Anthrax X-rayed: new opportunities for biodefence.
Bacillus anthracis, the agent responsible for inhalation anthrax, exerts its lethal effects via the production of anthrax toxin (protective antigen, lethal factor and oedema factor); anthrax kills because the toxin overwhelms the patient before innate host defence systems have a chance to eradicate the invaders. Structural studies on these three components provide a starting point for the design of novel drugs to neutralize toxin action, yielding a valuable adjunct to conventional antibiotic treatment.
Stubbs
Milton T
MT
Institut für Biotechnologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Strasse 3, D-06120 Halle an der Saale, Germany. stubbs@biochemtech.uni-halle.de
D000067956:Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; D000881:Anthrax / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000067956:Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides