anthracis in Biological News

Scripps research scientists identify blood component that turns bacteria virulent

... the key chemical that signals Bacillus anthracis , the bacterium that causes anthrax, to become ... in cells, as providing the signal for Bacillus anthracis to unleash virulence factors. Without the ... carbon dioxide, that signals the gram-positive B. anthracis to become virulent. This finding also is ...

NIST, Army researchers pave the way for anthrax spore standards

... and stability of laboratory-grade Bacillus anthracis spores under different storage conditions. Bacillus anthracis (Sterne), a harmless vaccine strain, was used in ... techniques to quantify the Bacillus anthracis concentrations: counting spores under a ...

New technique used to profile anthrax genome

... we can see in a much more detailed way how each of the 5,000+ genes in B. anthracis genome is expressed and regulated." The RNA-Seq approach works by using ... Bergman and colleagues sequenced mRNA samples that were collected from B. anthracis cells growing in a variety of conditions. They collected more than 270 ...

FBI unveils science of anthrax investigation

... killed. Sandia's work demonstrated to the FBI that the form of bacillus anthracis contained in those letters was not a weaponized form, a form of the ... prepared, which made examination initially difficult. When bacillus anthracis spores are weaponized, the spores are coated with silica nanoparticles ...

Tests show LLNL detection instrument can monitor the air for all major terrorist threat substances

... terrorists might use -- spores of a non-pathogenic strain of Bacillus anthracis (other strains of this bacteria cause anthrax); diethyl phthalate (a nerve ... of natural cobalt powder and RDX, and a non-pathogenic strain of Bacillus anthracis and RDX. In field experiments, SPAMS has been tested at San Francisco ...

Anthrax cellular entry point uncovered

... receptor, and use this entry point to boost its lethality. Bacillus anthracis infection occurs in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation and through ... receptors, this discovery points toward a precise entry point which B. anthracis uses to proliferate and trigger lethal consequences, said Claudia Oliva, ...

American Society for Microbiology honors James W. Snyder

... other professional groups in the LRN. The 2001 anthrax attack was diagnosed by a clinical laboratory using the techniques outlined in the Bacillus anthracis Sentinel Protocol. Dr. Snyder received his Ph.D. from the University of Dayton. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a ...

Anthrax attack posed greater potential threat than thought

... to have had anthrax, and 12 with no known B. anthracis exposure. The results: Immune responses ... the incidence of both subclinical and clinical B. anthracis infection. In an accompanying editorial, ... data suggest that cell-mediated responses in B. anthracis infection may be more sensitive than antibody ...

'Mad cow' proteins successfully detected in blood

... growth, you can see clear zones where the B. anthracis cells have been destroyed--whereas other ... for an FDA accepted method for identifying B. anthracis in clinical specimens. In 2002, FDA's Division of ... Devices agreed to recognize tests for B. anthracis as eligible for classification with a 510(k) ...

Anthrax test, developed by army and CDC, receives FDA approval

... growth, you can see clear zones where the B. anthracis cells have been destroyed--whereas other ... for an FDA accepted method for identifying B. anthracis in clinical specimens. In 2002, FDA's Division of ... Devices agreed to recognize tests for B. anthracis as eligible for classification with a 510(k) ...

Scientists design potent anthrax toxin inhibitor

... Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. The spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis produces a toxin that causes anthrax symptoms. Antibiotics are used to ... test the action of their inhibitor in animals after infecting them with B. anthracis and allowing the disease process to begin. They also will evaluate the ...

Penn study on lung-infecting bacterial enzyme suggests new approach to cystic fibrosis treatment

... electrical current. The researchers found that direct exposure of the CFTR-containing oocytes to SMase of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis bacteria shuts off the electrical current passing through not only the normal, but also the CF-causing mutant CFTR. The next step for the ...

UCSD study finds anthrax toxins also harmful to fruit flies

... factor, EF, cause cellular damage and death in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. These toxins are required for the anthrax bacterium Bacillus anthracis to evade the host immune system and cause disease. Using a combination of biochemical, genetic and cell biological approaches, the biologists ...

US Army plans to bulk-buy anthrax

... biological and chemical weapons. One "biological services" contract specifies: "The company must have the ability and be willing to grow Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain at 1500-litre quantities." Other contracts are for fermentation equipment for producing 3000-litre batches of an unspecified biological ...

Anthrax inhibitors identified by Burnham team

... will be published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Early Edition at the journal's website the week of June 20th. Bacillus anthracis ("anthrax") is a proven agent of biological terrorism. Pulmonary anthrax, in which spores of the anthrax bacteria are inhaled, is typically fatal ...