Medical countermeasures to protect humans from anthrax bioterrorism.
The deliberate dissemination of Bacillus anthracis spores via the US mail system in 2001 confirmed their potential use as a biological weapon for mass human casualties. This dramatically highlighted the need for specific medical countermeasures to enable the authorities to protect individuals from a future bioterrorism attack. Although vaccination appears to be the most effective and economical form of mass protection, current vaccines have significant drawbacks that justify the immense research effort to develop improved treatment modalities. After eight years and an expenditure of more than $50 billion, only marginal progress has been made in developing effective therapeutics. This article summarizes the most important medical countermeasures that have mostly been developed since the 2001 events, and highlights current problems and possible avenues for future research.
Bouzianas
Dimitrios G
DG
Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Department of Medical Laboratories, Laboratory of Immunology and Microbiology, PO Box 145-61, Thessaloniki 541-01, Macedonia, Greece. bouzianas@the.forthnet.gr
D000881:Anthrax / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D022122:Anthrax Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000992:Antitoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023482:Bioterrorism; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D014481:United States
D022122:Anthrax Vaccines; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000992:Antitoxins