Anthrax: a motor protein determines anthrax susceptibility.
A new study has found that polymorphisms in the host gene kif1C, which encodes a kinesin-like motor protein, determine whether mouse macrophages are resistant or sensitive to anthrax lethal toxin. These findings may lead the way to discovering how both germ and host factors might contribute to a lethal infection.
Hanna
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Pchanna@umich.edu
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000378:metabolism; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D016547:Kinesins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C114063:KIF1C protein, human; C485246:Kif1c protein, mouse; C030325:anthrax toxin; D016547:Kinesins