Anthrax toxin: a tripartite lethal combination.
Anthrax is a severe bacterial infection that occurs when Bacillus anthracis spores gain access into the body and germinate in macrophages, causing septicemia and toxemia. Anthrax toxin is a binary A-B toxin composed of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF). PA mediates the entry of either LF or EF into the cytosol of host cells. LF is a zinc metalloprotease that inactivates mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inducing cell death, and EF is an adenylyl cyclase impairing host defences. Inhibitors targeting different steps of toxin activity have recently been developed. Anthrax toxin has also been exploited as a therapeutic agent against cancer.
Ascenzi
Paolo
P
Department of Biology and Interdepartmental Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, University Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146, Rome, Italy. ascenzi@bio.uniroma3.it
Visca
Paolo
P
Ippolito
Giuseppe
G
Spallarossa
Andrea
A
Bolognesi
Martino
M
Montecucco
Cesare
C
D000818:Animals; D022122:Anthrax Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans
D022122:Anthrax Vaccines; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C030325:anthrax toxin