title: Evaluation of Bacillus anthracis extractable antigen for testing anthrax immunity.
abstract: Three extractable Bacillus anthracis cell-wall-associated antigens were evaluated for potential use as skin testing agents, and as possible candidates for in-vitro diagnosis of anthrax immunity. Anthraxin and a partially purified extractable antigen (EAP) were produced from avirulent B. anthracis strain 34F2 (Sterne). The thermoextractable antigen used for the Ascoli reaction was obtained commercially. Guinea-pigs were immunised and boosted several times subcutaneously with the Sterne live veterinary anthrax vaccine. Four weeks after the last booster dose, animals were skin-tested with the three antigens. Serum antibody levels were also determined by ELISA, and the in-vitro T-cell response was evaluated by [3H]-thymidine incorporation. EAP was the most active antigen in both the serological and cellular reactions. EAP also elicited a distinct positive skin reaction in animals immunised with B. anthracis. The data obtained in this preliminary study indicated that extractable cell-wall antigens obtained from the vegetative form of B. anthracis may be used for skin tests and in-vitro testing of specific humoral and cell-mediated anthrax immunity.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University School of Medicine, Tel-Hashomer, 52621 Israel. unit@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shlyakhov
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gilburd
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D022122:Anthrax Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D022122:Anthrax Vaccines; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial