrax
3. Defensins neutralize anthrax toxin
4. Critical step traced in anthrax infection
5. US Army plans to bulk-buy anthrax
6. New antibody shows promise as cure for anthrax
7. Effective, safe anthrax vaccine can be grown in tobacco plants
8. UCSD study finds anthrax toxins also harmful to fruit flies
9. Scientists design potent anthrax toxin inhibitor
10. Newly discovered protein kills anthrax bacteria by exploding their cell walls
11. Combating anthrax: Results of study published this month as researchers look for a better vaccine
Post Your Comments:
(Date:2/7/2010)... (NCI) have found that the prevalence of tamoxifen use ... a personal history of breast cancer is very low. ... breast cancer in women who are at increased risk ... published in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, ... Association for Cancer Research. , The low prevalence ...
(Date:2/7/2010)... more soft drinks per week increased the risk of ... who did not consume soft drinks, according to a ... a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. ... of the most deadly, and only 5 percent of ... , Mark Pereira, Ph.D., senior author on the study ...
(Date:2/7/2010)... drug that inhibits serotonin synthesis in the gut, administered ... rats reports an international team led by researchers from ... of Nature Medicine . Serotonin in the gut ... formation. The finding could lead to new therapies that ... only prevent the breakdown of old bone. , "New ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Few women take tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer 2Soft drink consumption may increase risk of pancreatic cancer 2Inhibiting serotonin in gut could cure osteoporosis 2Inhibiting serotonin in gut could cure osteoporosis 3Lifestyle interventions in the prevention and treatment of cancer 58289 1MSU scientist helps map potato genome hope to improve crop yield 10097 1MSU scientist helps map potato genome hope to improve crop yield 10097 2Southern California Venture Network to Recognize Local Companies At 2009 Emerging Growth Awards 14266 1Southern California Venture Network to Recognize Local Companies At 2009 Emerging Growth Awards 14266 2
... are abdominal obesity and high levels of a type of ... a person,s risk for stroke. The potential complications are serious: ... kidney disease and stroke. , Preserving the ... a type of poly-unsaturated fat thought to play an important ...
... Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ... Duke University have discovered a cause of airway irritation ... air pollutant. Using an animal model, the researchers were ... airways from narrowing. These findings help identify potential new ...
... A new study funded by NOAA and the National ... of Juan de Fuca, which separates Washington state from ... toxic harmful algal blooms affecting the Washington and British ... and move is critical for accurate forecasts that could ...
Other Biology News:Fighting obesity and illness with a novel approach to nutrition 2Fighting obesity and illness with a novel approach to nutrition 3Research finds new cause of ozone wheezing and potential treatments 2Scientists discover 'hot spot' for toxic HABS off Washington coastline 2
(Date:2/6/2010)... University Belfast are developing new sensors to detect chemical ... fight against the threat of terrorist attacks. , The ... individual or crime scene to gather a sample which ... detect the presence of chemicals within seconds. This will ... to terrorist threats. , The scanning instrument will ...
(Date:2/5/2010)... . , Scientists at the University ... first time different antioxidant compounds from foods such as ... Teucrium polium. They have used two new techniques, capillary ... them to identify and quantify a great part of ... foods such as olive oil, honey, walnuts and a ...
(Date:2/5/2010)... Disease ,, COLLEGE PARK, Md. , ... Inc. ( www.renovalife.com ), a company developing research ... joined the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) Technology ... ,, The privately funded company, founded in ... ,, "The most important factors [for joining TAP] ...
(Date:2/5/2010)... 5 Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX ... Rahul Singhvi , President and Chief Executive Officer ... BIO CEO & Investor Conference on February 8th, ... Hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the 12th ... February 8-9 at the Waldorf = ...
Breaking Biology Technology:New technology detects chemical weapons in seconds 2New antioxidant compounds have been identified in foods such as olive oil, honey and nuts 2Renova Life Inc. Joins Mtech Incubator 2Renova Life Inc. Joins Mtech Incubator 3NOVAVAX to Present at the 12th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2
... four, six and eight port right-angle BNC connectors to its product ... as a replacement for applications where a number of single or ... ... Sunnyvale, CA (PRWEB) April 29, 2009 -- Regal Electronics has ...
... - Strong Focus on the Markets of Pharma & Life Science ... of EUR0.40 per Share , The Annual ... per share following the record year in 2008. , ... results.,Gerresheimer achieved sales of EUR1.06 billion (prior year EUR957.7m) and,operating results ...
... Symbol: MSEDMONTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - BioMS Medical Corp (TSX: ... (MS), today announced that Mr. Kevin Giese, President and CEO, ... the development of a world class technology sector" as part ... WHEN: Monday May 4th ...
Other Biology Technology:Regal Introduces Four, Six and Eight Port Filtered and Un-Filtered Right Angle BNC Connectors 22008 a Record Year for Gerresheimer 2BioMS Medical to present at Alberta Economic Forum in Geneva 2
...
Contains L-glutamine...
... MW 140kDa GenBank Accession ... spanning amino acids 926-941 (DKKVKPPFIPTIRGRE) of human ... Quality Assurance Routinely evaluated ... cells. Stability 1 year ...
...
Biology Products: