Scientists seek answers on what activates deadly anthrax spores
Scientists at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and three other institutions are setting out to find what activates the spores in anthrax, the deadly bacterial infection that is back in the news. "A key aspect of anthrax spore biology concerns the germination process through which the dormant spore becomes a reproductive, disease-causing bacterium," explained Al Claiborne, Ph.D...Study Models Impact Of Anthrax Vaccine
Rapidly distributing antibiotics to peopleexposed to anthrax spores during a bioterrorist attack, could byitself, prevent about 70 percent of anthrax infections from occurring,according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School ofPublic Health. To increase the prevention rate to 90 percent, theirstudy found that at least 63 percent of the population would need to beimmunized wi...Antibodies from plants protect against anthrax
Scientists have produced, in tobacco plants, human antibodies that could be used to treat anthrax exposure. They report their findings today at the 2005 American Society for Microbiology Biodefense Research Meeting. "The nature of bioterrorism is such that an aggressor is likely to strike at a time and place calculated to induce maximum terror through mass casualties. The unpredictable nat...Defensins neutralize anthrax toxin
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a link between a critical cancer pathway and an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) protein known to be expressed in a number of EBV-associated cancers. Their findings demonstrate a new mechanism by which EBV transforms human B cells from the immune system into cancerous cells, which can lead to development of B-cell lymphomas....Critical step traced in anthrax infection
Scientists at Harvard Medical School (HMS) have revealed details of a key step in the entry of anthrax toxin into human cells. The work, which grew out of an ongoing effort to produce a better anthrax therapeutic, shows that the protective antigen component of the bacterial toxin plays an active role in transferring the other two components of the toxin through the cell membrane. The resea...Rabbit Anti-Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax) Spore Antigen Antibody, Unconjugated from HyTest Ltd.
Description:In Western blotting antibodies recognize 94 K protein band, which corresponds to S-layer protein...Pharma majors gear to supply anti-anthrax drug
The panic that has gripped the U.S with anthrax bacterial infections coming to light has led to an increased demand for the drug used in its treatment - Ciprofloxacin. Already there is news that the German pharma major Bayer is tripling its production of Ciprofloxacin to cater to the burgeoning demand and will supply 200 million tablets in the next three months. In fact, Bayer holds the U.S. pate...Anthrax drug doxycycline could stunt fetal growth
The government warned doctors that doxycycline -- an antibiotic being prescribed to people who may have been exposed to anthrax -- can stunt fetal growth when taken by pregnant women. Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged doctors to prescribe Cipro to pregnant women. The recommendation comes as health officials worry that Cipro is being overprescribed in the general popula...Drugs For Anthrax May Interfere With Oral Contraceptives
Women taking birth control pills should be mindful of the possible interaction between oral contraceptives and the medications recommended by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to treat anthrax. The CDC recently recommended that antibiotic and anti-infective medications, such as Cipro, doxycycline, and penicillin, be used to treat those believed to have been exposed to a...Cipro Has Cheaper Cousins to Treat Anthrax
Cipro, Cipro, Cipro. That's been the mantra of the media as dozens of people exposed to anthrax -- and thousands who weren't -- clamor for the potent antibiotic. But if the supply dwindles, doctors say other cheaper and widely available medications can be used, including a previous generation's wonder drug: penicillin. Although alternatives exist, Cipro is the latest and greatest, so it tends to...Panacea Biotech To Market Anthrax Vaccine
Panacea Biotech has bagged the registration, production and marketing rights of the anti-anthrax vaccine developed by the Centre for Biotechnology in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). It is expected that the vaccine would be in the market in 3-4 months. The Company has made a milestone payment to JNU for the exclusive rights. In addition, it will pay the university a royalty on sales. Howeve...Targanta Study Shows Oritavancin Treatment Effective in a Mouse Model of Anthrax
Single-Dose Protection Observed Prior to or Up to 24 Hours AfterExposure to Anthrax TORONTO, Ontario, May 24, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- TargantaTherapeutics Corporation announced today the results from a recentstudy demonstrating oritavancin as a potential therapy for treatingexposure to Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium which causes anthrax,an acute infectious disease. Oritavancin, a novel se...Cethromycin Shown Effective Against Anthrax in Study
Advanced Life Sciences Achieves Key Endpoint in Primate Study CHICAGO, May 02, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advanced LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. today announced that its novel respiratoryantibiotic, Cethromycin, was shown to be effective in preventinginhalation anthrax infection. This conclusion was reached from aprimate study where a 30-day course of oral Cethromycin was 100%protective...Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program
. It began in...